What I Saw: The Descendants
The Hawaiian setting plays an interesting role in Alexander Payne’s The Descendants. On the surface, George Clooney’s character warns us that we should not confuse the scenic views and visitor attractions for some sort of paradise where real people don’t face real problems. Yet oddly the film relies upon these very influences as both an enticement and a diversion to its dramatic storyline.
Clooney’s character faces a mountain of challenges as he tries to deal with his wife’s hospitalization and likely death. In addition to navigating strained relationships with his daughters, father-in-law and a truckload of cousins, he is also negotiating the sale of his family’s inherited and politically-charged land and dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s affair. Given the sheer scope of challenges and characters, anyone looking for plot holes or dropped storylines will certainly find them, but if you are willing to look past the contrivances you will also find an emotional truth. When someone you love is dying it does indeed feel like the whole world is crushing in on you, as old feuds rise up again and a range of emotions compete for your attention.
The acting is superb, not only from Clooney but also from his eldest daughter (Shailene Woodley) and father-in-law (Robert Forster). The cinematography takes full advantage of the beautiful Hawaiian setting, and the script skillfully injects humor in a way that allows the emotional impact to build all the way through to the end. But the film also walks a very thin line between well-crafted tearjerker and emotionally manipulative trickery. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend coming to the theater with your kleenex in hand and your puppet strings ready to be pulled.
Oscar Chances:
Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Fixon and Jim Rash (Predicted Winner, locked for a nomination)
Lead Actor: George Clooney (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, and could easily win given Hollywood’s love for him)
Best Picture (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, could easily win)
Best Director: Alexander Payne (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, and definite contender for the win)
Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley (currently ranked 3, good bet for the nomination both on her own merits and as part of a multi-category sweep)
Film Editing: Kevin Trent (currently ranked 19)
Supporting Actor: Robert Forster (currently ranked 28, will move up in my next set of predictions, particularly given the possibility of a multi-category sweep)
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael (currently ranked 28)
Original Score (currently ranked 33--The movie features a wonderful collection of Hawaiian music, but most of it is not original to the film.)
Art Direction: Jane Anne Stewart and Matt Callahan (currently ranked 34)
My Lamb Score: 4 out of 5 Lambs
What is a lamb score? Click HERE to learn more.
Read more of my reviews HERE.
As always, check the Tracker Pages in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the most updated predictions in all categories!
The Hawaiian setting plays an interesting role in Alexander Payne’s The Descendants. On the surface, George Clooney’s character warns us that we should not confuse the scenic views and visitor attractions for some sort of paradise where real people don’t face real problems. Yet oddly the film relies upon these very influences as both an enticement and a diversion to its dramatic storyline.
Clooney’s character faces a mountain of challenges as he tries to deal with his wife’s hospitalization and likely death. In addition to navigating strained relationships with his daughters, father-in-law and a truckload of cousins, he is also negotiating the sale of his family’s inherited and politically-charged land and dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s affair. Given the sheer scope of challenges and characters, anyone looking for plot holes or dropped storylines will certainly find them, but if you are willing to look past the contrivances you will also find an emotional truth. When someone you love is dying it does indeed feel like the whole world is crushing in on you, as old feuds rise up again and a range of emotions compete for your attention.
The acting is superb, not only from Clooney but also from his eldest daughter (Shailene Woodley) and father-in-law (Robert Forster). The cinematography takes full advantage of the beautiful Hawaiian setting, and the script skillfully injects humor in a way that allows the emotional impact to build all the way through to the end. But the film also walks a very thin line between well-crafted tearjerker and emotionally manipulative trickery. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend coming to the theater with your kleenex in hand and your puppet strings ready to be pulled.
Oscar Chances:
Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Fixon and Jim Rash (Predicted Winner, locked for a nomination)
Lead Actor: George Clooney (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, and could easily win given Hollywood’s love for him)
Best Picture (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, could easily win)
Best Director: Alexander Payne (currently ranked 2, locked for a nomination, and definite contender for the win)
Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley (currently ranked 3, good bet for the nomination both on her own merits and as part of a multi-category sweep)
Film Editing: Kevin Trent (currently ranked 19)
Supporting Actor: Robert Forster (currently ranked 28, will move up in my next set of predictions, particularly given the possibility of a multi-category sweep)
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael (currently ranked 28)
Original Score (currently ranked 33--The movie features a wonderful collection of Hawaiian music, but most of it is not original to the film.)
Art Direction: Jane Anne Stewart and Matt Callahan (currently ranked 34)
My Lamb Score: 4 out of 5 Lambs
What is a lamb score? Click HERE to learn more.
Read more of my reviews HERE.
As always, check the Tracker Pages in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the most updated predictions in all categories!
