The Descendants (With Digital Copy) (Blu-ray)

This is a cute movie with George Clooney giving his best performance but still not one of my favourite.

George Clooney gives one of his best performances in the Dromady as a father who has to re-connect with his two daughters when his wife has a boating accident and is put into a coma. To make matters worse he also finds out that she was also cheating behind his back and so Clooney and his two daughters have to struggle to comes to terms with the loss they must face and confront the man his comatosed wife was having a fling with and why.
What grabs you about this film is how well it's acted, the characters feel real and although the pace of the film is slow it's the well written characters and all to true situations that draws you into the story.
It's a wry, intelligent look at the contradictions and complexities of human emotions. And the cast is exemplary, down to the smallest role. Clooney convinces as a man tussling with all the intimate issues he's spent half his life steering well clear of, and finding himself near breaking point. As Alexandra, Shailene Woodley shines, initially just another bratty, resentful teenager, she soon matures to the point where she's acting as supportive parent to her own bewildered dad. There are telling cameos from Robert Forster, bristling with anger as Clooney's father in law. Beau Bridges as the most affable and avaricious of the cousins and of course, there's Hawaii. Despite Clooney's disenchanted tirade of his loathing for the islands the film doesn't shy away from showing us the islands overwhelming beauty or the tourist tackiness that blights them.
The film is heart warming, funny and sad as anyone who has watched a loved one slip away and there's nothing to do than sit back, watch and take it like a bitter pill will fully appreciate this well written character study as this movie is a wryly compassionate vision of human fallibility superbly anchored by one of Clooney's strongest performances.

George Clooney gives one of his best performances in the Dromady as a father who has to re-connect with his two daughters when his wife has a boating accident and is put into a coma. To make matters worse he also finds out that she was also cheating behind his back and so Clooney and his two daughters have to struggle to comes to terms with the loss they must face and confront the man his comatosed wife was having a fling with and why.
What grabs you about this film is how well it's acted, the characters feel real and although the pace of the film is slow it's the well written characters and all to true situations that draws you into the story.
It's a wry, intelligent look at the contradictions and complexities of human emotions. And the cast is exemplary, down to the smallest role. Clooney convinces as a man tussling with all the intimate issues he's spent half his life steering well clear of, and finding himself near breaking point. As Alexandra, Shailene Woodley shines, initially just another bratty, resentful teenager, she soon matures to the point where she's acting as supportive parent to her own bewildered dad. There are telling cameos from Robert Forster, bristling with anger as Clooney's father in law. Beau Bridges as the most affable and avaricious of the cousins and of course, there's Hawaii. Despite Clooney's disenchanted tirade of his loathing for the islands the film doesn't shy away from showing us the islands overwhelming beauty or the tourist tackiness that blights them.
The film is heart warming, funny and sad as anyone who has watched a loved one slip away and there's nothing to do than sit back, watch and take it like a bitter pill will fully appreciate this well written character study as this movie is a wryly compassionate vision of human fallibility superbly anchored by one of Clooney's strongest performances.

not all movies match up to the critic's views when the film is first released, however, for me, this is quite simply a '5 star' film.
the background to the film is the possible sale, for development of a beautiful and unspoilt cove which has been passed down the line for many generations, 'matt king' and his many family members would benefit from such a sale, however many 'hawaian' locals are against the sale, 'matt' who is trustee will have the last say on the matter.
however, for land-baron 'matt' puts the prospect of a sale on the back-burner when his life is turned upside down when his wife 'elizabeth' has a boating accident and is left in a coma.
'matt' now has to pay more attention to his youngest 'scottie'
when told that his wife will not recover he and 'scottie' travel to another island to pick up eldest daughter 'alexandra' who is a student at a boarding school.
'alexandra' is a little wayward with plenty of attitude, she soon gives her father another bombshell to deal with, telling him her mother was having an affair.
'matt' wants to confront the man he learns to be 'brian spear, but in the cold light of day feels that if 'brian' and his wife 'elizabeth' were in love, 'brian' should maybe have the oppertunity to say goodbye.
this is a quality movie, and, for me, is one of 'george clooney's finest performances' ...............enjoy

superbly done and full of emotion. beautifully set and well written and directed. i loved it, although it was sad it felt like a proper movie based on reality.