As I mentioned in some of my November reviews, the Holiday Movie Season represents prime proving ground for Oscar contenders, and though J. Edgar failed to live up to full expectations, The Descendants was drawing considerable praise. In the race for Best Actor, many analysts consider Moneyball the entry guaranteed to secure Brad Pitt’s nomination, and now those analysts were saying that The Descendants would do the same for George Clooney. Granted, Clooney is no stranger to critical praise, but my faith in his ability to carry a movie was understandably shaken after last year’s god-awful “deep drama,” The American. The subtle humor and simple story promised by the trailer seemed to showcase more of Clooney’s trademark personality than has been seen in recent memory, but even though my skepticism was softening, I still wasn’t fully convinced. Yet, as the independent arm of 20th Century Fox studio, Fox Searchlight Pictures has a truly impressive track record related to high-quality entries, so even though the limited release would make the film difficult to find, I knew that I had to see and review The Descendants.
Telling an emotionally-gripping story rooted in reality and supported by phenomenally strong acting and clever directing and cinematography, The Descendants is an utterly brilliant film. George Clooney delivers one of the strongest performances of his career, flawlessly transitioning between moments of indescribable grief and anger, emotions which only complicate and add weight to his character’s struggle towards accepting responsibility for his estranged family. The biggest surprise is young Shailene Woodley, who more than holds her own onscreen alongside Clooney as she adds a clever cynicism to her role as the Oscar-winners troubled teenage daughter. The story itself is thoroughly engaging, mixing a level of humor and pathos that plays to audience empathy so strongly that you will undoubtedly laugh, cry, and question your own reaction were a similar situation present itself. Plain and simple, The Descendants is sure to earn nominations for both Best Picture and Best Actor, and if you can find it in theaters, do not hesitate to see one of the most surprising and enjoyable films of the Holiday Movie Season.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
