#tatetaylor

I’m obsessed with Haley Bennett’s face... Still from  

In an effort to be fully informed and knowledgeable at year’s end, I’ve decided to start doing my 2021 release marathon now, as the wheels of film production are seemingly back in full swing.  With an army of streaming services and Netflix DVD at my disposal, full (or at least fuller) coverage should be easier to attain, so I went down the list and started queueing things up.  One of the first DVDs to reach my home was Breaking News in Yuba County, and I’ve got to say that things are definitely off to a great start.

Though Breaking News in Yuba County more than likely did not set itself out to be a cautionary tale or a deeply symbolic reflection of our times, it must be given notice for its unflinching look at how sociopathy and a lack of empathy have led to deplorable acts seemingly becoming the norm.  Outside of Steve and Jonelle, there really isn’t anyone in this film that doesn’t run off of selfish intentions, a general disregard for others or some level of deception.  Center to this universe is Sue Buttons (played wonderfully by Allison Janney), who seemingly finds her power and affirmation in the dual realization of her husband’s infidelity and the immediate relief of responsibility due to his heart attack.  This moment becomes a clarifying and freeing event for her, swinging her completely to the opposite side of abusive restraint by turning her into a criminal pathological liar, not to mention an attention-seeking fame junkie willing to say anything for her moment in the spotlight.  The levels of entitlement, toxic restraint and willful ignorance she puts up are astounding, making pure criminals like Mina, Ray, her husband Karl Buttons and Mr. Kim pale in comparison.  

It is this narrative catalyst that spirals things wonderfully out of control in the most entertaining and oddball ways possible, and all of it is served in a very straight-laced, matter of fact way that amplifies the hilarity.  Writer Amanda Idoko does a great job balancing Sue’s desperate spiral into madness, Karl’s fear-based actions, Petey’s errant assumptions, Mina and Ray’s criminal exploits, Nancy’s need to be valued and the duo of Det. Harris and Steve’s twist and turn-filled investigation, leaving us with plenty of comedic and dramatic stimulus, punctuated at the end by a few outrageous bursts of properly-toned violence.  What really stands out is how the actions of one or two have a way of ballooning out to the point that the wake of destruction takes victims that did not deserve to become victims while someone like Sue Buttons, as skewered as her perception is, can seemingly benefit and move forward in a blissfully ignorant manner due to her disassociation.  Maybe that’s what makes stories like these work so well... despite the intentions of the writer(s), the mixture of relatability and outrageousness leaves just enough grey area for viewers to fill in the blanks with personal experience to make a connection or attain a deeper understanding.

There is nothing necessarily flashy or standout about the technological production aspects of the film, but then again, Breaking News in Yuba County clearly was not made to be visual bells and whistles.  One thing that does immediately stand out, however, are the costuming and hair choices in this film.  There is an interesting blend of outdated fashion, evergreen fashion and personality-exuding haircuts (and wigs) that immediately give our characters a sort of visual shorthand for viewer understanding (ie Nancy is serious, in comparison to Gloria Michaels being shallow and exploitative) while also playing as funny in many cases.  The comedy is also handled in a very nuanced and dynamic matter in terms of both writing and performance, with it being wholly apparent that all parties involved “get” the joke they are trying to convey, and are all going about making sure that their various levels of dry deliveries and nonchalant reactions to horrifying situations play consistently.

Allison Janney has some serious dramatic and comedic range at her disposal, and it is on full display in Breaking News, as she swings between a meek and mild-mannered disregarded housewife, an attention-seeking sociopath and professional victim with relative ease.  Regina Hall matches this energy with a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense put-upon approach that, in tandem with a keen eye for detail and a strong judge of character, makes her a narrative lightning rod for key events.  Mila Kunis turns in a surprisingly strong and subdued performance as a second-tier news anchor that is begrudgingly dependent to a sister who marginalizes her accomplishments and a stepbrother who makes financial promises with dirty money.  Jimmi Simpson gets to set his trademark comedic snark and smugness to the side for a victim role that is heavy on concern, fear and desperation, all played with a eye-opening amount of dignity despite the drastic and outrageous circumstances.  Simpson is set up against the foils of Awkwafina and Clifton Collins Jr., who have surprisingly wonderful chemistry as they channel unique shades of the same volatile mixture of sinisterness and dry comedic wit that feed off of one another.  Appearances by Wanda Sykes (who is always hilarious), Matthew Modine, Samira Wiley, Ellen Barkin, Bridget Everett, Dominic Burgess, Keong Sim, Chris Lowell and the wonderful Juliette Lewis round out the strong cast.