The Descendants (film)

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Not to be confused with Descendants (disambiguation).
The Descendants

Teaser poster
Directed by Alexander Payne
Produced by Jim Burke
Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Screenplay by Alexander Payne
Nat Faxon
Jim Rash
Based on The Descendants by
Kaui Hart Hemmings
Starring George Clooney
Shailene Woodley
Beau Bridges
Judy Greer
Matthew Lillard
Robert Forster
Cinematography Phedon Papamichael[1]
Editing by Kevin Tent[1]
Studio Ad Hominem Enterprises
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release date(s) September 10, 2011 (2011-09-10) (Toronto)
November 18, 2011 (2011-11-18) (United States[2])
Running time 115 minutes [3]
Country United States
Language English
Budget under $20,000,000
Box office $144,240,854 [4]

The Descendants is a 2011 American comedy-drama[5] film directed by Alexander Payne.[1] The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash[1] is based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Beau Bridges, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011[2] after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]

In January 2012, The Descendants won two Golden Globe Awards and earned five nominations at the 84th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Clooney.[6]

Contents

[edit] Plot

Matt King (George Clooney) is a Honolulu-based lawyer and the sole trustee of a family trust that controls 25,000 acres of pristine land on the island of Kaua'i. The trust will expire in seven years because of the rule against perpetuities, so the King family has decided to sell the land to Kaua'i native Don Holitzer for development. Just before family members are ready to formally endorse the deal, which Matt favors, a boating accident near Waikīkī renders Matt's wife, Elizabeth, comatose.

Matt and Elizabeth have two daughters, 10-year-old Scottie (Amara Miller) and 17-year-old Alex (Shailene Woodley). Matt is not very close to his daughters and refers to himself as the "back-up parent." With Elizabeth in a coma at Queen's Hospital, he is forced to confront Scottie's inappropriate behavior with other children and Alex's destructive behaviors.

Matt learns that Elizabeth will never awaken from her coma, which means that under the terms of her living will she must be disconnected shortly from life support. He tells Alex, but not Scottie, that Elizabeth will not recover and must be allowed to die. Alex tells her father that Elizabeth was having an affair at the time of the accident. Matt confronts two family friends, Kai and Mark, and learns that Elizabeth's lover is Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard).

Matt decides to tell Brian that Elizabeth will soon be dead to give him a chance to visit her while she's still alive. He discovers that Brian is a real estate agent currently vacationing on Kaua'i. After telling the family of Elizabeth's terminal prognosis, Matt, along with the girls and Alex's slacker friend Sid (Nick Krause), travels to Kaua'i to find Brian.

Matt goes jogging on the beach and passes a man that he recognizes as Brian. He trails him and sees him enter a cottage, owned by Matt's cousin, Hugh (Beau Bridges). Hugh tells him that Brian is Don Holitzer's brother-in-law, and if Matt and his family sell the land to Holitzer, Brian stands to gain a lot of money from commissions when the land is developed.

Matt goes to the cottage and introduces himself as Elizabeth's husband. He tells Brian that he is there to let him know that Elizabeth will die in a few days and he wants to give Brian a chance to say goodbye. Brian says that while Elizabeth loved him, the affair was only a fling for him, and he loves his wife and family. He tells Matt he is sorry for the pain he caused.

Matt meets with his many cousins to vote on the fate of the family's 25,000 acres. The majority vote for Don Holitzer, but Matt has second thoughts and decides to keep the land and find a different solution. Shocked, Hugh tells Matt that he and the other cousins may take legal action, but Matt is undeterred.

At Queen's Hospital, Elizabeth is taken off life support. Her father visits and tells Matt he should have been a more generous and loving husband to Elizabeth, whom he describes as a good and faithful wife. Matt agrees with him, choosing to not disclose the details of Elizabeth's affair to her father. Later, Julie Speer (Judy Greer) arrives, telling Matt she is now aware of the tryst between Elizabeth and her husband. Julie forgives Elizabeth, even though she wants to hate her for destroying her family. Alex and Scottie say their final goodbyes, then leave Matt alone with Elizabeth. Finally coming to terms with his wife's betrayal, Matt tenderly kisses her and tells her goodbye. Later, Matt, Alex, and Scottie scatter Elizabeth's ashes in the ocean off Waikiki. The film closes with the three curled up on the living room couch, wearing Elizabeth's hospital blanket, eating ice cream, and watching March of the Penguins.

[edit] Cast

The film's credits are as follows:[7]

[edit] Production

The film began its on-location shoot in Hawaii on March 15, 2010.[8] Most of the film was shot in Honolulu and around Hanalei Bay.[9] Underwater photographer Don King filmed a crucial scene where Alex King sinks below the surface of a pool and screams out her grief underwater.[9] The house used as Matt King's house had one major flaw in that it lacked the banyan tree described in the book; the filmmakers solved the issue by transplanting a banyan.[9] For the scene where the King family drives up to a ridge to look over their beautiful land, the film used a 3,000-acre private cattle ranch on the south shore of Kauai, Kipu Ranch. Kaui Hart Hemmings, the author of the novel on which the movie was based, had a cameo as Matt King's secretary.

Post-production began on June 14, and continued into February 2011.[10] It screened at the Telluride, Toronto [11] and New York film festivals and was originally scheduled to have a limited release on December 16, 2011 but was moved to November 23, 2011[12] and then November 18, 2011.[2][13]

The soundtrack uses Hawaiian music, featuring artists including Gabby Pahinui, Ray Kane, Keola Beamer, Lena Machado, Sonny Chillingworth, Jeff Peterson, and Reverend Dennis Kamakahi.[14]

[edit] Reception

The Descendants scored an approval rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, the film scored an 84 based on 42 critics.[15] Roger Ebert gave the film a perfect four star rating.[16] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone also gave the film a four star rating.

[edit] Top ten lists

The film has appeared on the following critics' top ten lists for the best films of 2011:

Critic Publication Rank
Todd McCarthy The Hollywood Reporter 1st[17]
Betsy Sharkey Los Angeles Times 1st[17]
Don Kaye MSN Movies 1st[17]
Lou Lumenick New York Post 1st[17]
Stephen Holden The New York Times 1st[17]
Marshall Fine Hollywood & Fine 1st[17]
Joe Neumaier New York Daily News 2nd[17]
Ann Hornaday The Washington Post 2nd[18]
Peter Travers Rolling Stone 3rd[19]
Corben Carpenter Clear Lake 3rd[17]
Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune 4th[17]
The Mud Doctor The Mud Doctor 4th[20]
Anne Thompson indieWire 4th[17]
Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor 5th[17]
Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly 6th[17]
Sean Axmaker MSN Movies 6th[17]
David Denby The New Yorker 7th[17]
Peter Hartlaub San Francisco Chronicle 7th[17]
Jaime N. Christley Slant Magazine 7th[17]
Peter Paras E! Online 7th[21]
Richard T. Jameson MSN Movies 9th[17]
N/A MTV 9th[17]
Jack Gregson ScreenGeeks UK 9th[17]

[edit] Accolades

Awards Group Category Recipient Result
84th Academy Awards[22] Best Picture Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor Pending
Best Actor George Clooney Pending
Best Director Alexander Payne Pending
Best Editing Kevin Tent Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash Pending
American Film Institute[23] Movies of the Year Won
Art Directors Guild[24] Contemporary Film Jane Anne Stewart (Production Design) Pending
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts[25] Best Film – International Nominated
Best Screenplay – International Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Nominated
Best Actor – International George Clooney Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Award[26] Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Best Use of Music in a Film Nominated
65th British Academy Film Awards BAFTA Award for Best Film Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor Nominated
BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role George Clooney Nominated
BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association[27][28] Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Nominated
Best Promising Performer Shailene Woodley Nominated
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film[29] Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Pending
Critics' Choice Movie Awards[30] Best Picture Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Won
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Young Actor/Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society[31] Best Film Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Won
Best Supporting Actress Judy Greer Nominated
Best Breakout Star Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash Won
Detroit Film Critics Society[32] Best Film Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Breakthrough Performance Shailene Woodley Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle[33] Best Picture Won
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Won
Golden Globe Awards[34] Best Picture - Drama - Won
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Actor - Drama George Clooney Won
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards[35] Best Film - Pending
Best Director Alexander Payne Pending
Best Supporting Female Shailene Woodley Pending
Best Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Pending
Los Angeles Film Critics Association[36] Best Film Won
Best Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Nominated
National Board of Review[37] Top 10 Films - Won
Best Actor George Clooney Won
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Won
New York Film Critics Online[38] Best Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Won
Online Film Critics Society[39] Best Picture Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society[40] Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role George Clooney Nominated
Best Actress in a supporting role Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Screenplay: Adaptation Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash Nominated
Breakthrough Performance on Camera Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role: Female Amara Miller Nominated
Producers Guild of America Award[41] Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards[42] Best Ensemble Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Shailene Woodley Nominated
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Satellite Awards[43] Best Film - Drama Won
Best Actor George Clooney Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Judy Greer Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Won
Best Editing Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association[44] Best Actor George Clooney Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Won
Best Film Nominated
Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley Nominated

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "'The Descendants' (2011): Production Credits". Baseline / All Media Guide / The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/450447/The-Descendants/credits. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c Abrams, Rachel (September 7, 2011). "'Descendants' gets earlier bow: Clooney starrer beats Thanksgiving glut with Nov. 18 rollout". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042405. Retrieved September 15, 2011. 
  3. ^ "The Descendants (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 2011-09-27. http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF283931/. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
  4. ^ "The Descendants (2011)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=descendents.htm. Retrieved February 20, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Bailey, Cameron. "Special Presentation: 'The Descendants': Alexander Payne". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2011/descendants. Retrieved September 15, 2011. 
  6. ^ "2012 Academy Award Nominations!". The Mud Doctor. 2012-01-24. http://themuddoctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-academy-award-nominations.html. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  7. ^ "'The Descendants' (2011): Acting Credits". Baseline / All Media Guide / The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/450447/The-Descendants/cast. Retrieved September 15, 2011. 
  8. ^ Guerrasio, Jason (March 15, 2010). "Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants' Begins Shooting". Filmmaker. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. http://filmmakermagazine.com/news/2010/03/alexander-paynes-the-descendants-begins-shooting/. Retrieved October 29, 2010. 
  9. ^ a b c Fox Searchlight Pictures, Production Notes, The Descendants.
  10. ^ Fischbach, Bob (July 18, 2010). "Payne busy editing Hawaii family drama". Omaha World Herald. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. http://www.omaha.com/article/20100718/ENTERTAINMENT/707189926/0. Retrieved October 29, 2010. 
  11. ^ Lambert, Christine (2011), "The Descendant premiere photos - 36th Toronto International Film Festival", DigitalHit.com, http://www.digitalhit.com/galleries/40/581, retrieved 2012-01-03 
  12. ^ "Release Date Moves: Searchlight's 'The Descendants', CBS Films' 'The Woman In Black'". Deadline.com (Mail.com Media). July 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/release-date-moves-searchlights-the-descendants-cbs-films-the-woman-in-black/. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
  13. ^ "The Descendants". Fox Searchlight Pictures. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. http://content.foxsearchlight.com/films/node/4365. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 
  14. ^ "'The Descendants' Soundtrack Announced". FilmMusicReporter.com. October 9, 2011. http://filmmusicreporter.com/2011/10/09/the-descendants-soundtrack-announced/. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  15. ^ The Descendants at Metacritic
  16. ^ Ebert, Roger. "The Descendants". Chicago Sun-Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111116/REVIEWS/111119988. 
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Dietz, Jason (December 8, 2011). "2011 Film Critic Top Ten Lists (Updated Dec. 22)". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. http://www.metacritic.com/feature/movie-critic-best-of-2011-top-ten-lists. Retrieved December 24, 2011. 
  18. ^ Hornaday, Ann (December 10, 2011). "ann-hornadays-best-films-of-2011". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ann-hornadays-best-films-of-2011/2011/12/07/gIQAKpItfO_gallery.html#photo=9. Retrieved December 24, 2011. 
  19. ^ Travers, Peter (December 8, 2011). "10 Best Movies of 2011: The Descendendants". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/10-best-movies-of-2011-20111207/the-descendants-19691231. Retrieved December 24, 2011. 
  20. ^ "2012 Academy Award Nominations!". The Mud Doctor. 2012-01-24. http://themuddoctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-academy-award-nominations.html. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  21. ^ Paras, Peter (December 16, 2011). "Top 10 Movies of 2011". E! Online. http://uk.eonline.com/photos/gallery.jsp?galleryUUID=4185#158358. Retrieved December 25, 2011. 
  22. ^ "Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards". http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html. Retrieved 2012-01-27. 
  23. ^ "'Bridesmaids,' 'Tree of Life,' 'Hugo' in AFI's top 10 films of 2011". latimes.com. December 11, 2011. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/12/among-afis-10-movies-of-the-year-bridesmaids-hugo-descendants.html. Retrieved December 11, 2011. 
  24. ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 3, 2012). "Art Directors Nominate Movies as Different as 'Harry Potter' and 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/art-directors-guild-announces-nominations-277724. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  25. ^ "AACTA Awards winners and nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). 31 January, 2012. http://aacta.org/media/174991/all%20inaugural%20samsung%20aacta%20awards%20winners%20and%20nominees.pdf. Retrieved 4 February, 2012. 
  26. ^ Pond, Steve (December 11, 2011). "Martin Scorsese Named Best Director by Boston Film Critics". The Wrap. http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/boston-film-critics-33505. Retrieved December 11, 2011. 
  27. ^ "Tree of Life Leads CFCA Nominations with 7; Descendants, Drive Follow with 6". Chicago Film Critics Association. 2011. http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74:tree-of-life-leads-cfca-nominations-with-7-descendants-drive-follow-with-6&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=65. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  28. ^ "CFCA Names Tree of Life Best Picture". Chicago Film Critics Association. http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:cfca-names-tree-of-life-best-picture&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=65. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  29. ^ "THE ARTIST leads the pack of nominations for the 18th annual Chlotrudis Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. 2012. http://www.chlotrudis.org/content/artist-leads-pack-nominations-18th-annual-chlotrudis-awards. Retrieved February 18, 2012. 
  30. ^ "17th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards (2012)". Critics' Choice Awards. December 13, 2011. http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/17th-annual-critics-choice-movie-awards-2012/. Retrieved December 13, 2011. 
  31. ^ ""Denver Film Critics Society Announces 2012 Award Winners"". Yahoo! Movies. January 11, 2012. http://movies.yahoo.com/news/denver-film-critics-society-announces-2012-award-winners-172600716.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012. 
  32. ^ "Happenings & 'Round The Town". Detroitfilmcritics.com. http://detroitfilmcritics.com/Home_Page.html. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  33. ^ "Florida Film Critics swoon for ‘The Descendants’". Miami Herald. December 19, 2011. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/19/2553179/florida-film-critics-swoon-for.html. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  34. ^ By AP / DAVID GERMAIN (2011-12-15). "The 2011 Golden Globe Nominations: The Help, The Descendants, Bridesmaids Score Best Picture Nods | Entertainment | TIME.com". Entertainment.time.com. http://entertainment.time.com/2011/12/15/the-artist-leads-2011-golden-globe-nominations-with-six-bids/?iid=ent-category-mostpop1. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  35. ^ ""Take Shelter" and "The Artist" Lead Spirit Award Nominations | Filmmakers, Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews". indieWIRE. 2011-11-08. http://www.indiewire.com/article/2011-spirit-award-nominations-in-progress. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  36. ^ "LAFCA". LAFCA. http://www.lafca.net/years/2011.html. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  37. ^ Nessman, Ravi (2011-12-01). "Scorsese's 'Hugo' Named Best Film By NBR Awards - From the Wires". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/2011/12/01/scorseses_hugo_named_best_film_by_nbr_awards/. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  38. ^ Pond, Steve (December 11, 2011). "'The Artist' Wins Another: NY Film Critics Online". The Wrap (Reuters). http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/11/idUS269450243620111211. Retrieved December 11, 2011. 
  39. ^ Tapley, Kristopher (December 26, 2011). "'Tree of Life' leads with 7 nods from Online Film Critics Society". HitFix. 
  40. ^ "2011 Award Nominations". Phoenix Film Critics Society. 2011-12-27. http://phoenixfilmcriticssociety.org/article/195/phoenix-film-critics-society-2011-award-nominations.html. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  41. ^ "PGA ANNOUNCES THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURE AND LONG-FORM TELEVISION NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 PGA AWARDS". producersguild.org. January 3, 2011. http://www.producersguild.org/news/80252/PGA-ANNOUNCES-THEATRICAL-MOTION-PICTURE-AND-LONG-FORM-TELEVISION-NOMINATIONS-FOR-2012-PGA-AWARDS.htm. Retrieved January 5, 2011. 
  42. ^ "'The Help' leads with four SAG Awards nominations". Goldderby.com. 2011-12-14. http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/2282/%27the-help%27-leads-with-four-sag-awards-nominations.html. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  43. ^ "2011 Winners | International Press Academy". Pressacademy.com. http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 
  44. ^ "2011 WAFCA Awards - The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA)". Dcfilmcritics.com. http://www.dcfilmcritics.com/awards/. Retrieved 2012-01-16. 

[edit] External links

Films directed by Alexander Payne
1990s
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