Writer/Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley and Beau Bridges
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood have crafted a legacy as powerful as George Clooney. Ever since his rise to stardom during the 1980’s, Clooney has become one of the finest actors in the film industry. A stylish movie-star that has larger-than-life presence, Clooney has become an actor that audiences cherish. Whether it’s commemorated casino robbers, grief-stricken fathers or controversial political leaders, Clooney has portrayed many unforgettable characters. Clooney’s strength as a star is arguably his versatility. By playing a variety of characters throughout his career, Clooney has built a lasting legacy. Despite reaching an age of retirement, Clooney has proven he has not lost his commitment for making engaging entertainment. A living legend, Clooney has made several unforgettable films throughout his illustrious career which are definitely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of George Clooney and admire all the films he has made throughout his illustrious career. However, “The Descendants” is without a doubt my favourite movie. Released in 2011, Alexander Payne’s commemorated film found the famous star playing a grief-stricken father. Boasting strong production-design, sharp storytelling and bold performances, it’s one of the best movies ever made about grief. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from George Clooney, who portrays a grief-stricken father struggling to come to terms with a catastrophic family tragedy. Ultimately, the film delivers a strong message about grief which would definitely strike a chord with everyone. It’s an incredibly realistic movie tackling universal themes of grief that everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about a grieving family, there are several strong reasons why “The Descendants” is a film that’s definitely worth watching.
Set in Hawaii, “The Descendants” tells a story of a family that struggling to cope with tragedy. George Clooney plays Matt King, a land baron struggling to cope with a tragedy. After his wife faces a tragic boating accident leaving her in a permanent coma, King is given the heavy responsibility of taking care of his family. King struggling to take care of his two daughters that deal with mental health issues of their own. To make matters worse, King’s perception of his wife changes when he uncovers shocking secrets regarding her past. Facing a dilemma, King begins to question whether he can possibly take care of his two daughters facing trauma. As he endures a troublesome situation, King questions if he is going to be able to cope with tension.
Alexander Payne is fascinating with stories of grief. Payne is a fantastic filmmaker that has always told compelling stories about families facing pain. His previous film “About Schmidt” provided an engrossing glimpse at a retired man struggling to deal with a tragedy causing doubt. With “The Descendants”, however, Payne made his first ever family drama. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the life of a grief-stricken father struggling to cope with a family disaster, but he pulled it off. Through captivating cinematography, Payne captures a man in a mid-life crisis struggling to cope with family tragedy. Payne expertly uses montages to capture a family struggling to cope with a heartbreaking tragedy. Throughout the movie, montages capture King’s struggle to cope with family tragedy. For instance, montages elevate the opening scene. During this memorable scene, King struggles to cope with his wife’s coma. One admires montages capturing hardships that grieving families go through. Using breathtaking visuals, Payne captures a family struggling to cope with a loss of a loved one that’s devastating.
Another strong aspect of “The Descendants” that deserves appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well-made. Payne’s decisions to shoot the movie in real-life locations in Hawaii is risky but works tremendously. Throughout the movie, Payne uses the Hawaii locations to capture a family that faces a painful tragedy. For instance, the Hawaii locations elevate the running scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Matt embarks on a run to find out about the person that his wife was sleeping with from friends. One admires real-life Hawaii locations capturing the grief of a family. Through these real-life locations, King creates a captivating portrait of a family facing grief audiences can relate to. Moreover, the musical score is extraordinary. It captures the hardships of a family facing grief. Through stunning production-design, Payne captures a downtrodden family that faces a decline.
Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Descendants” is a drama which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses voice-over narration to illustrate a family facing tension. Payne’s finest screenwriting strength is capturing the impact of grief on the life of a family using voice-over narration. Throughout the film, Matt narrates his negative attitude towards life following his wife’s traumatic coma accident. Whether it’s reflections on his family history or struggle to care for daughters, Matt’s meaningful narration gives insight into his personality. For instance, voice-over narration is appropriate in the opening scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Matt reflects on his hardships coping with life after his wife’s coma that proves to be devastating. Through this ingenious narration, Payne creates a strong character audiences can easily relate to. Voice-over narration is a complicated technique. As Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” suggested, narration enhances classic gangster films. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Payne captures a family that faces a painful price to pay.
One admires astonishing performances.
George Clooney delivers one of his greatest career performances as Matt King. Clooney achieved appreciations for portraying thieves which organize casino robberies. With “The Descendants”, however, he portrayed his first serious dramatic role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a grief-stricken father struggling to cope with a family tragedy, but Clooney succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him in the past before: intense, emotional and vulnerable in his most sensitive role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and caring nature of a father that struggles to raise his family following a painful disaster. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actors working today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Shailene Woodley is wonderful, capturing the grief of a teenager struggling to cope with the loss of a mother that she grew up to treasure. Amara Miller is amazing, bringing childlike innocence to a young girl that can’t quite understand the reasons for her mother’s painful absence. Finally, Nick Krause deserves appreciations. As Alexandra’s comical boyfriend Sid, he brings hilarious comical relief to what is otherwise a depressing movie.
Finally, “The Descendants” would achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing families facing resentments. Unlike most movies about family tragedy, it tackles universal themes that everyone would relate to. The movie discusses powerful themes including grief, family tragedy and loss which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of George Clooney to appreciate the movie. It delivers a universal message which would resonate with everyone that has faced family trauma at an early age. Therefore, “The Descendants” is one of those rare movies about family tragedy that everyone will adore.
Fans of George Clooney will definitely appreciate “The Descendants” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about grieving families, it honours an actor making unforgettable movies that are lasting.
A dazzling depiction of a family facing dire depression mourning the loss of a loved one that’s devastating, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated movie-star accomplishing a huge fan following that hasn’t lost his abilities to make captivating movies leaving behind a lasting legacy whose timeless movies capturing universal themes of grief everyone can relate to are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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