The Descendants (2011)

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The Descendants

8 / 10

Starring:
George Clooney
Shailene Woodley
Beau Bridges
Judy Greer


Directed by Alexander Payne


Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures

I am a huge fan of drama, and then add some comedy; you have me by the neck and by that I mean I will sit through anything.

The descendants is a 2011 film that is based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, it has won two Golden Globe Awards and it earned five nominations at the 84th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Clooney, but it went home with an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Shot in Hawaii, the movie boast of incredible cinematography: a scene where Alex King (Shailene Woodley) sinks below the surface of a pool and screams out her lungs underwater was masterful and then the shot of the land owned by the King family was mind blowing.

If you are not in the mood for some mellow down movie, or not a fan of the drama genre, don’t think this movie isn't for you, because it is.

And if you dear risk it, I guaranty that the movie has all the top notches and you will definitely get your money’s worth.

Clooney’s performance is one that gets a real nod for classic. Alexander Payne (director) who also worked on the screenplay did a wonderful adaptation of the book. Payne found a way to pull all the Clooney charisma out, and then balances it with a mix of tragedy, betrayal and comic.

For comic relief we have Sid (Nick Krause) to thank, as he tags along with the King family all through the movie.

The story plays so, Matt King (Clooney) is a rich lawyer who decides not to leech on the fortune left to him by his parents but, saves it and works hard to take care for his family.

His wife had a boat accident that leaves her comatose. Matt who hasn’t been the world greatest husband is left to wonder what to do now with his two kids.

He takes the rebellious Alex from school, hoping she will help to tend to the little one, but that wasn’t going too well. As he was sticking a balance, and finally accepting what was happening, he found out that, his wife had been having an affair.

The information rocks Matt hard as he tries to decipher whether to confront the man who has been sleeping with his wife, or just let it slide.

That hard decision was most of what this movie is about, and the movie’s twist is what makes it great and a nice watch, one that all should get to see.