Movie Review: Nebraska (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
Alexandre Payne (The Descendants, About Schmidt) is arguably one of the most talented American filmmakers around, so I was particularly excited to watch his latest effort. Charming and endearing, “Nebraska” is a wonderful little gem that reminds audiences that American cinema is still alive and kicking.
When aging alcoholic Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is convinced he’s won a million dollars after receiving a Mega Sweepstakes letter, he and his estranged son (Will Forte) drive from Montana to Nebraska in order to claim his fake prize. Along the way, the pair are reunited with Woody’s old friends and family, who turn into vultures as soon as they find out Woody’s going to be a millionaire.
The film is beautifully shot in black and white, and gives the proceedings a very poetic vibe. It’s as if the choice of color reflects the kind of lives our characters lead; slightly dour and grim. The understated soundtrack also does wonders in setting the tone, and the entire picture looks and sounds like a million bucks.
The dialogue is also extremely clever, and can be quite funny on occasion. Bruce Dern is fantastic as the aloof and damaged Woody, and I can definitely see him getting recognized by the Academy for his performance. Will Forte proves that he’s a lot more than just an SNL performer as his son David, and arguably gives the best dramatic performance I’ve seen from any recent SNL dropout; I was impressed. June Squibb steals the show, though, as Woody’s wife Kate, and she is absolutely hilarious. Her comedic timing is flawless, and I hope she gets recognized as well for her role.
There was one scene in the film that felt a little out of place with the rest of the movie, and it takes place in a graveyard. I won’t get into here, but the dialogue felt unnecessarily crass, and one moment in particular was a little tasteless, but I guess I can’t complain after watching and enjoying “Bad Grandpa.”
The Verdict:
”Nebraska” is a little American treasure directed by a man still at the very top of his game. It’s sweet, resonant, and should not be missed.
Numerical Score: 8.5/10
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