The Descendants (2011) directed by Alexander Payne
It's never easy to say goodbye especially when there are still unresolved issues in the air. That is why you often hear the expression "They took the easy way out" when someone dies because the departed doesn't have to deal with all the mess left behind. In The Descendants, Matt King is left alone to raise his two daughters when his wife is put in a coma after a boating accident. When there is no hope left for her, the doctors must eventually pull the plug as dictated by her will.
But Matt is not able to grieve for his loss. He has too much on his plate at the moment. His family and his relatives are the descendants of one of the original white land owners in Hawaii and he is the sole trustee of the estate. He must soon decide what to with the land before the trust dissolves in seven years. But on a personal level, there are still unresolved issues between Matt and his wife. He discovers that she has been cheating on him, but only after the news that she will die.
Matt is devastated and angry. In a particularly scathing scene, he lets loose on her knowing she cannot hear him, venting all the ill will he was never able to express to her before. It is cold and vindictive, but he feels cheated not just by her but by the situation. She got off easy. But when his angry daughter Alexandra attempts to do the same, he will not let her last words to her mother be so callous. Matt is also the sole trustee of his daughters now as well and for the first time must be a real father. The film is partly about how to deal with loss, but at the same time it is about moving on.
The Descendants falls under the category of comedic drama, or dramady, and there is a fine balance between light hearted humor and the serious emotion and intelligence the film shows. It deals with the disruptive nature of adultery and the sadness of death, but it isn't overly morose as to feel suffocating. There is the quest to seek out his wife's lover that feels almost like a comedy adventure, though the pain and anguish Matt feels is all too real. It is a fine balance. George Clooney is excellent as Matt as he shows a wide range of conflicted emotion and subtle humor. This is one of his better performances in one of his better films.
Grade: A-
It's never easy to say goodbye especially when there are still unresolved issues in the air. That is why you often hear the expression "They took the easy way out" when someone dies because the departed doesn't have to deal with all the mess left behind. In The Descendants, Matt King is left alone to raise his two daughters when his wife is put in a coma after a boating accident. When there is no hope left for her, the doctors must eventually pull the plug as dictated by her will.
But Matt is not able to grieve for his loss. He has too much on his plate at the moment. His family and his relatives are the descendants of one of the original white land owners in Hawaii and he is the sole trustee of the estate. He must soon decide what to with the land before the trust dissolves in seven years. But on a personal level, there are still unresolved issues between Matt and his wife. He discovers that she has been cheating on him, but only after the news that she will die.
Matt is devastated and angry. In a particularly scathing scene, he lets loose on her knowing she cannot hear him, venting all the ill will he was never able to express to her before. It is cold and vindictive, but he feels cheated not just by her but by the situation. She got off easy. But when his angry daughter Alexandra attempts to do the same, he will not let her last words to her mother be so callous. Matt is also the sole trustee of his daughters now as well and for the first time must be a real father. The film is partly about how to deal with loss, but at the same time it is about moving on.
The Descendants falls under the category of comedic drama, or dramady, and there is a fine balance between light hearted humor and the serious emotion and intelligence the film shows. It deals with the disruptive nature of adultery and the sadness of death, but it isn't overly morose as to feel suffocating. There is the quest to seek out his wife's lover that feels almost like a comedy adventure, though the pain and anguish Matt feels is all too real. It is a fine balance. George Clooney is excellent as Matt as he shows a wide range of conflicted emotion and subtle humor. This is one of his better performances in one of his better films.
Grade: A-
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