At first blush, *Tully* is populated with farm-life caricatures played by actors you may never remember seeing before. I sure didn't know any of them. These caricatures quickly become well-acted characters the audience cares about. Then, before you know what's happening, these are real people letting you eavesdrop on their lives and secrets. They are strong individuals, each with his/her own hopes and hangups. Few headline-capturing, everyone-knows-them stars could have captured the raw emotional depth and complexity of this family --- their very stardom would have gotten in the way. Kudos to writer, director, actors -- and casting -- for a top-rate, moving film. Rarely are we privilege to such a deft portrayal of the contrast between individual human vulnerability and our necessary protective shells.
