Nebraska is the type of film that you've heard about. You've seen previews for it and think that it might be good and then set it out of your mind. It's the film you see was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and think, "yeah, well, it's black and white, no surprise there." But, you don't ever really make an effort to go and see. This is a mistake. Nebraska is one of the best films I've seen in a while and had I seen it in a timely manner would, most certainly, have made my list of Best Movies of 2013. I know it has essentially zero chance of winning, but the Academy would do well to pick this film as a winner.
For those who decided to give this little blurb a read even though you're not sure what movie this is... it's about an elderly father, Woody (Bruce Dern) who is slowly losing his mind to dementia. He's the kind of guy who's coasted through life making small impacts on people's lives with a favor here or a buck there and then disappearing altogether. Yet, that kindness has kind of manifested itself into passivity for Woody. He's unable to care about much around him at any given moment. That is until he receives a piece of junk mail telling him he's won $1,000,000 and all he has to do is go down to Lincoln, Nebraska and claim his cash. Unable to drive himself, and with everyone else trying to convince him that it's a scam, Woody has it in his mind that he's a winner. He becomes a nuisance to his family and to the town as he's repeatedly picked up on the side of the highway trying to walk the 600 plus miles to Nebraska. Finally, in order to get his father to quit trying to escape alone, Woody's son David (Will Forte) agrees to drive him to Nebraska.
Once there, they stop in Woody's home town where Woody becomes a, sort of, local legend because of his winnings. Woody's always been a stand up guy and when he says that he's won a million bucks, the town trusts him. Unfortunately that means for David that no one believes it is a sham. Suddenly, old townsfolk, relatives, friends of friends end up hitting Woody up for money because they know that this simple old man was never one to put up a fight. It's an amazing character study of a man who's whole life was spent as a simpleton and the way that he affected those around him. I mean, Woody only wants the money in order to buy a new truck (which he can't even drive) and an air compressor (due to the fact that his was stolen from him in 1974). That's it. He's a simple man with simple ambition and a vulnerability that could easily be taken advantage of if it weren't for David or his hilariously brash wife, Kate (June Squibb).
If it wasn't for Bruce Dern's incredibly performance of Woody, it would be June Squibb who steals the show, and she nearly does in every scene. She's everyone's neurotic and unfiltered grandmother rolled into one short, chubby little lady. She has a way about her that is so impetuous and so hard-nosed, yet you can tell that past her hard exterior is a woman who truly loves her husband and her family and will tell anyone to "go fuck themselves" if they say otherwise. She's a joy to watch. And as sad as it is to see a confused old man trying to walk his way to Nebraska to pick up a prize you know isn't going to be there, Woody is also a joy to watch. Will Forte, in his first serious role doesn't disappoint, either. He's very collected and very believable and very loving towards his father.
Director Alexander Payne and first-time screenwriter Bob Nelson have truly collaborated on a masterpiece. The slow pace and black and white viewing of the film plays out much like a fine piece of literature. It's heartfelt, it's sad, it's funny, and it's one of the best pieces of filmmaking I've seen. It would be a shame to let this one pass you by.
A
No comments:
Post a Comment