Descendants

A.O. Scott of the NY Times reviewed it two weeks ago: The emotional trajectory of “The Descendants” is familiar enough. It is about the fracturing and healing that take place within families. Matt needs to bond with his children, make peace with his wife and deal with the pesky politics of entitled cousins. As he works his way through these challenges and others, including a confrontation with his wife’s lover (Matthew Lillard), a lively and complicated mesh of plots and subplots takes shape, but the most striking and satisfying aspects of “The Descendants” are its unhurried pace and loose, wandering structure.

It does move at a leisurely pace, without dragging, not hurrying the action to fit a preconception.

 To call “The Descendants” perfect would be a kind of insult, a betrayal of its commitment to, and celebration of, human imperfection. Its flaws are impossible to distinguish from its pleasures. For example: after what feels as if it should be the final scene, a poignant, quiet tableau of emotional resolution and apt visual beauty, Mr. Payne adds another, a prosaic coda to a flight of poetry. Without saying too much or spoiling the mood, I will say that I was grateful for this extra minute, a small gift at the end of a film that understands, in every way, how hard it can be to say goodbye. 

“The Descendants” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Bad language, impossible situations.


In the New Yorker, Anthony Lane makes a comparison to From here to Eternity, and ends his review with a nice twist of that line, in assessing that closing scene. Death, which has loomed ahead throughout, begins to drift away behind them, and the film completes its journey: from eternity to here. ♦

 From left, George Clooney, Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller in "The Descendants." More Photos »

Fox Searchlight

The young actors did great work. Sid is a stoner, yet has an additional dimension that some people miss: he is not a boyfriend in the romantic sense, but simply a friend who is a boy, a young man; what he shares with Alexandra is a sublime friendship, an abiding loyalty.

Very enjoyable.