The Descendants

Less of a movie - more of a film. George Clooney must have taken this one in hopes it could be an Oscar bid for him, and it probably will be.

This is a quiet, slow, introspective piece - with a few moments of dark humor to keep it from being a throw yourself under the bus film. The title encapsulates the theme of the film - what we have been given (both figuratively and literally) as the descendants or our ancestors, and what are we passing on to our descendants. Clooney's character is a man being squeezed by that emotional pressure from both sides and manages to do it with a great deal of grace.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this film is the secondary story I was told about the setting of the movie: Hawaii. Someone who was involved with writing this story was from there at some point, and they manage to layer in a realistic view of coming from the islands. It was an eye opener for those of us who have only ever thought of Hawaii as an exotic vacation destination.

But - this is a film not a movie. If you are just sitting down for a couple of hours escape from the world - maybe desirous of watching some eye candy (why does this man get better looking with age?!?) I recommend you pass on The Descendants. If you are in the mood for something more somber, something very well done and thoughtful - this is an excellent choice.