The Descendants Review

Rating: 9.5 out of 10


The pace of the film is akin to its setting. The film flows like the waves. Taking its time to reach the shore. . . And then repeat. This rippling motion is just one of the small things that show how wonderfully this film was made.

The Descendants is superlative cinema. Alexander Payne is a major American contemporary director. Especially in a year where the best films were made by the old-schoolers namely: Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen and Terrence Malick. Alexander Payne along with David Fincher holds the fort for the newbies (relatively). Michel Hazanavicius, Nicolas Winding Refn, Lynne Ramsay and Steven McQueen aren't Americans and I'm only referring to American cinema here. Although Hazanavicus and Refn showed they know quite a lot about American films.

This is a family film. But it isn't a big budget Hollywood family film. It doesn't shy away from the one thing that all families on this planet have in common: Issues. Each family has problems and issues. It is never rosy. Yes, we all love our family. But there are always those things which we can't stand about them. We just choose to blend in. The King family consists of Matthew (George Clooney), Alex (Shailene Woodley), Scottie (Amara Miller) and Elizabeth (Patricia Hastle). Elizabeth was in a boating accident and is now in a coma. Matthew loves his wife and hates her. Alex loves her mom and hates her. Scottie and Alex love their dad and hate him. In the end, we all try to find that equilibrium. Not a solution. Well, because life is unfair. Things sometimes just happen. You can't control them. But what you can control is how your react to them, mend them. Damage control. Fortification is a possibility.

The Descendants does not offer easy fixes. It makes all of its characters work for it and we get to watch and even participate in our own way. The best thing that this film achieves is it involves us. It invites us into a family. While watching the film, many times I found myself learning new things about each character, building judgments and then revising them. Understanding the actions of the characters. Rarely does a film so comfortably makes you feel like you are a part of its world.

The screenplay is a marvel. It is adapted from a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. It sets up its characters and then gives you another dimension. Imagine knowing all about a character that is comatose throughout the film. We only see her in one tiny scene at the beginning then get a sense of her in from then on till the time Matthew decides to make us cry (I absolutely love that scene, you know the one). So much is unsaid here but all is explained. Laid bare in front of us. Never before has George Clooney disappeared into a character like so. He is not the suave lady-charmer here. He is not playing Clooney - the star. This is Clooney - the actor. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins an Oscar for this turn. (Although I would give it to Gary Oldman)

The acting meshes with the writing beautifully. A character like that of Nick Caruse (who plays Sid) would exist in a lesser film for comic relief. We even get to know him. Like him. After a few minutes of meeting him (funny that I wrote "meeting" and didn't want to replace it with another word), we want someone to punch him. Which does happen to the obnoxious douchebag! But the second time around, in a similar situation, I would physically defend him. I have specifically chosen to talk about this minor character just to illustrate how well-made this film is. I read that in the book, Sid and Alex (played by Shailene Woodley) have a romantic relationship. But in the film, none of that is clear. Here in the film, it is just a relationship between a boy and a girl. Of friendship. Apparently, Payne asked Woodley and Caruse to hang out and see what kind of bond they share. Woodley said she doesn't feel attracted to him and it's more friendly. When Alex says "I will be more civil with him around", it doesn't necessarily mean that she wants her boyfriend around who she can sleep with and forget her troubles. We find out something about him later, which shows how his presence is enough for Alex. He is her buffer.

This is just one of the aspects that shows how this film is an exemplary collaboration. Obviously all of this is achieved by one man's careful design - Alexander Payne. The man at the helm. Just like Payne made Woodley and Caruse participate in the process. He continues doing that with the audience. (Another excellent film that did the same recently was A Separation - watch it now, thank me later)

There is also a sub-plot about the King clan and the huge plot of land they own. It is time to sell it and distribute the money amongst all of the extended family. Matthew is the trustee and has to make the decision. I won't give away what happens. But this is also one of those examples that prove this isn't your usual Hollywood film. It looks like it. But when you feel it, you know it isn't.

(Also, Shailene Woodley is damn pretty/ hot.. more of her please)