NEBRASKA R 115 Minutes Director: Alexander Payne Writer: Bob Nelson
CAST Bruce Dern …Woody Grant Will Forte…David Grant June Squibb…Kate Grant Bob Odenkirk…Ross Grant Stacy Keach…Ed Pegram
‘There’s Woody’s little sister, Rose. She was only 19 when she was killed in a car wreck near Wausa. What a whore!’ -Kate Grant
Well there aren’t many new films worth seeing in the new year. So I figured I should review something Oscar-worthy. I did see BLUE JASMINE. While it had Vinny from Doogie Howser, with all this recent business of Woody Allen molesting his kids, I don’t know. It’s bad timing. I expect more from someone who married their adopted daughter. Personally, I think he’s the last guy that would molest children; because he on everyone’s radar for this type of behavior. In summary, BLUE JASMINE is definitely Andrew Dice Clay’s best movie though. Unless you count his comedy
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the Coen brothers best film either. And I like everything they do, well, almost everything.
PHILOMENA is a solid, feel-good movie, without the happy ending. The first time in her career, Judi Dench doesn’t come across as a stone cold, bitch.
NEBRASKA reminds of the scene in National Lampoon’s VACATION. Where Chevy Chase is driving with the family, and aunt Edna died in her sleep. But no one noticed she was dead for eight hours. Woody Grant is like Aunt Edna, when he dies no one will notice he’s dead, for a very long time.
This movie is fairly simple. Woody, a decrepit, old man, thinks he won a million dollars in a Publisher’s Clearing House-style sweepstakes. He wants to pick up his money in Nebraska. Eventually, he persuades his son to come with him to pick up his money. This is where you need to suspend disbelief. I don’t understand why someone would want to travel to Nebraska either.
NEBRASKA is shot in black and white. I suppose it works, it kind of gives it a pseudo-art film vibe. But I think SCHINDLER’S LIST kind of ruined black and white forever. The same way Hitler ruined the name Adolph.
There are a few boring parts, that don’t work comedically, or dramatically. But if you stick with it, NEBRASKA comes to a very satisfying conclusion.
Final Verdict: 84 out 100
Sidenote: RIP Hoffman. Everyone should see SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (the movie, not the city).