Nebraska
There is nothing especially extraordinary about the Grant family -- there are no ongoing family quarrels, no inherent drama that makes their life together too much of a struggle... Alexander Payne opens a door into a normal family's life, allowing us to see a glimpse of what excitement in Midwest America is like.
Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, a quiet and senile alcoholic living in Billings, Montana with his foul-mouthed, outspoken wife, Kate (played by June Squibb). Woody gets a letter in the mail stating that he has won a million dollars (if he orders some magazine subscriptions and has the winning code), and will be damned if he doesn't make it to Lincoln, Nebraska to pick up his winnings -- even if he has to walk there. His son, David (Will Forte) finally decides to humor him and drive him there; so begins a road trip in which father and son try to bond with one another before the old man loses his mind altogether. The film was shot in black and white, and the cinematography and musical score combined really capture the rambling feel of the story.
Woody may not actually become a millionaire, but his insistence that he will be causes problems along the way -- a classic example of a character creating a conflict for himself to overcome. This theme, sprinkled with plenty of small-town humor, is what pulls the film together. Come watch at the Midtown Cinema!
Good review as always, Sam! :) This was my favorite film of 2013; when I first saw it I remember laughing and crying more during a film more than I have in some time. Alexander Payne's films are one of my favorite types - doesn't seem like a lot going on on the surface, very simple plot. And yet when you begin to think about the film, there are many layers to uncover. This film stayed with me for a few days after, and that's a good sign. It's about family - the importance of communicating and being there for each other and accepting each other for who we are, warts and all. It's about human nature: love, hate, anger, greed, frustration. It's about roles in the family - both immediate and extended. And the powerful scene at Woody's house made me think about the weight of the past and how we are shaped by it, but need to not let it overburden us (not always easy). All of the Oscar noms were well-deserved (Yay, Bruce Dern and June Squibb!), and although it probably won't win much, it's still a sentimental favorite to me. Hope I can make it in to see it again!
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