THE DESCENDANTS

(2011) Rated R. 115 minutes. Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer. Directed by Alexander Payne.

The family patriarch struggles to keep his life together after his wife’s life-threatening accident. Suddenly, the “back-up” parent needs to shift gears to become the father – and man – he never thought he could be.

Nicole: Cassidy and I thought: Hey – we like movies, let’s go see one. Simple enough, right? After I stupidly got us lost on the way to not one, but three movie theaters (thanks for the splendid directions Fandango!), we ultimately did make it to see THE DESCENDANTS.

 

Overall, my view about THE DESCENDANTS is that it’s a quiet movie. There are no car chases, no pyrotechnics – it’s a drama that relies on character analysis to hook you in. At its core, it’s an examination of one man’s character as he goes through a major life-changing event: his becoming head of the household, in all respects, after his wife is injured during a boating accident. I won’t ruin the very subtle revelations that take place during his journey, because it’s these life-shattering realizations that drive the movie forward to its tidy, if bittersweet conclusion. Suffice to say, Matt King (Clooney) goes through an emotional hell that affects every aspect of his now-very-complicated life – marriage, fatherhood, career – and he just has to be ready for it, like it or not. How many of us would be able to stand up to his challenges? Few, I’d think. And come out sane afterward, anyway.

elizabeth: Before I start with my two cents, Nicole, can you please fork up the $7.38 I wasted on gas that day? You’re right as always – we can work this out with our lawyers present.

I personally could not fathom anyone ever cheating on George Clooney. But when I saw him in those dad jeans, all bets were off. Then I realized that this actor had left all his charm and likability in the dressing room and became Matt King who suffered much by not being present in his own life. So it would make sense that everything around him would start to implode. And it does. Director Alexander Payne’s selection of actors was brilliant, and I think he waited until each one showed up to auction.

THE DESCENDANTS is about a family in crisis who lives down the block from us. We know them. We could be them. Just so you don’t think that this is as heavy as a Bergman movie, let me assure you that there is humor interlaced throughout. Humor sometimes is a life saver and it was placed perfectly in this story. I can’t say that George ran away with the whole movie because director Payne generously allowed the other actors to shine and in the end this powerful ensemble gave us hope that redemption can sometimes be just a heart wrenching apology away.

And I know this is shallow, but Mr. Clooney showed off some looking great feet in this movie. But see the movie for the fabulous performances.

Nicole: What? You didn’t enjoy the scenic tour of Westbury? Sheesh. Some people are so hard to please.  Annnnnnnnnnnyway, I agree: Who cheats on George Clooney – even if he owns the hugest selection of button-down Hawaiian shirts?

And, you’re right (as much as I hate to admit it): humor thankfully came to the rescue at just the right moments – much like how you turned to me while I was crying during a pivotal scene and said: “Oh, you big baby.” To which, I let out a belly laugh that surely made me look like the most heartless person in the movie theater. And, it’s not just during the heartbreaking moments where Payne delivers comic relief, but during the WTF? moments that occur each time a layer is peeled off the onion revealing just how screwed up Matt’s life has become. And Clooney delivers the performance with Job-like disbelief and endurance. That’s truly what Payne is great at, as he did in Sideways: presenting characters in situations that are at once believable, yet unbelievable – in the sense that: all this cannot be happening to one person. But, sometimes life is just like that, ain’t it? “Troubles come not as single spies, but in battalions.”

Does THE DESCENDANTS deserve all the critical adulation and award nominations it’s been garnering? In some ways I think Payne is a critics’ darling. Let’s face it, he hasn’t made a single flop. So, does that give him an upper hand? Sure. But I do think he coaxed out of Clooney a deservedly award-winning performance. Not so much in the lines he spoke, but in his silent reactions to his unraveling life.

Cassidy, what do you think? Do we have ourselves a Best Picture at the 2012 Oscars, or will The Help steal its thunder, like it did at the SAG Awards? 

elizabeth: I would have loved to have seen Octavia Spencer’s Minny from THE HELP in this movie. She would have slapped some sense back into Matt King (without leaving a mark on dear George’s face). Or baked him one of her infamous cakes.

And you did mention the silent reactions of George’s character that spoke volumes. So Payne ended up doing his version of THE ARTIST? So what move that begins with the word “The” deserves the Oscar? The Way We Were. My bad. Wrong decade. I am going with THE DESCENDANTS. Pssst…George. Call me.

Nicole: You know how difficult it is for me to argue with you, so I will. If THE HELP hadn’t pulled out a win for best ensemble at the SAGs, I’d have said the Oscars would follow suit and keep THE DESCENDANTS’ momentum going. Now, I’m not so sure anymore. I think we have a 50/50 tossup come award night – and the winner will be MONEYBALL, just kidding. Only time will tell.

THE FILM FATALES give The Descendants