Nebraska is a movie that deserves to be seen by the widest audience possible, but it probably won't be. Due out here in the next week or two and up for six Oscars, it is a beautiful portrayal of family life that is the closest thing to real life that I've ever seen on screen. But it is so low-key that most people probably won't hear of it or feel enough of a pull to go. But I recommend that you do!
Nebraska spends a few days in the company of Woody Grant (played by legend Bruce Dern). Woody is teetering on the edge of losing his marbles through age and lifelong alcoholism. After being found wandering the streets of Montana multiple times by local police and family, his son David (played by comedian Will Forte of SNL fame) figures out that his Dad genuinely thinks he has won a million dollars in the Readers Digest sweepstakes after receiving a letter saying he has won. He is walking to Nebraska where he has to present himself in person to win the prize. After Woody's crabby wife Kate (played by June Squibb) and two sons fail to talk sense into him, David eventually gives in and agrees to take Woody on a road trip to Nebraska to stop him from his crazy mission.
David and Woody's journey gets sidetracked after Woody takes a drunken fall with subsequent treatment time preventing them from reaching Nebraska by Friday afternoon close of business. So they head off to Woody and Kate's home town in Nebraska, which they left many years ago to run a business in Monana, to stay with relatives for the weekend before continuing on to Lincoln on the Monday. The weekend is played out over a series of conversations and adventures with the extended family, locals from Woody and Kate's past which vary between gently touching to gently comedic to brashly comedic. Woody can't help but tell everyone of his great win, which escalates the drama as old debts are brought up by former business partners and family.
The reason this movie is so great is because it has characters which you can completely relate to - the most normal I have ever seen on screen. The way the characters talk and inter-relate is also real, there are no wordy clunky conversations or overly emotional speeches. Just real people talking to each other like real people do. Will Forte leaves his comedy past behind to do a lovely job with David, who is struggling to understand his Dad who treated him and his brother so badly all their lives while drunk and yet there is enough forgiveness there to support his Dad and humour his little adventure. Bruce Dern is superb as the cranky, sleepy, rebellious oldster who clings to his dream in the face of overwhelming unlikeliness, and who never hears a kind word from his nagging wife. Kate is a real piece of work, but is there any underlying love there?
It's a great story that explores family relationships and the concept of roots without saying too much at all and definitely not hitting you over the head with any message or point beyond being kind to those you love. For me the black and white filming left me wanting more, as the rural locations were crying out to be filmed in colour where it would have been rolling green fields, orange deserts and gorgeous sunsets. So a cinematography Oscar is probably not going to come, but I think the film is a strong contender for others such as Best Screenplay, Best Director (Alexander Payne whose "Sideways" was similarly low key but entertaining and touching) and Best Actor for Bruce Dern. June Squibb may walk away with the Best Supporting Actress trophy too for her firecracker Kate who gets most of the biggest laughs.
Much gentler than my usual taste, but a genuinely lovely film. I give this 4 stars out of 5.
For my friends in Brisbane, if you go see this film at Dendy Portside, they are giving away a prize of an expensive cruise on one of those gigantic cruise ships. Not sure what the connection is, but hey it's a free holiday.
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