It’s rare for a director to strike the right chord with every film but Alexander Payne has managed it. Moving on from his success with Sideways, Election and About Schmidt, The Descendants will leave you with the same admiration for the guy: he knows how to write about middle-aged men in a slump. More
George Clooney is his new fall guy, Matt King, and the actor expertly shucks off his cocksure swagger to play a hands-off Dad confronting loss, responsibility and history, in an extraordinarily nuanced performance. And as much as Matt’s character sees his island ‘paradise’ as a myth – the idea being no-one is immune to life – the stunning backdrop of Hawaii makes for a much more eye-pleasing setting than most (mind the Hawaiian shirts).
Clooney is bouncing off his young cast members who get the pleasure of working with a script that absolutely nails teen-speak. The complexity of Matt’s predicament is handled with wit, grace and often disgrace, each of the family forced to work together and, at times, suppress their true desires in lieu of the greater good. Even the supposedly superficial characters – Alex’s stoner friend Sid and the sunny wife of Matt’s wife’s lover– emerge as three-dimensional humans trying to forge the best path through life’s rough patches.
Payne says he hates sentimentality and for the most part The Descendants’ crude-talking kids subvert any mushiness, other than a few drawn-out tear-jerker moments towards the end. But for the most part this is a rich and moving tale. An Oscar contender for sure. Hide
george might ave somethng here
herpderp
will definitly be seeing this
looks good
I would watch this!
LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER CLOONEY CLASSIC. CAN'T WAIT!
i luuuvvv hawaii! that is why this movie is going to be a hit
Looks like his best since "The American"! His wardrobe in this is a bit subpar for him though! Hawaian shirts!
I like that despite all the money, women and awards; Clooney still runs like a dork.
@Tom, lol, good call!
I'm gunna call this s Clooney flop a "flopooney"
Looks alright....all apart from George Clooney
the critic's are raving! It looks like an Oscar for George, looks like a good film
It can't be too crappy and a feel good film is always good for summertime
Colourful.
Uh, kind of deep and very homely....Issues & drama? No thanks.
Humans...put them in paradise and they'll still create problems for themselves.
I must tell you this out of respect for Hawaiians everywhere: It's 'UKULELE' not 'UKELELE'.
The Golden One.
Hannah is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo HOT!!!!!
Filmed in Kauai, great cast excellent director... Yep, definitely going to see it!
Art imitating life. Loved it
gorgeous scenery! want to be there! anybody over there need a cook for the month of August!?!?!