My apologies, but given my lack of time, this review will be shorter than usual.
The Descendants will probably come across as a regular all too far often seen drama that deals with unfortunate family issues. However, where other movies have struggled to set themselves apart from being ordinary, The Descendants succeeds and ends up offering one of the year’s best films. It is led by an emotional and Oscar-worthy performance by George Clooney, with strong performances from the rest of the cast, including his daughter, played by Shailene Woodley.
The film begins with George Clooney’s wife being hospitalized after a serious injury leaves her in a coma. The rest of the film centers on Clooney and his two daughters, and how they deal with the tragedy. With such a plot, you can expect a lot of emotional and heavy scenes, but they are balanced nicely with humorous lines in the movie and strong performances. The direction is good, but I would still have to give the Oscar to Refn for the amazing job he did with Drive. The only thing that could have been changed in the direction of The Descendants is the number of scenes where his wife is shown. Her position does not change, and as unfortunate as it may be, it is unpleasant to get constant close-ups of her lying in her hospital bed.
The music is smooth and fits appropriately with the film, with a few Hawaiian tunes, and many pleasant instrumentals. In terms of the acting, which I’ve already mentioned, I think it is time for the Academy to award Clooney his second Oscar, and his first for a leading role (he previously won best supporting actor for his performance is Syriana). Clooney is forced to display dramatic emotions many times throughout the film, and delivers fantastically in these scenes. He might not have won for his performance in Up in the Air, but the performance he puts on in The Descendants is much stronger and more worthy of an Oscar.
The Descendants isn’t a movie you need to see in theaters, but it is a movie you should check out. There have been a number of terrific films this year that may or may not get nominated for an Oscar next year, and even though the Academy may pass on nominating The Descendants, it still stands as one of the best films of the year, and a film worth seeing when you get the chance. You won’t be disappointed.
Score: 8.8/10
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