Review: The Descendants

Seven years after his success in directing Sideways (2004), director Alexander Payne returned to sit in the director's chair for directing The Descendants, a comedy drama adaptation of the script he same titled novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. With the way the story is set in place in the region behind Hawaii, United States, The Descendants is a film that will easily liked. Whether it's because of the success of Payne - who worked with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash - to produce a text of a story full of light yet profound meaning of life, a blend of natural cinematography beautiful Hawaii with the use of traditional music are compelling, because the ranks of the cast that actually manages to look natural and impressive or because of the combination of the various elements that make The Descendants then able to present it as a presentation sweet and very touching.

George Clooney is a perfect choice to portray the character of Matt King, a husband, a father of two girls, Alex (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller), who was growing up as well as a busy lawyer often makes himself away from his family. Clooney has the right charisma to be able to turn the character Matt King who look like millions of other fathers in the world, but has a very high sensitivity when it comes to dealing with his family. A tragedy arises when an accident then make Matt's wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), should lay in a coma at the hospital. Even more tragically, the doctor has been sentenced Elizabeth will not be able to re-aware and advised Matt to immediately revoke any medical device which for some time has been helping to support Elizabeth.

Before unplugging any medical device which is used by Elizabeth, Matt decides to tell the sad news to the whole family and friends who knew him and Elizabeth so that they can visit Elizabeth as soon as possible. However, a surprise came when Alex reveals that he had found his mother was having an affair with another man. Surprised, disappointed and angry, Matt finally tracked down a man who a cheating spouse Elizabeth. At the same time, Matt's position as the sole heir to a vast empty land in the area of ​​Hawaii put him in a difficult position when he must decide whether to sell the land in order to meet the wishes of his or maintain the land in accordance with the wishes of the people of Hawaii.

Among the various plot stories interwoven stories that burst between The Descendants, the film is trying to portray how the characters in the story are growing up in the face of various problems they experienced. However, Alexander Payne does not do it that way too melodramatic. Characters like Matt, Alex and Scottie are not the characters depicted so badly that they had experienced a problem to be able to figure a better character. The third main character is indeed problematic, but since the beginning, the three characters have been described as natural characters that can be found audiences to be around them. Naturalness of this character - who previously also explored through Sideways Payne - who makes The Descendants feels so light to digest. Spectators will be able to easily connect to any problems faced by every character in the story this film.

The Descendants own storytelling road less will remind a lot of people going to the movie Juno (2007) directed by Reitman Jaso is trying to find a gap in the comedy drama is a story that will be told in drama generally and tragedy. The Descendants script so perfectly capable of delivering both elements of drama and comedy that he is playing very well. Under the direction of Payne, storytelling tone change between the two elements is also capable of going quite smoothly so that the audience will not feel the parts that made too melodramatic or too forced comedy. Support cinematographic works Phedon Papamichael, who previously also worked with Payne on Sideways, in producing soft images and beautiful in capturing the right emotional nuances of the natural environment of Hawaii, The Descendants also will make even easier to enjoy.

Payne also getting very strong support from the acting department filler movie, George Clooney gives one of his best performance as an actor when playing the character Matt King. Many will think that Clooney does not require so much struggle to portray a character that has appeal as strong as Clooney. However, in many scenes, the character Matt King is a character who is blind, but his family will continue to strive to get to know them and prove to them that he was a good father figure, especially in conditions where his family was hit by a deep confusion. Clooney is able to capture the essence of the character Matt King is very good and perfect in The Descendants! Easily be one of the best performances so far this year.

In addition to Clooney, you also will not find many problems in the performance of the other supporting cast lineup. Beau Bridges was able to capture the limited attention through his role as Cousin Hugh. Likewise with Matthew Lillard - actor better known as the companion Freddie Prinze, Jr.. in many romantic comedies - who returned to the acting world and demonstrate maturity is the level of acting ability. However, the appearance of Judy Greer and Shailene Woodley was the one that will fascinate many people. Alex Woodley was able to make the character he played was so sensitive even with all the rude words and actions that he did to his father. Woodley was also able to figure that gives a variety of additional variants into the emotional story The Descendants. Just like Bridges, Greer has a fairly limited role in this film. Even so, Greer is able to utilize the minimum amount of time to give such a strong acting ability. Even at the end of a scene, Greer is able to present an emotional intensity that is so touching.

From a total of 115 minutes duration broadcast, The Descendants is actually still can be shortened by eliminating some of the scenes and characters that seem less crucial to the overall story - character Sid, played by Nick Krause was once only presented to provide additional supplies for the sentimental moments of character Matt King without given the strong characterization. Even so, it must be admitted Payne has successfully produced a skit presentation is so entertaining and very touching. The Descendants is a movie that actually has a theme of the story is quite mature but will be easily absorbed and followed by many spectators. Payne has managed to bring a touching drama without going overboard on the melodrama generate audience. And it will be able to make The Descendants appear so strong for the audience.


Movie Detail:


The Descendants (2011)

Directed by Alexander Payne Produced by Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor Written by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Alexander Payne (screenplay), Kaui Hart Hemmings (novel, The Descendants) StarringGeorge Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Patricia Hastie, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, Milt Kogan, Laird Hamilton, Michael Ontkean, Matt CorboyCinematography Phedon PapamichaelEditing by Kevin TentStudio Ad Hominem Enterprises Running time 115 minutes Country United StatesLanguage English.