NEWS CHANNELSynopsis: A man is faced with two life changing events at once
Who’s in it: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges
GEORGE Clooney is an A-list actor so he will always get people to the cinema in big numbers, even for his less than impressive work.
If you’re one of those who flocks to everything he appears in then you will be thrilled to know that you won’t have to pretend that The Descendants is any good - it really is a good watch.
In fact, most people would probably enjoy this comedy drama directed by Alexander Payne.
Clooney stars as Matt King, a wealthy landowner and lawyer in Hawaii whose wife ends up in a coma following a water-skiing accident.
King does the honourable thing and devotes himself to his stricken wife and two kids, but things change dramatically when he learns that his wife was having an affair at the time of her mishap.
There’s more on his plate too as greedy relatives are urging him to sell his land to local developers, not really what you need at a time of personal tragedy.
It’s an excellent performance by Clooney who excels as the film effortlessly blends the contrasting emotions of heartbreak and hilarity.
Payne’s portrayal of basic human feelings was superb in his last film Sideways, and although that was seven years ago he hasn’t lost the touch.
Based on a book by Kaui Hart Hemming, The Descendants tugs on the heart strings with moments of beautiful melancholy but it also makes us laugh with jokes and slapstick.
There’s an excellent soundtrack courtesy of authentic Hawaiian artists, and although some may find it a little too depressing, for many The Descendants will resonate deeply.
On this evidence we can forgive Payne for waiting seven years between films.
Rating: 8/10
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