REVIEW: Never Rarely Sometimes Always

by Josh Sewell

Courtesy of Focus Features

One of the strangest side effects of watching society change around you is how quickly once-novel things start to seem normal. Before phrases like “social distancing,” “self-quarantine” and shelter in place" became part of our lexicon, movie fans would’ve done cartwheels for the chance to watch brand new movies at home instead of heading to a theater. 

Fast-forward a couple of weeks, now that people have watched recent releases The Invisible Man, Onward, The Way Back and Birds of Prey in their living rooms, and now it’s just another way to entertain ourselves. However, for local film lovers who prefer art house or indie fare, this new era of streaming has an added bonus: we don’t have to make the trip to Atlanta to see a movie that’s only playing on a handful of screens. Even if you have to pay $20 to rent it, that’s still a better value than buying a ticket, driving 100 miles round trip, and putting that extra wear and tear on your vehicle.

If that sounds like an exciting proposition to you, this weekend marks the On Demand release of Never Rarely Sometimes Always, a powerful drama that deserved a chance to be seen on the big screen. Unfortunately, recent events made that impossible. However, despite the uncomfortable and controversial subject matter, Focus Features knows it has a potential awards contender on its hands. I’m happy the studio is making the effort to get the story in front of as many viewers as possible.

Written and directed by Eliza Hittman, the film is an intimate, starkly realistic portrayal of two rural Pennsylvania teenagers. Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) is a quiet, music-loving girl with a rough home life who’s facing an unintended pregnancy. With no adults to turn to for advice, she seeks out local resources only to find they’re unaccommodating at best, duplicitous at worst.

Out of options, she and her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) make a desperate trip to New York City in search of a solution. The journey is a fraught one, full of judgmental and predatory strangers, but the girls also meet people who show them friendship, bravery and compassion.

It would be easy to dismiss Never Rarely Sometimes Always as just “the abortion movie,” a big reason Hittman’s film generated headlines when it debuted at Sundance earlier this year, but it’s so much more than its basic premise. Yes, the girls head to New York because it is illegal for a minor to get an abortion without parental consent in Pennsylvania. But, as the film makes clear through heartbreaking understatement, Autumn has a legitimate reason to keep her parents in the dark about her intentions.

Furthermore, although it’s probably cliché to put it this way, the film is much more concerned with the physical and emotional journey of these characters than the ultimate destination. Hittman doesn’t craft the protagonists to be mouthpieces for an agenda; instead, she focuses on making Autumn and Skylar authentic and relatable. As a result, the audience starts to care for them and feel protective almost immediately.

These young women experience sexual harassment (and worse) constantly. Sometimes it’s from their creepy manager at the grocery store where they work, or a leering old man in their checkout line asking if they want to party later, or a pervert on the subway. Even when they connect with a seemingly nice guy who wants to spend time with them, there’s always the undercurrent of menace or ulterior motives. It makes sense that their view of sex – whether it’s in a loving relationship or something far more horrific – would be tinged with regret, disgust or unease.

Hittman chronicles their journey with almost documentary-style realism, taking viewers through Autumn’s hard-earned experience with her unintentional pregnancy step-by-step. That includes an infuriating encounter with a kindly grandmother figure who turns out to be anything but, as well as a devastating, real-time conversation with a caring, yet steadfast counselor who insists that Autumn acknowledge some painful truths before moving forward.

Flanigan is nothing short of a revelation as Autumn. She’s in nearly every scene and Hittman utilizes frequent close-ups to force viewers to feel each of the many setbacks on her journey and the choices she’s forced to make because of them. Autumn’s not a chatty, outgoing character, so Flanigan conveys most of her fear, anxiety, sadness, and relief through subtle changes in facial expressions and body language.

In a just world, I’d say she’s a frontrunner for a Best Actress nomination – depending on what Oscar season looks like in this crazy year. However, her minimalist performance runs the risk of being overlooked by voters who gravitate toward showier, more obvious work.

Ryder delivers an incredible supporting performance in the truest sense of the word. While she’s on screen almost as much as Flanigan, there’s no question her character is going to great risks to be a rock for her cousin and friend. I’d love to see her earn a Best Supporting Actress nod, but – again – it’s not the kind of ostentatious role voters tend to reward.

While Never Rarely Sometimes Always is certainly not for everyone, I recommend fighting against the inclination to ignore it because of the subject matter. Yes, it’s bleak but not in a way that feels nihilistic or cynical. I can’t exactly say I “enjoyed” it, but I’m so glad I got the opportunity to experience it.

Roger Ebert once said, “the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. It lets you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears.” Sadly, the iconic critic isn’t around to see how Hittman’s work embodies that wonderful quote, but I can imagine it would’ve made quite the impact on him. We’re a quarter of the way through 2020 and it’s easily the year’s best film so far.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always is rated PG-13 for disturbing/mature thematic content, language, some sexual references and teen drinking.

Grade: A