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The Descendants
2011 115 min United States of America R 18+
★8.0
Comedy, Drama
Director: Alexander Payne
🎭 Based on
«The Descendants»
byKaui Hart Hemmings
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
With his wife Elizabeth on life support after a boating accident, Hawaiian land baron Matt King takes his daughters on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to confront a young real estate broker, who was having an affair with Elizabeth before her misfortune.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$82.58M
Worldwide:
$177.2M
Starring
George Clooney
Actor
Shailene Woodley
Actor
Amara Miller
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Actor (Drama)
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Director
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Actor (Drama)
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Picture (Drama)
BAFTA 2012
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2012
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 2012
— Best Supporting Actress
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2012
— Breakthrough of the Year
BAFTA 2012
— Best Actor
BAFTA 2012
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Key opinion
The Descendants is generally regarded as a poignant and skillfully crafted tragicomedy that balances heavy themes of grief and betrayal with the serene, contrasting backdrop of Hawaii. While most critics and viewers praise its emotional resonance and performances, some find the deliberate pacing and understated tone underwhelming or lacking in depth.
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively utilizes Hawaiian landscapes to create a striking, ironic dissonance against the characters' personal tragedies. | |
| Acting | George Clooney’s performance as the grieving, overwhelmed father is widely seen as a subtle and compelling anchor for the film. | |
| Emotion | The film is balanced by a blend of humor and sadness that prevents the heavy subject matter from becoming overly bleak or melodramatic. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing are split: some viewers appreciate the methodical, detailed exploration of character nuances, while others find the slow tempo and focus on scenery tedious or lacking in narrative progression. | |
| Screenplay | Critical perspectives on the screenplay are divided: supporters laud its authentic, non-formulaic approach to family conflict, whereas detractors view the narrative as mediocre and failing to provide deep emotional insight. |