[Film Review] Nebraska (2013)

Title: Nebraska
Year: 2013
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: Bob Nelson
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
Music: Mark Orton
Cast:
Bruce Dern
Will Forte
June Squibb
Bob Odenkirk
Stacy Keach
Angela McEwan
Mary Louise Wilson
Rance Howard
Tim Driscoll
Devin Ratray
Missy Doty
Rating: 8.3/10

Alexander Paynes’ heartwarming father-son road trip (with mother and another son join then quit in the midway) in his home state, saturated in a nostalgic black-and-white monochrome, NEBRASKA is sophisticated witty and charismatically affecting, comfortably sits in the niche of Payne’s outstanding wheelhouse.

Woody Grant (Dern) is simple-minded after his one-million winner sweepstakes, anyone with a sensible common sense would know it is a scam, as his wife Kate (Squibb) and two sons, Ross (Odenkirk) and David (Forte) eagerly dissuade him. But with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Woody is pigheaded, so, David is motivated to drive him to capital Lincoln to ostensibly collect his reward, while in reality it offers a rare opportunity for him to bond with his father, whom he doesn’t know too much about as later when they have a short sojourn in Woody’s hometown Hawthorne.

When news spread in the town, many honest-to-goodness folks send their benediction, whereas Woody’s former business partner Ed (Keach) and some of his remote relatives blatantly try to get a slice of the windfall, a vile entailment exists in even seemingly simple-minded populace.

Cars and sports, are the two perennial staples in the stale life of those men animatedly depicted by Payne here, the Grant’s men are all introvert and taciturn, a family gathering is sitting in front of the TV watching baseball, and the sole topic of their occasional men’s take is cars. DP Phedon Papamichael creates stunning shots to expressly pay homage to the rustic vastness and the tender intimacy thickens when the story unwinds.

A six-times Oscar nominee, BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR, LEADING ACTOR, SUPPORTING ACTRESS, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY and CINEMATOGRAPHY. One sure thing is that the film squarely skews toward the demography of academy members. Dern downplays Woody’s reticent nature and radiates a fierce acuteness against his senior posture, and never panders to showiness, silently one will be involuntarily moved by what a weathered soul he has, a good-natured man’s ordinary life with unspoken back story can be incredibly heart-touching.

Will Forte (a co-lead in my book), against his nature as a laughter instigator, cogently justifies his bent in the field of melodrama, perfectly counter-balances Dern’s obstinacy, acts as an audience’s proxy to get close to a withdrawn father figure, which can be reflected upon one’s own real life feasibly. Squibb, a firebrand and a real hoot to liven up the comedic sensibility, moreover, she is a relentless defender can tear down any barriers in the way of their family solidarity.

Payne’s direction is impeccable, especially focuses on those details which can be easily ignored in our mundane life and transmits a poetic affection to viewers, e.g, the final scene, after a show-off which avoids overcompensating with the vengeful ostentatiousness, life returns to its normal state, but afterwards, it is a worthy trip to remind us to truly fulfill our filial responsibility, in a more spontaneous and earnest manner.

Woody in the bar, he is an alcoholic

two sons

a visit to the cemetery

the male of the Grant Family

Woody’s old flame (McEwan)

Stacy Keach as Ed, a sleaze bag deserves a punch in his face