Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'The Descendants'

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(KCBS) – Jan Wahl reviews "The Descendants," starring George Clooney and adapted from the 2007 Kaui Hart Hemmings novel and directed by Alexander Payne. Clooney plays a father, in Hawaii, who is in the midst of crisis. His wife's recent boating accident has put her in a coma, leaving him in charge of his two daughters.

 
THE DESCENDANTS (R)
From Election to Sideways, Alexander Payne makes movies with characters to connect with and care about...often bringing Oscar nominations in his wake. This time out Goorge Clooney may bring home the gold as a confused, grieving husband dealing with family trauma and trouble. He lives in what seems like paradise: as a rich man in Hawaii. But his life is constant chaos, complete with a teen and preteen daughter and conniving relatives and deceptive lovers. It all works because at the center is a guy we see as amused but serious, scared yet trying to be the grown up..it is a performance worthy of James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Dustin Hoffman..all the every-men in the movies that made us love the movies. Four hats for The Descendents, along with a movie I'll be telling you about next week, one of the best movies of the year.

Listen To Jan Wahl's Movie Review

Watch On Video/DVD:
"Beginners", The Legacy Collection: "Kirk Douglas",  "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls", "Misrepresentation" and "Life In A Day," "My Fair Lady" Special Edition and "Up In The Air"

See Now:
"Fela!" (At The Curran Theatre In San Francisco Through December 11), "The Way", "50/50", "Margin Call" and "J. Edgar"

 
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