Review of The Descendants (2011) by Rob L — 31 Jul 2012

Classy stuff once again from both director Payne and Clooney, the latter looking perhaps just a little more frazzled and a little less smooth than before. It's a good yarn in which the islands of Hawaii play a leading, unforgettable role - that the action hops from Oahu to the Big Island to Kauai is a splendid touch - but in no way is the paradise glamorized. Sure, it doesn't look a bad place to see out one's days but the underside of rampant commercialism and development is very plainly exhibited.

The acting is good and tragicomic touches well timed - none of the characters come out of the movie a hundred percent positively, nor are any of them unremittingly malevolent. There has been criticism that Shailene Woodley's role sees Alexandra flip too quickly into behaving decently and that may be fair but overall this is an ingenious addition to the roster of excellent movies Clooney has lent his name to and the small but burgeoning oeuvre of Payne.