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"Middle of Nowhere"
U.S. Dramatic
*** (three stars)
Writer-director Ava DuVernay's thoughtful, touching drama follows the troubles of Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi), an African-American nurse in Los Angeles who fiercely fights to help her husband Derek (Omari Hardwick), who's serving an eight-year prison sentence for gun trafficking. DuVernay's intelligent script digs into the thousand little details of Ruby's life, as she puts her life on hold and devotes all her energy to arguing for Derek's early release. Meanwhile, DuVernay's direction evokes the difference between her past life with Derek and her present one without him through intimate flashbacks. But the real find here is Corinealdi, a beautiful and talented actress whose wide emotional range – passionately fighting for her husband, cautiously gauging the romantic overtures of her handsome bus driver ("Red Tails'" David Oyelowo), and enduring with resignation the criticisms of her mother (Lorraine Toussaint) – makes her someone to watch in the future.
— Sean P. Means
"Middle of Nowhere" screens again:
Saturday, Jan. 21, 12:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City
Sunday, Jan. 22, 8:30 p.m, Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Monday, Jan. 23, noon, Sundance Screening Room, Sundance resort
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 3:30 p.m., Eccles Theatre, Park City
Friday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m., Yarrow Hotel Theatre, Park City