The Descendants is a 2011 American comedy drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash is based on the novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Alexandra Beaton, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Robert Forster, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011 after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Tracing the journey of land baron Matt King who struggles with unexpected occurrences in his monotonous life, The Descendants won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as two Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture - Drama and Best Actor - Drama for Clooney.
Plot
Matthew "Matt" King (George Clooney) is a Honolulu-based attorney and the sole trustee of a family trust of 25,000 pristine acres on Kauai island. The land has great monetary value, but is also a family legacy. While Matt has always ably managed his own finances, most of his cousins have squandered their inheritances. With the trust expiring in seven years due to the rule against perpetuities, the King clan is pressuring Matt to sell the land for hundreds of millions of dollars. Amidst these discussions, a boating accident has rendered Matt's wife, Elizabeth, comatose.
With Elizabeth hospitalized, Matt is forced to cope with his two troubled daughters, 10-year-old Scottie (Amara Miller) who seeks attention by bullying other children, and 17-year-old Alex (Shailene Woodley) who has a history of substance abuse and is away at a private boarding school on the Big Island. Doctors determine that Elizabeth's coma is irreversible and her living will directs all life support to be discontinued. When Matt tells Alex, she reveals that Elizabeth was having an affair at the time of the accident, causing a major rift between mother and daughter.
Two close family friends tell Matt that Elizabeth was unhappy and wanted to leave him for her lover, Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard), a real estate agent. After Matt arranges for friends to bid Elizabeth goodbye, he decides Speer should also have an opportunity. He and the girls, and also Alex's slacker boyfriend Sid (Nick Krause), travel to Kauai to find Brian. While there, Matt's cousin, Hugh (Beau Bridges) mentions that Brian is brother-in-law to Don Hollitzer, the developer to whom the family wants to sell the land. Brian stands to make a small fortune from the sales commission.
Matt confronts Brian and informs him Elizabeth is dying and offers him an opportunity to see her one last time. Brian declines, admitting that although Elizabeth was in love with him, it was only a fling to him; he loves his wife, Julie (Judy Greer) and their children, then apologizes to Matt for the pain he caused.
When Elizabeth is disconnected from life support, her father, Scott (Robert Forster) admonishes Matt for not being a more generous and loving husband. Choosing not to disclose the details of her affair to Scott, Matt agrees, but Sid and Alex both unexpectedly defend Matt.
At the King family meeting, Matt overrules the majority of his cousins who favor selling to Hollitzer. Matt decides to keep the land and look for a different solution to the problem posed by the Rule Against Perpetuities. Shocked, Hugh tells Matt that he and the other cousins will take legal action if Matt refuses to sell, but Matt is undeterred.
Julie, after learning of Brian's affair with Elizabeth and realizing that he will not visit, comes to the hospital, partly feeling that decency obliges her to. She tearfully admits to Elizabeth that she wants to hate her for "trying to destroy" her family, but that she forgives her.
Matt finally comes to terms with his wife's betrayal and her impending death. He tenderly kisses her goodbye, followed by Alex and Scottie, and later, scatter Elizabeth's ashes in the ocean off Waikiki. The film concludes with the three at home sitting together sharing ice cream and watching television, all wrapped in the Hawaiian quilt Elizabeth had been lying in.
Cast
- George Clooney as Matthew "Matt" King
- Shailene Woodley as Alexandra "Alex" King
- Amara Miller as Scottie King
- Nick Krause as Sid
- Beau Bridges as Cousin Hugh
- Judy Greer as Julie Speer
- Matthew Lillard as Brian Speer
- Robert Forster as Scott
- Patricia Hastie as Elizabeth King
- Mary Birdsong as Kai Mitchell
- Rob Huebel as Mark Mitchell
- Milt Kogan as Dr. Johnston
- Laird Hamilton as Troy
- Michael Ontkean as Rondie
- Matt Corboy as Kaiba
- Celia Kenney as Bryson
Production
The film began its on-location shoot in Hawaii on March 15, 2010. Most of the film was shot in Honolulu and around Hanalei Bay. The house used as Matt King's house had a flaw in that it lacked the banyan tree described in the book; the filmmakers solved the issue by transplanting a banyan. For the scene where the King family drives up to a ridge to look over their 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.
The private boarding school attended by Alex King was depicted as Mid-Pacific Institute, which is in Honolulu, Oʻahu. This contradicts the scene in the movie where Matt and Scottie travel by plane to the Big Island to pick-up Alex. Kaui Hart Hemmings stated that Hawaii Preparatory Academy, which is located in Kamuela, Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), was the inspiration for the private boarding school.
Post-production began on June 14, and continued into February 2011. It screened at the Telluride, Toronto 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 and then November 18, 2011.
The soundtrack uses Hawaiian music, featuring artists including Gabby Pahinui, Ray Kane, Keola Beamer, Lena Machado, Sonny Chillingworth, Jeff Peterson, Makana, and Reverend Dennis Kamakahi.
Reception
Box office
The Descendants opened in North America on November 16, 2011 in a limited release in 29 theaters and grossed $1,190,096 averaging $41,038 per theater and ranking 10th at the box office. The film then had its wide release on December 9 in 876 theaters and grossed $4,380,138 averaging $5,000 per theater and ranking 7th at the box office. The film was in cinemas for 156 days and its widest release in The United States was 2,038 theaters. The film ended up earning $82,584,160 domestically and $94,659,025 internationally for a total of $177,243,185.
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Descendants received a rating of 89%, based on 235 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1 out of 10. The consensus states, "Funny, moving, and beautifully acted, The Descendants captures the unpredictable messiness of life with eloquence and uncommon grace." The film also has a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 43 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Top ten lists
The Descendants has appeared on the following critics' top ten lists for the best films of 2011:
| Critic | Publication | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Todd McCarthy | The Hollywood Reporter | 1st |
| Betsy Sharkey | Los Angeles Times | 1st |
| Don Kaye | MSN Movies | 1st |
| Lou Lumenick | New York Post | 1st |
| Stephen Holden | The New York Times | 1st |
| Marshall Fine | Hollywood & Fine | 1st |
| Joe Neumaier | Daily News | 2nd |
| Ann Hornaday | The Washington Post | 2nd |
| Peter Travers | Rolling Stone | 3rd |
| Corben Carpenter | Clear Lake | 3rd |
| Michael Phillips | Chicago Tribune | 4th |
| Anne Thompson | indieWire | 4th |
| Peter Rainer | The Christian Science Monitor | 5th |
| Lisa Schwarzbaum | Entertainment Weekly | 6th |
| Sean Axmaker | MSN Movies | 6th |
| David Denby | The New Yorker | 7th |
| Peter Hartlaub | San Francisco Chronicle | 7th |
| Jaime N. Christley | Slant Magazine | 7th |
| Peter Paras | E! Online | 7th |
| Richard T. Jameson | MSN Movies | 9th |
| N/A | MTV | 9th |
| Jack Gregson | ScreenGeeks UK | 9th |
Accolades
| Awards Group | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84th Academy Awards | Best Picture | Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor | Nominated |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Kevin Tent | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash | Won | |
| Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences Awards | Best Foreign Film | Alexander Payne, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, and Jim Taylor | Nominated |
| American Film Institute | Movies of the Year | Won | |
| Art Directors Guild | Contemporary Film | Jane Anne Stewart | Nominated |
| Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts | 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 | 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 | |
| Casting Society of America | Outstanding Achievement in Casting for a Big Budget Drama Feature | John Jackson, John McAlary | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 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 | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | 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 | 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 | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Breakthrough Performance | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Picture | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | 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 | |
| Grammy Awards | Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Film | - | Nominated |
| Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Female | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Film | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Shailene Woodley | Won |
| National Board of Review | 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 | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society | Best Picture | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | Chairman's Award | George Clooney | Won |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society | 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 | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Ensemble | Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Shailene Woodley | Nominated |
| Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | 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 | 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 |
[ Source: Wikipedia ]