The Descendants

Maybe the theme of The Descendants came a little too close and too soon, but the story of a family coping with the impending death of their matriarch is touching and emotional with just the right amount of levity to make it very entertaining but not too despondent.

there is definitely a melancholy feel to Alexander Payne's first full length feature since the critically acclaimed Sideways. He paints a very real picture without delving too deeply in the intricacies of the relationships. Everything remains very cursory, but it doesn't diminish the quality of the story whatsoever. Let me explain. George Clooney's character, Matt King, and his two daughters played by Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller are thrown into the grieving process when their wife and mother has a sudden accident, leaving her in a fatal coma. They haven't had quite enough time to fully comprehend the finality of things, so each of them are at different stages; denial, anger, and depression.

Clooney is a wealthy descendant of Hawaiian property owners, and he is going through a large scale deal that would make all of the members of the extended family extremely rich, but would destroy the history and legacy of the family in the process. The timing of this deal is unfortunate at best, as his wife is just days from her own death, but the situation brings him closer to his two girls, and they all manage to cope in their own ways.

This film has generated considerable buzz, and from all angles is a legitimate Oscar contender. The film, Clooney, Payne, and Woodley will more than likely earn nominations in their respective categories, but I'm not sure there is enough substance beyond the reflective sincerity of the story. Clooney continues to prove that he is one of the best actors around, generating tears and laughs on demand, but more impressive is his choice of films. Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air, and now this all in the last six years. He chooses strong characters and really seems to immerse himself in his roles, even if they look easy for him.

Woodley makes a bold impression as his oldest daughter who drops a bombshell on him that both rocks the family, but also makes him reevaluate what's important in his life and reconnects him to his progeny. She will receive the breakthrough attention this year that Haylee Steinfeld did last year as a young actress. The supporting cast is fine, with sparkles by Robert Forster and Matthew Lillard as the father of the dying woman, and her affair.

Set amid the beauty of Oahu, Hawaii, and Kauai, the scenery is beautiful and you can just imagine leading an unremarkable life in a tropical paradise. That is part of the magic of this film. Ordinary People in Paradise is a more appropriate title.

We all go through family tragedies, and experience difficult times when least expected, but The Descendants shows that it's okay to release the emotions that come with those hard times, and accept the emotional release of others. It's a wonderful film paced nicely and there is an unmistakable influence of Payne, with a little hint of Jason Reitman. This may be the future model of the dramedy, and I like it. 9/10.