The Descendants

“ The Descendants”(2011)

*****      

An Hominem Enterprises Drama/Comedy

Cast: George Clooney (Matt or Matthew King), Shailene Woodley (Alexandra or Alexis King), Amara Miller (Scottie King), Patricia  Hastie (Elizabeth King),Beau Bridges (Cousin Hugh), Matthew Lillard (Brian Speer), Judy Greer (Julie Speer).Running time: 115 minutes.  Director:Alexander Payne.

Heartfelt film that presses the drama pushing what”'s deemed a comedy too, to the back burner.  As such, it”'s just as well the drama takes center stage because in my view–in this film–it”'s a better movie.

All of  the breathtaking cinematography by Phedon Papamichael takes place in Honolulu, O”'ahu, Hawaii or nearby islands.  Standing on what is one of the world”'s stunning paradises is George Clooney, as Matthew King in an unfortunate dilemma: a wife Liz (Patricia Hastie) in a coma from a water-skiing accident and either selling or keeping a great estate  he inherited from his great-grandmother , a native princess married a non-native (haole) businessman.

Matt has two daughters Scottie (Amara Miller)and Alexis (Shailene Woodley), 7 and 17, respectively, misbehaving and  sometimes mean-spirited towards their dad.   I hardly feel empathy as the girls on a number of levels,but as the movie tracks forward I begin ease my frustrations about these wayward 21st century kids. … Read the rest “The Descendants”