Review 115: The Descendants

 

The Descendants is a touching, moving comedy and one of Alexander Payne's best movies and a film that (in the words of Mark Kermode) has a charm that creeps up on you by the end of the film.

Based on the novel The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings, Matt King (George Clooney) is an indifferent husband and father of two daughters Alex (Shailene Woodley) and Scotty (Amara Miller), who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki and ends up in a coma. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the land which has been in the family for generations.

The plot is wonderful - and very realistic, it has a lot to say about life, troubled families and the flaws of human nature, thus making it a film that appeals to a wide variety of people. Every character in the film is flawed but the film doesn't criticize their flaws or portray them in a stereotypical way it highlights them to show how they overcome their individual obstacles.
They're not portrayed in an idealized way, on the contrary they're portrayed as a family who we recognize and sympathize with.
There's the absent/unengaged father (Matt King), the two rebellious girls (Alex and Scotty), the disillusioned wife and the relatives.
There are touching moments of insight e.g. when King argues with his daughters and these arguments are not pointless you really get the sense that he's lost and out of his depth.
The film also has some nail biting tension to it, your wondering if Matt King will confront his demons just like Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. 
Originally I went to this film expecting a really funny comedy but instead I got a comedy drama that wasn't really funny, but more serious and really thoughtful. 

Writer/director Alexander Payne direction is sensitive, the locations are stunning (the way Hawaii is depicted in the film is also very realistic, it's rainy, misty and damp and I think that adds to the uncertain tone of the film). the cinematography is beautiful, the production design is brilliant, the costumes are terrific, the scenery is breathtaking, the soundtrack is terrific and the ending was superb.

The film is beautifully acted, though the star performer has to be George Clooney as Matt King who possibly gives on the best dramatic performances of his career in recent years. He is a father who has never been close to his daughters but who has to develop a relationship with them due to his wife being in a coma and his character arc really moves me.
Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller are excellent as Alex and Scotty respectively, they see Matt as naive and self centered but as they spend more time with him they realize he is in great need of their support.
Another actor who I though was good in this film was Beau Bridges as Cousin Hugh who is really warm, sympathetic and supportive towards Matt's situation.

The Descendants is a wonderful comedy drama and a film that will honestly warm your heart, 5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.