The Descendants

Director: Alexander Payne
Release Date: 27th January 2012 (UK)


Alexander Payne directs 'The Descendants' with George Clooney as Matt King. A father and husband who struggles to connect with both of his daughters but is forced too when his wife is left in a coma after a boating accident.


Payne, famous for directing About Schmidt, Sideways and Election creates this character arc between the whole family. As an audience you are captivated by their troubles, and really sympathise with George Clooney's performance as Matt King, with this emotional roller coaster of a film.


Based on Payne's previous work, such as Election I was expecting the typical character arcs and the journey it takes them on. As like, Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt you see Clooney's character discover different things about himself through the film, therefore the film had some similarities to Payne's previous filmography.


The music fitted in brilliantly with the Hawaiian theme, when there was a somber moment the music encouraged this, somewhat making the moments more beautiful. 


George Clooney has this ability to play brilliant and diverse characters. As a cheeky, slightly cocky writer and single dad in One Fine Day, 1996 was where he won me over as a talented actor. His works improved and branched out from there, and despite seeing him in previous roles and having preconceptions of Matt King's character  he was not only believable, but portrayed him superbly through emotional and hard-hitting scenes. 


A brilliant sub-plot to the film was the pain King had go through, not only was his wife in a deep coma, but he discovered that she had cheated. Seeing Clooney act out anger, grieve as well as panic all simultaneously was which made this film for me. 


There were some slightly humerous lines within the films. Alexander King, the oldest daughter (played by Shailene Woodley) is a troublde teenager who was put in to rehab for alcohol and drug abuse. However, she has a friend to get her through the grief, Sid (played by Nick Krause) quite slow, not all there teenager brings comedic values by laughing at inappropriate times and making inappropriate jokes. 


A quote I really understood and related to in this film was: "I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father - you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing". This quote showed the businesslike side to film, King inheriting land from distant relatives along with a bulk sum. With King's strong morals and values it encourages the audience to be able to relate and this quote sums this up perfectly.


Another aspect was the filming, scenes were shooted brilliantly. When Alexander discovered her mother's life-support machine was being turned off, she was in a swimming pool. The speech went silent as the music did too, accompanied with a slow-motion shot of her screaming and crying underwater. The shot was beautifully heartwarming for the audience to really acknowledge her pain.


All aspects considered it makes this film a brilliant watch. You really see the journey of this distant family and it is sentimental seeing them brought closer through the distressing journey.


The Descendants is captivating, well filmed with suitable music, brilliant acting with hints of light-hearted comedy every so often. All these things round off a perfect film. I'd advise anyone to go see it, there is something for everyone and it's worth a watch; not a miss.

RATING: 9/10