This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
Nebraska (15)
Directed by Alexander Payne
4 Stars
This gentle, marvellous road trip comedy-drama is another master stroke by film maker Alexander Payne, the reigning king of this genre.
Shot in black and white it centres on Woody (Bruce Dern), a grumpy old senile alcoholic, who embarks on a trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son David (Will Forte) determined to claim a million dollar sweepstake prize.
On their futile 750-mile journey they make a pit stop at their home town of Hawthorne to see Woody's family and that's when the vultures start circling, despite David's protestations that his father hasn't won a dime.
Exquisitely shot, Nebraska is highly amusing and poignant, with stand-out performances by Dern and June Squibb as his sharp-tongued, long-suffering wife.
Dern is unrecognisable as the taciturn Woody due to the surprising portrayal Payne elicits from him, just as he did with Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt.
The central theme of the problems dealing with ageing parents and discovering things about them you wish you hadn't will ring true with many.
Another bitter-sweet gem from Payne.
Maria Duarte
