The Descendants (****1/2)

I had heard much about The Descendants prior to seeing it, some reviews stellar and some complete garbage. Nonetheless, I went into the film knowing very little and came out with a new appreciation for George Clooney as an actor as well as Alexander Payne as a filmmaker. You will notice I did not give this film a perfect score. My few faults I had with it are significant but yet did not work against the film as a whole. It's oftentimes comedic, fun, dramatic, and even heartbreaking, and on the whole Payne's work is surprisingly brilliant.

The film follows Matt King, played by George Clooney, who is faced with two grave issues. On one hand, his wife has slipped into an irreversible coma after a boating accident and must come to terms with his family and the state it is in. On the other, he and his extended family are about to sell a large portion of Hawaiian land they have owned for over 100 years - for potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. That these two events happen simultaneously seems to be the central drama of the film. Life is constantly giving and taking away.

King gets time to spend with his two daughters, both of them swearing, rebellious, and generally difficult to communicate with. Throw in the discovery of his comatose wife having had an affair and it is safe to say his life is pretty much miserable. The film plots his dealings with these situations, meeting with his family, and tracking down the man his wife had relations with.

Overall Alexander Payne delivers consistent directorial efforts and his work has yet to diminish. From Election to About Schmidt, Payne's attention to human drama and inner torments make his films some of the most fascinating and 'real' to be released. Much criticism seems to be aimed at the film's reliance on voiceover in the beginning. I would argue against this, as I found the narration completely fitting with the story and definitely necessary to set up the plot right away.

The film is wholly dependent on the cast, and it does not falter. The appeal of George Clooney as a serious actor is something I have issues with, as I generally interpret him to play the same part in every film. Here, I believed him. Here is a man coming to terms with his own mortality, and it is a surprisingly believable and sad delivery. His oldest daughter, played by Shailene Woodley, is brilliantly acted and brings a great spark to the film, and the performance given by Judy Greer is absolutely perfect in its brief moments.

My faults with the film may be the small aspects of the film. The oldest daughter, Alex, brings her friend Sid around on their journeys throughout the story, though his presence is never explained nor given attention. His 'dumb' personality also lends itself to some of the film's more awkward moments where the humor doesn't quite work as it clashes with the tragedy of the story. Many scenes also seem to build on top of one another with a lack of narrative flow between them. Individual moments are absolutely breathtaking, like Alex releasing her anguish underwater in a pool, or the youngest daughter being told tragic news in complete silence. These scenes are perhaps better than the film as a whole, but don't jump out from within a bad movie (ie. Crash and it's many beautiful scenes).

Might I also shout praises for the final shot of the film, perhaps one of the most perfect and brilliant final shots of any film I can remember. We see the family, sitting on the couch, watching the TV off screen and sharing a blanket and ice cream. We can hear that they are watching March of the Penguins, though they are essentially watching us, the audience. This staring match between reality and fiction as the credits role also forces us to examine our own lives. That we were able to sit in and examine this family's tragedy for 2 hours, only to end the film with the same characters staring back at us forced me to analyze my own life and created a moment of strong self-reflection. This is filmmaking at its greatest and though it was definitely a small moment in the film, it is one that I will not soon forget.

My greatest praise goes to the film's soundtrack. Compiled of traditional Hawaiian music comprised solely of guitar and vocals, they provide a perfect contrast to the tone of the film and were stunning additions to reinforce the fact that this story takes place in a unique setting with its own rich history and traditions.

The Descendants is not a perfect film, but it is easy to see why many people think otherwise. Payne's screenplay and direction are top-notch, as is the cast he has formed. The film is being billed as a 'dramedy,' but I think this is simply an examination of one family's life and all the happiness and sadness that goes on within it. Life cannot and should not be narrowed down to one genre, and that's exactly what this film succeeds in proving.

(Awards potential: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Woodley, Greer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing)