I don’t always particularly enjoy
going to movie theaters. Good movies are hard to find, and the thought of
spending $11 and then potentially being stuck for two hours watching a film
that makes me think, “what happened to original storytelling,” is not very
appealing.
However, this weekend, I took a
chance on seeing The Descendants in theaters. And I can
honestly say it was an $11 and 2 hours well spent! Director Alexander Payne
does an eloquent job of mixing slapstick with pathos in a dramatic comedy that
examines everyday people dealing with an uncommon tragedy. The film follows the
journey of Matt King (George Clooney), an uninvolved husband and father of two
daughters, as he searches for his wife’s the secret lover, all while his wife
is in a comma from a boating accident. Throughout his search, Matt also
wrestles with the decision to sell the family’s land inheritance, which has
been handed down through history by Hawaiian royalty, while also learning how
to re-connect with his children.
The thing I found so refreshing
about this film is the underlying honesty and authenticity that is found in its
tone and characters, a product of the film’s offbeat rhythm. The film has a
non-preachy air to it; rather, it simply explores the complexity of family
relationships and life, a topic everyone can relate to. Providing a unique view
on humanity, The Descendants is
refreshing both in Clooney’s complex performance of a middle aged man trying to
make his like whole again, and in the film’s overall message that there is heroism
in simply making it through daily life. Overall, this is unique movie that
should be seen either on the theaters or on your couch when it comes out on
DVD. I guess original storytelling is not dead after all.