The Descendants

He doesn’t make a lot of movies, but when he does Alexander Payne always delivers. He’s done satires and dramedies to perfection. Descendants is no exception. Payne and his casting team seem to be as careful with casting the supporting players as they are about casting their leads. There are great performances all around, including a revelation by Judy Greer. But, it’s not meant to be as funny as his other movies. In fact, there are many moments that are quite sad and serious, dealing with death, grief, betrayal, and the very serious matter of the Hawaiian heritage. Is it Payne's best? Nope. Sideways still holds that title. Is it Clooney’s best? Nope. But he’s still great in the movie as the sturdy, average dad. But it’s really good. Payne, the cast, and the crew take their story-telling really seriously. They respect their audience and I have nothing but gratitude.