Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne,
Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Starring: George Clooney,
Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges,
Robert Forester, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard
When I reviewed “The
Descendants” back in December of last year, I was still reeling from my own
father’s death. I enjoyed the movie very much, despite its connections with
terrible personal events that were still quite raw on my heart. I’m still
finding new emotions to deal with in facing my father’s death, but I’m doing
much better now. This gave me a different experience seeing this movie a second
time.
I remembered the movie as
having more funny moments than I discovered in my second screening. I think
that’s reflective of my mindset during the original screening. I was searching
for the humor in family and death at that time. I didn’t need it so much this
time around. Also, it’s sad moments rested heavier on my soul the first time.
This time the whole experience was more like a relief. I could see clearer what
was happening. I reacted less viscerally to it and more intellectually.
That’s reflective of any
film experience. The first time around holds your visceral reaction, the second
your intellectual. A movie passes the test if it works on both levels. “The
Descendants” most certainly does. I think much of that success is due to its
lyrical quality. It sings a story of life rather than merely depicting one. It
has crescendos and diminuendos, and through it all we must trek. We look up to
those who do it well. The King family does it well in this film.
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