★★★ (3 out of 4)
There are many things to know about John Early, the writer, director and star of the marvelous “Maddie’s Secret,” starting with his fully justified obsession with Toni Collette. The brilliant “Hereditary” star could have played Maddie the dishwasher turned bulimic food influencer in Early’s directing debut, “Maddie’s Secret.” But forget that. It’s Early himself, the 38-year-old performing artist as actor, writer, singer, dancer, and standup comic who grew up gay and Presbyterian in Nashville, who plays Maddie.