“Come Early Morning”
Director Joey Lauren Adams
Roadside Attractions
There are two kinds of Ashley Judds in this world.
First, there is the multimillionaire movie star who fights
serials killers and cheating husbands in films such as “Kiss
the Girls” and “Double Jeopardy.”
Then, there is the vulnerable and raw actress who stepped out of
the shadow of her famous family with riveting fare like “Ruby
in Paradise” and, later in her career,
“De-Lovely.”
Though we all love “Jeopardy” Judd, the triumphant
return of the edgy actress in “Come Early Morning” is a
much-welcomed breath of fresh air.
“Come Early Morning” is the story of a 30-something
Southern woman who lives the same day over and over again.
In the opening scene, Lucy wakes up next to a complete stranger,
sneaks out to her contracting job until the sun sets and she can
drink herself into the arms of another mystery man. A suitor dares
to ask her one night, “When was the last time you kissed
someone sober?” and Lucy’s world quickly comes
crumbling down.
She attends church not to spend time with the Lord, but with her
estranged father, and nudges herself into a quasi-relationship with
new man-around-town: Cal.
The cast is strong, but Judd is an obvious standout, thanks both
to a daring performance and the imagination of
actress-turned-writer/director Joey Lauren Adams (“Big
Daddy,” “Chasing Amy”).
Though “Come Early Morning” is Adams’
directorial debut, she draws heavily from her childhood in
Arkansas, creating a balanced and personal first feature. Her
script creates a truly deep, multifaceted character in Lucy and her
direction paints a beautiful and distinctive portrait of the Old
South.
Without giving anything away, by the end, our heroine has come
full circle. As Lucy watches the sunrise in the final moment of the
film, it is finally a brand-new day.