Nebraska

NEBRASKA

Director : Alexander Payne
Year : 2013
Genre : Drama
Rating : *****

 

Certainly the most obscure film to be nominated for Best Picture at the 86th Academy Awards, Alexander Payne's 'Nebraska' is a wonderfully joyful and utterly charming film that may not triumph at the Oscars tonight but that has certainly won the hearts and minds of the critics and the independent cinema going audiences of the world. Starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Stacy Keach and Jill Squibb, the film is a beautiful and sometimes hilarious movie that explores the onset of age, the need for acceptance and the important of family and thanks to Alexander Payne's careful and precise direction, 'Nebraska' turns out to be one of the most heart warming and downright enjoyable films of the past few years. It may not be as spectacular as 'Gravity' and it may not have the heft of '12 Years A Slave' but what 'Nebraska' does have is a pure sincerity, a heart and a wonderful career best performance from the always watchable Bruce Dern.

After receiving a Mega Sweepstakes marketing prize in the post, Woody (Dern) becomes convinced that he has won $1,000,000 and endeavours to walk to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his winnings. However, his age and years of alcoholism has taken it's toll on both his body and his mind so his estranged son (Forte) agrees to take him instead. Along the way, Woody and Chris meet old friends and family who seem just as interested in the potential money rather Woody himself.

Shot in beautifully nostalgic monochrome, 'Nebraska' is a timeless and truthful look at the way in which age and senility catch up with us much quicker than we would like it to and how vital and important the support of those close to us really is to lead a truly happy life. Bruce Dern is just wonderful in the lead role as Woody, bringing an almost Leonard Pearce's Grandad from 'Only Fools & Horses' innocence and naive positivity to his performance making his character instantly likable and instantaneously watchable. Despite the fact that we are told that he was not a good father and a lifelong alcoholic by many of the characters, we are still on his side thanks to both his touching and very real portrayal and Bob Nelson's naturalistic and well thought out screenplay. From 'Silent Running' to 'The Hole 3D', Bruce Dern has continued to prove that he is one of the most accomplished and sadly, underrated actors of all time but hopefully 'Nebraska' will change this gross oversight. Winning the Palme D'or for Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival last year and now nominated for an Academy Award, 'Nebraska' could prove to be Bruce Dern's most critically praised picture.

Playing Woody's impatient but understanding family is a host of actors who may not be very well known but nonetheless wonderful and perfectly cast. Playing his uptight and estranged son is Will Forte, an actor who has never impressed thanks to his poor choice of roles in movies such as 'MacGruber', 'Rock Of Ages' and 'That's My Boy' but here he plays a much more mature and layered character that allows his acting talents to really shine. Meanwhile 'Breaking Bad's Bob Odenkirk stars as Woody's other son and just like Forte, he gives a dynamic and very naturalistic performance and June Squibb is divine as Woody's sharp but utterly loyal wife who will stand by her husband, no matter how irritated she becomes with him. Having worked with director Payne before on 2003's 'About Schmidt', Squibb clearly knows how to tap into the Alexander Payne nostalgic mentality and the combination of Nelson's fantastically quotable script and her acerbic but touching portrayal creates an instantly memorable and deeply real character; a character which has earned the veteran actress an overdue Academy Award nomination as well as a boatload of other prestigious nominations.

I really can't stress how much I liked 'Nebraska'. It is directed brilliantly, it is acted perfectly and the cinematography and music combine to create a superb perennial classic, the likes of which are very rarely seen today. Alexander Payne is a wonderful filmmaker and 'Nebraska' only cements his place as one of the most personal and relatable directors working in modern independent cinema today. I do hope that the film is recognised tonight but I do feel that pictures such as 'Gravity', '12 Years A Slave', 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' have the edge when it comes to the Oscar voters. However, I am so glad that they have at least identified 'Nebraska' for the masterpiece it really is.