got a chance from omy.sg to catch the preview of "The Descendents" starring George Clooney. The name itself made me sign up, although I didn't really get the synopsis haha. I used to like reading up on the movies I'm watching but this time I didn't so that I went in with pretty much no expectation.
Movie was really just ok. Some parts were funny and the actors did a pretty good job except for the roles of Scottie and Sid. Those two had cringeworthy parts...understandable for Scottie since she is still young (but hell she knows how to point her middle finger well, most prob part of the reason this film is rated NC16). For the role of Sid, that guy just made some parts really awkward. N I just get a whole feeling of dumbness just looking at him. Thankfully, Alex was pretty good and her parts with George Clooney are full of chemistry, fully portraying the initial estranged relationship which blossoms into a camaraderie betwn daughter n father while keeping each other sane, trying to find the guy the mother/wife was having an affair with.
Plot wise, nahhh. No twists n turns n stuff, pretty bland. Haha or perhaps there was a deeper meaning to the story or it struck a chord with American audiences, because apparently this film is pretty highly rated after its release in 2011. As always, things reach SG a little slower...T.T
I guess since it is based on some novel, it doesn't stray off too much as well thus the lack of twists n turns. I think the only major O.O part was where Alex revealed that her mum was having an affair, n that's also where all the searching for "Brian Speer, with a double E" and the rest of the movie begins. N the link betwn the selling of the land handed down over generations (reason for the title of the movie) n the affair is made known in the later part of the movie, which i find a bit stretched. Might be from the novel too so cannot blame them. Perhaps the novel had a richer plot but it might be hard to squeeze it into a movie n thus certain details were left out. Amazingly this movie felt really long but it was around 2 hours only. Think the slow development and the laidback feeling Hawaii and all things relaxing like the music caused this haha
Loved the scenery though, really really nice~ but not enough was shown haha the music was commendable too but after a tired day at school, it sorta lulls me to sleep~~~very hawaiian, apt since this movie is based in Hawaii.
Overall, in my humble personal opinion, OK only lah~ but yea watch it to decide for urselves! since it's highly rated, there must be a reason.
If interested, do catch it when it starts showing in cinemas on January 26. Happy Chinese New Year in advance!!!
Official trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwUH02DDWU&feature=relmfu
Synopsis:
From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar®-winning SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDANTS is set in Hawaii and follows the unpredictable journey of an American family at a crossroads. Matt King (George Clooney), a husband and father of two girls, must re-examine his past and navigate his future when his wife is in a boating accident off Waikiki. He awkwardly attempts to repair his relationship with his daughters - 10 year-old precocious Scottie (Amara Miller) and rebellious 17 year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) - while wrestling with a decision to sell his family’s land. Handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries, the Kings own some of the last priceless virgin parcels of tropical beach in the islands.
When Alexandra drops the bombshell that her mother was in the midst of a romantic fling at the time of the accident, Matt has to take a whole new look at his life, not to mention his legacy, during a week of momentous decisions. With his girls in tow, he embarks on a haphazard search for his wife’s lover. Along the way, in encounters alternately funny, troublesome and transcendent, he realizes he’s finally on course toward rebuilding his life and family.
