There’s a reason Saoirse Ronan is a four-time Oscar nominee at just 30 years old, and this film adds to it.
What it's about
Based on the memoir by Amy Liptrot, The Outrun follows biology major Rona (Saoirse Ronan) as she rehabilitates from her severe addiction to alcohol on a faraway Scottish island.
The take
The Outrun, which follows Rona as she struggles to acknowledge and eventually overcome her alcoholism, is understandably in shambles. It’s non-linear (our only cues are her hair color) and occasionally fractured to show just how messed up Rona’s headspace is. These decisions may or may not feel necessary to the viewer, but what centers the film and makes it nonetheless worthwhile is Ronan’s performance. She is convincing and compelling as an addict—no overacting here or disrespectful flairs, just a simple performance carried by the weight of her eyes, the pain of gestures, and the occasional creak in her voice. It’s not always clear what’s happening in The Outrun despite its simple plot, but it is always watchable thanks to Ronan’s magnificent turn.
What stands out
That joyous, earned ending.
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