Nootlin's profile

Nootlin


Favourite actor:	Jon Polito
Favourite director:	Paul Thomas Anderson
Favourite film:	Jaws

URL:	http://www.lovefilm.com/profile/Nootlin

About me:	People who live in glasshouses should throw tomatoes.

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13/02/2012

16:14: Nootlin reviewed with the review
16:14: Nootlin rated The Descendants 3.5 stars
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12/02/2012

05:31: Nootlin reviewed Safe House with the review Bourne again?

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09/12/2010

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"Original films that spawned some horrendous Hollywood remakes, and the occasional decent one."
20/07/2011

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Recent review

Hawaii Five Stars? More like three and a half. , 13 February 2012

The Descendants (2011)
Starring: George Clooney, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges
Director: Alexander Payne
Certificate:
A serious hard-working lawyer must come to terms with the imminent death of his wife, left brain dead after a boating accident. At this difficult time, he must also reconnect with his two estranged daughters, who seem to be going off the rails in their own unique ways.
Not a typical synopsis on which to build a comedy, The Descendants although very much still an Alexander Payne film, is something of a departure from his more comedic 'dramedies' like Election and Sideways. For me, the lack of humour leaves a hole that isn't quite plugged with albeit wonderful performances from everyone involved. Maybe having a story about the death of a loved one limits any explosively comedic moments...
Clooney is excellent - though I'd say not Oscar-worthy; I much preferred him as Michael Clayton a few years back - but his character is a little sketchy. The mother is drawn as the bad guy, so that he automatically comes away smelling of roses. Or hibiscus.
There is still some classic Alexander Payne dialogue - the older girl's friend is a classic comic character - and running around in flip flops can always raise a smile. But not enough jokes to be classed as a comedy, and not enough tragedy to be classed as a drama. More like a melodrama, which feels subdued, as if the Hawaiian back-drop has too much of a sunny disposition to lend itself to life and death. This runs contrary to what Clooney's character declares at the beginning of the movie, and his rebuttal that all American's think life is somehow easier in the 50th state.
All in all, a good film, not a great film, and easily a rental rather than a trip to the flicks. 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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