Review of Nebraska (2013) by Aditya M — 30 Mar 2014

Trust Alexander Payne to make the inspired decision of shooting this film in black-and-white. I don't know how he thought of it, but that simple choice lends so much weight and sobriety to an already striking story. With the distraction of colour removed, the lives of the characters come into sharper focus, and the landscape of Nebraska becomes a bleak canvas for another trademark Payne road trip - bittersweet, funny and cathartic.

This story about a son who, to the displeasure of his no-nonsense mother, goes to great lengths to indulge his elderly father's delusion that he has won a million-dollar prize is beautifully acted, particularly by Bruce Dern and June Squibb, who play the elderly couple. I suspect that of all the performances that were nominated for the 2014 Academy Awards, these are two that might gain a lot more respect over time. The internet might have lost its mind over Leonardo DiCaprio missing out on the Best Actor Oscar, but I think performances like Dern's (who was Leo's fellow nominee), are much subtler and harder to carry off. Similarly, those who feel Jennifer Lawrence should have walked away with the Supporting Actress statuette should take a look at June Squibb here - at the tender age of 84, she more than matches JLaw in the scene-stealing department.

This is another lovely addition to Alexander Payne's rosy filmography. I've seen four of his films now, and though they have mostly been very similar in theme, each one of them still feels fresh and sincere. His IMDb page doesn't list any upcoming projects, and that makes me gloomy.