Review 291: Nebraska
After receiving a letter in the post saying he's won $1 million dollars, a bad tempered father Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) thinks he has struck it rich, and persuades his son David (Will Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. They drive from Montana to Nebraska. And along the way, the two meet up with friends, relatives and acquaintances who, on hearing of his "win" claim he owes them money. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America.
The plot for me was, in some ways, very different from Alexander Payne'a previous films. Like Payne's pervious works, it looks at contemporary American society in a satirical way, but it has a universal appeal - it has something I think all audiences can identify with and a more touching tone since it deals with themes of enjoying the journey and not just arriving at your destination, family, friends, greed, acceptance, the idea of how money changes people, achieving your ambitions even if they're not very big, old age and how different generations see life.
How do these themes play a part in Nebraska, well lets talk about them.
Enjoying the journey and not just arriving at your destination: Not to spoil everything but eventually Woody Grant's journey to collect his million dollars shows us that we should enjoy our journey and not just think about getting to end of it, which is something a lot of people do and end up feeling disappointed.
Family and Friends: Nebraska is all about the family pulling together and supporting each other, Woody's son David doesn't want him to go to Nerbraska but eventually he gives in a agrees to drive him to drive him there.
Acceptance: Nebraska is also about living in reality and being happy with what you have.
Greed: When everyone hears about Woody Grant has won a fortune, they want some of it so he can "pay them" because they claim he owes them money.
Old age: Woody Grant feels at the end of the road, but he has a liberating feeling and doesn't care what people think e.g. At the beginning when he starts walking to Nerbraska and people call him a looney, he doesn't care anymore.
How different generations see life: In some ways Nebraska is as David's story as it is Woody's mainly because it's a learning experience for him e.g. the pleasure of seeing his father so happy at the end and standing up for his farther against his ex work partners.
Having ambitions even if they're not very big: Nebraska also shows that important personal goals and that they may not be groundbreaking but they're important to the people who try them.
Alexander Payne's direction is sensitive, the black and white cinematography is inspired and gets the films tone right, the score by Mark Orton is beautiful, the scenery is breathtaking, the setting is wonderful, the locations are terrific, the production design is great, the costumes are terrific and the ending was superb.
The acting is fantastic though the star actor has to be Bruce Dern as Woody as he normally plays supporting roles or very villainous characters and the end result is a mesmerising performance of a man who has had his time but is determined to get his lottery money.
Will Forte is really humble as David, Woody's father, he doesn't agree with his father going to Nebraka but decides to drive him their and is willing to support him. Which is the nicest thing a son can do to his aged father. Also his journey in the film is really moving.
June Squibb is excellent as Kate, Woody's wife, she starts out at the beginning as a nightmare but as the film goes on she becomes more polite and tolerant towards his journey as the film goes on.
Also the rest of the cast is great.
Nebraska is a remarkable comedy drama and a fitting addition to director Alexander Payne's range of films, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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