Review of Nebraska (2013) by Betsy W — 05 Mar 2014

Like fellow Oscar nominee David O. Russell, Alexander Payne has an extraordinary talent for bringing a sort of quirky, offbeat humor to his films and making them accessible to the mainstream. There's usually a dark edge to the proceedings (his recent films include the excellent "Sideways" and "The Descendants"), but somehow the material never loses its humorous undertones. "Nebraska" is his latest example. It's a highly amusing yet also strangely touching tale of family and dreams and life in general, and it provides a high water mark for veteran character actor Bruce Dern.

Woody Grant (Dern) is a crotchety, 80-something year old man residing in Billings, Montana. One day he is found walking along the highway and is picked up by a traffic cop. When he is asked where he is headed, he says that he is walking to Lincoln, Nebraska. Woody's son David (Will Forte) is called to retrieve him, and the elder Grant explains that he needs to get to Nebraska to claim a $1 million prize he won in a mail sweepstakes. This is, of course, one of those junk mail scams that is designed purely to get vulnerable people to purchase magazine subscriptions, but Woody is still hell-bent on making the journey. And so, much to the dismay of Woody's wife Kate (June Squibb) and other son Ross (Bob Odenkirk), David volunteers to drive him down there to collect his prize.

This is interesting because, as we gradually come to learn, David does not have the best relationship with Woody, who was definitely never a nominee for Father of the Year (or Husband, for that matter). We also come to suspect that, deep down on some level, Woody knows the whole thing is a sham. He's elderly and seems to be approaching senility, but Dern's subtle performance hints that he may know more than he is letting on. And obviously David knows the whole thing is a crock.

So then why make the journey? Why indulge the old timer's fantasy? Because it's important to him. David realizes that this isn't about the money or Nebraska; it's about dreams and ambition. It's about Woody's desire to get out and do something meaningful, and we soon realize that his motivations are not exactly selfish. There is a lot simmering below Woody's surface, and David learns this as the film goes on. We so often hear the adage that "it's not about the destination, it's about the journey." Woody's adventure is a perfect example of this.

Like many of the 2013 Best Picture nominees, "Nebraska" works on multiple levels. First and foremost, it's a story about the relationship between a father and son--just like real life, sometimes it's humorous, sometimes it's dramatic--but it's also a road trip comedy, a "coming home" film, and a family reunion movie. The last two intertwine when Woody and David make a stop in the former's hometown of Hawthorne, Nebraska and they stay with Woody's brother and his family. Kate also meets up with them when she takes a bus trip down; June Squibb is a delight throughout the movie, stealing every scene she's in, but she is especially wonderful during this segment of the film.

Kate is also not as one-dimensional as she seems at first glance. Initially she comes off as a shrill, harping wife, but it's interesting to note that she's also the first one to come to Woody's defense when members of his family get wind of his "fortune" and begin swooping in, looking for hand-outs. The two do not have an ideal marriage; you get the sense that, if not for deep religious beliefs, they would have divorced long ago, but there're still some feelings there. Squibb has another great moment late in the film, when she makes this pretty clear.

Payne has chosen to shoot this film in black-and-white, which feels appropriate and gives it a stark, old-timey feel. This is especially perfect in the scenes set in Hawthorne, which give off an almost "Andy Griffith" Mayberry-like vibe, complete with residents who know everybody's first name and life story. It also seems to give the more dramatic scenes a bit more heft; I can't really explain why that is, but it's probably the same reason that Spielberg chose to film "Schindler's List" the same way.

There isn't a false note anywhere in the performances. Dern's Oscar-nominated work is truly great; some people may overlook it due to its understated nature, but I think that's the point. Woody Grant is, if nothing else, a highly internalized man; as I mentioned above, there's a lot going on underneath the surface, and Dern manages to portray this brilliantly. Not all Oscar-nominated performances have to be all flash and speech-making. Dern manages to convey just as much with his soulful eyes and small frown than many actors do with wild gestures and raised voices.

As also noted above, Squibb is fantastic as well, and I also really enjoyed Will Forte's performance. He seems to be yet another example of an SNL cast member making a successful transition to dramatic fare. David is the key role in this story, and it's due to his actions that the movie ends on an absolutely pitch-perfect note. Forte sells it wonderfully.

Add this one to the list of great 2013 Best Picture nominees. I must say the Academy has done a bang-up job thus far. Here's hoping that trend continues.