The Descendants Review

In 1997, a George Clooney movie opened in theaters by the name of  Batman & Robin. It was absolutely awful. Nothing about the movie was good. For the past 15 years, whenever he is asked about it, Clooney apologizes for starring in it. He will even offer you a refund for your ticket. Now, he has finally made it up to the world by starring in The Descendants.

Clooney plays a Hawaiian lawyer by the name of Matt King, who is currently tasked with deciding the fate of his family's vast amount of land in Kaui that has been passed down for generations. Soon, Matt's entire world is turned upside down when his wife is involved in a boating accident from which she will not recover. What more, he is informed by his estranged daughter that his wife was also carrying on an affair. Matt sets out to find the man responsible, and along the way, reconnects with his daughters.

The story may seem complex by my brief description, but I assure you it is not hard to follow. Clooney's narration throughout the film keeps you up to speed. It is one of those movies where all the plot elements connect at a point and make the film even more rewarding.

Clooney gives the best performance of his career. When he feels pain, you feel the pain too. You can see it not only in his words, but in his eyes when he is devastated. A true actor has the ability to delve into a role and fully become the character. With Clooney, you see no less than a true actor. His level of believeability is on a level that is so hard to comprehend, you will lose yourself in it. You will instantly remember everything that makes you see Clooney as the superstar he is today. I predict he is a lock for Best Actor.

Shailene Woodley plays Clooney's estranged daughter, who informs him of the infidelity. Woodley is not a teenage girl, but as an actress she plays the TYPICAL teenage girl. By her language, her emotions, her disrespect for authority, you will instantly recognize her as at least one person in your life. The fact that this occurs is the reason why Woodley will hopefully delve into better roles than The Secret Life of The American Teenager, she can clearly achieve it.

I say see it. Don't waste your money on Chronicle or The Woman in Black, see a MOVIE this weekend. The acting alone is worth it.

A-