The Descendants

Spoilers - When I'm supposed to experience a family crisis with the main character, I don't want to sigh over Hawaii. George certainly delivers his performance to the fullest extent (even though the diligent father doesn't really suit him), but this bumpy journey is ultimately disappointing. It's the supporting characters led by the unsympathetic idiot Sid and, above all, the screenplay that are to blame. I can't engage in suffocating depression when a few seconds later I'm supposed to laugh at absurd situations, and I certainly don't enjoy watching a story that keeps going and going - and doesn't end. Matt doesn't come to terms with his wife's death or infidelity in any way, he merely functions in order to be there for his daughters, and five minutes before the closing credits he whispers the obligatory "Goodbye". It's only thanks to Clooney's brilliantly conveyed emotions that the third star also arrived on the sea wave. Unfortunately, Payne's approach to thought-provoking drama is once again not for me. (01/02/2012)

I would have expected a story with this theme to be emotional, but I didn't feel any emotion for the entire duration of the movie. Perhaps the cumbersome and rather clichéd approach contributed to this. I wasn't too impressed by the occasional overacting of some of the actors, perhaps only George Clooney portrayed his character very believably and without unnecessary affectation. Judy Greer irritated me the most with her acting. (50%) (24/10/2022)

When I have a powerful enough story, I don’t need to set it in Hawaii. Apart from this, The Descendants is a pleasant look into the relationship between a father and his daughters and their farewells to their dying mother. A bit of pathos, a bit of sincerity, a bit of humor. Everything is rendered in a subtle and sensitive fashion, but the film is not exceptional in any way, as it offers no surprises or much drama. I elevated my rating to four stars thanks to George Clooney, who’s a perfect fit for his role, and also Matthew Lillard’s character, who’s the best and most vivacious element of the movie. Sideways was more of a revelation and left a more memorable impression. (16/01/2012)

"Hello, it’s Clooney. You know, death is not an easy thing, especially when you have two healthy children, millions in your account, a house in Hawaii and a woman who cheated on you with a real estate agent because she was bored..." - "I know, George, but don't call me anymore..." Therapeutically toothless and an emotionally instant product that is numb and unable to admit that the true dignity of death in the film looks a little different than this messy warm road movie, which absolutely lacks anything bitter and realistic... I'm sorry to have to write this, but Clooney is a bit of a contemporary Jekyll and Hyde - on the one hand, a shrewd critic of contemporary society, on the other hand, an engineer of human hearts in the service of capitalist realism. Despite a couple of nice scenes (Clooney's dialogue - daughter in the pool or the scene with the wife's friends), I don’t really get The Descendants, just like Up in the Air. I don't think everything is OK in a film where, in the potentially strongest father-daughter dialogue, the father is replaced by a family therapist. Not even with the world that is impressed by this. My battle. (10/01/2012)

I first watched this film years ago, and while it didn't disappoint, it also didn't leave a lasting impression, hence my initial three-star rating. However, after today's rewatch, I found myself adding an extra star. Admittedly, I didn't find anything particularly exceptional in this movie. Yet, as I watched, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was witnessing a slice of real life. Sure, in reality, I don't often encounter people who own a piece of Hawaii, but once I set aside this minor detail, what remained was a tale of ordinary people presented in a way that felt quite believable. Throughout the almost two-hour duration, I found myself engaged. George Clooney as Matt King certainly played his part, but it was Shailene Woodley's portrayal of his daughter, Alexandra, that truly impressed me. / Lesson learned: Hawaii isn't always a paradise. (19/03/2022)