Alexander Payne is an interesting director with a penchant for making interesting movies. George Clooney is an interesting actor who also has a penchant for making interesting movies. Adapted from Kaui Hart Hemmings' 2007 novel of the same name, Hawaii-set The Descendants is the result of both of their talents and manages to be the rare (oscar-baiting) character study that, while not exactly a feel-good movie, certainly works as entertainment for the masses. Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, and Robert Forster also star.
The film centers on Matt King, a wealthy Oahu-based lawyer and native Hawaiian and his dealing with his coma-ridden wife's impending death, and the revelation that she had been having an affair prior to her tragic water-skiing accident. In addition, he also is tasked with making a decision regarding an extremely large tract of very lucrative land his extended family has owned since the eighteen-sixties and whether or not to sell (and who to) for what promises to be a vast amount. The situation on hand forces Matt to become a more hands on parent to his two rebellious daughters: Scottie, ten or so, and Alex, seventeen or so. Revelations of his wife's infidelity, that come unexpectedly from Alex, lead to Matt confronting a variety of people, including, but not limited to, self-centered friends, a standoffish father-in-law, some of his oddly named cousins, and the man his wife has been sleeping with, along with his wife. In addition, Sid, Alex's perpetually stoned and somewhat oblivious friend comes along for the ride.
The acting in this film is exceptional, with George Clooney giving one of his best performances to date and Shailene Woodley giving what should amount to be a star-making performance (that is not on a teen-soap broadcast on ABC Family) as Matt King's teenage daughter Alex. Clooney, while certainly able to be wacky when called upon, is at his best in this type of role: understated, contemplative, and pained to the core (see: Michael Clayton or The American). Woodley is arguably given the more difficult task as the troubled Alex, in what is essentially a lead role, in playing a teenager with alot of resentment towards her parents, that does not come off as petty and lacking the typical "righteous indignation" of youth, but she manages to pull it off with aplomb. In addition, Robert Forster is excellent as an aggressive father grieving by means of rose-colored glasses. Other actors, such Nick Krause playing the stoned Sid and Beau Bridges as Cousin Hugh do well with their limited roles.
The writing in the film is whip-smart and generally sounds like real people speaking. One issue with the film is that it has a tendency to introduce characters for a scene or two, only to drop them for the remainder of the film, though this is hardly a mortal sin considering the film is, rightly, focused on Matt King and his two daughters, particularly Alex. One thing The Descendants manages to do extremely well is that it takes uncomfortable situations and is able to make them very funny without compromising the emotional heft of the scene. Instances such as Sid confusing Matt's mother-in-law's dementia for a joke, only to be punched in the face by his father-in-law could have easily fallen into the realm of slapstick, but do not.
The film, particularly the views of the scenery, is beautifully shot through its entirety and evokes a Hawaii, that while very beautiful, is not the ethereal paradise so often conveyed in film. Payne's style is well suited to the material in that it brings out the best in his actors, scenes focusing just on Clooney's face are very effective and bring the emotions he is forcing down to the forefront without having him give a lengthy monologue or break down crying. Another aspect worth noting is the score, composed entirely of Hawaiian music, is both tonally effective and ably reinforces the Hawaiian setting without having hula dancers or surfers, et cetera, to distract from the meat of the story.
The Descendants is, in the end, an excellent film, with very few faults and some legitimately powerful performances from its leads and a worthy addition to Alexander Payne's already rather impressive collection of directorial efforts.
10/10
Additional Notes:
- "Come on, Alex. Tell her how you were drunk the other night. Tell her how maybe you're an alcoholic." -an overly excited preteen Scottie
- "Don't be fooled. In Hawaii some of the most important people look like bums and stunt men." -a conference room bound Matt King
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