Peg AloiAndrea Riseborough did some terrific work in 2018, but my pick for her finest role is the title character in Nancy, an impressive indie debut from Christina Choe. Nancy has a lonely life as the sole caregiver for her ill mother (Ann Dowd). She works as a temp, spinning stories to her coworkers about her unusual travels. She also maintains a blog focused on people who have lost babies to a rare genetic condition, and poses as an expectant mother when she goes to meet a grieving young father (John Leguizamo, in a brief but moving performance). It’s not clear whether Nancy is a willful fantasist or a compulsive liar, but she seems motivated to reinvent her drab existence and draw others into her strange narratives. She becomes convinced she’s the long-lost daughter of a couple whose child disappeared 30 years ago, and embarks on a road trip to meet her “real” parents. Ellen (J. Smith-Cameron in a heart-wrenching performance) and Leo (Steve Buscemi, strong in this quietly serious role) are cautious but hopeful, inviting Nancy to stay the weekend. This dark bauble of a film unfolds with subtle twists and turns, as unpredictable and fascinating as the woman at its inscrutable center.
Peg Aloi Says Don’t Forget: Nancy
