What Do The Critics Say?

"Like the waves on the beautiful Hawaiian beaches, our emotions rise and fall in this splendid, emotionally rich drama in which laughter and tears are balanced on the precarious surfboard of life. Although the topics canvassed are deadly serious, a healthy dose of humour plays out, evolving naturally from the juxtaposition of the tragic with the ridiculous. One of the best films of the year, this is George Clooney at his most emotionally vulnerable." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "The thrust of The Descendants is how families hurt and make peace with each other and the most remarkable performance comes from Shailene Woodley, who begins as one of her father’s most enthusiastic persecutors and then becomes the one adult he can probably trust. The Descendants is a heartfelt and tragic piece, but it's also mature and very funny." Siobhan Synnot THE SCOTS MAN "The Descendants is fresh and very funny, thanks largely to Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor’s zippy adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings’ source novel, and Clooney’s flummoxed clownery. A confident return to the feature filmmaking fold from Payne, and another champagne turn from a Hollywood icon refusing to age anything but gracefully." Adam Woodward LITTLE WHITE LIES "After a 7 year absence', Payne has finally returned to the big screen with "The Descendants". If you’re a fan of his previous works then you will love this! It has been crafted from the Payne 'mould' in the sense that it’s based on a novel, features complicated characters and delicately mixes comedy with drama. The film has plenty of laughs to offset the heavy subject matter." Matthew Toomey THE FILM PIE "In the hands of a less ambitious director "The Descendants" would have been fine made for TV fare. But under the control of uncompromising director Alexander Payne, the story plays out with a hard edge, while, at the same time, becoming his most accessible work to date. If there is a lighter side to Director Alexander Payne, "The Descendants" is it." Jonathan W. Hickman DAILY FILM FIX

"Alexander Payne has a talent for creating interest in his screen characters and evidently has a great way with actors. In this well adapted screenplay, there is a satisfying sense of authenticity about all the elements, from the tragic to the delightful. Clooney portrays Matt King with just the right emotional range as the flawed husband and father; always too busy for his wife and daughters, now he is confronted with the resulting gap between them. And worse." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE "Although it's not quite a black comedy, it's still filled with the patented Payne quirky characters—supporting roles filled by experts like Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and, especially, Beau Bridges. The exotic locations (which often have a rather foreboding look) and the spot-on, often chirpy Hawaiian songs on the soundtrack add to the irony of Payne's welcome return to cinema." Richard Knight KNIGHT AT THE MOVIES "Clooney turns in his most warmly nuanced performance yet, imbuing Matt with an emotionally raw, careworn charm. Seven years after his last outing, Payne: neatly subverting the idea of Hawaii as an untroubled island paradise; shows he can still steer a sure path between humour and heartache. The last, touching final frame is worth the entrance price alone." Tim Evans SKY MOVIES "Alexander Payne’s The Descendants is destined to be one of the season’s bigger hits. It has a bankable star, a name director, mostly terrific reviews, and is, in fact, a very good movie: without ever quite being a great one. One of the movie’s joys is the way the plot keeps complicating itself, in part through characters who defy expectations.Becomes a human, believable and quietly moving film." Tom Hanke MOUNTAIN XPRESS "George Clooney, an actor who more often than not appears in exceptional projects, finds another gem in The Descendants. Clooney, giving one of his especially thoughtful, soulful performances, depicts his character wrestling with unexpected, even dizzying news, and reacting with puzzlement and anger as well as quick humor and dramatic action. Clooney plays King as if he were a gifted prizefighter battling his greatest opponent. He takes hard punches and throws them, too." John Wirt ADVOCATE

The Inside Story George Clooney’s Matt King joins the characters of Alexander Payne’s previous films as a flawed individual finding his way through a world of lunacy, bittersweet emotion and surprises; he is neither a hero nor anti-hero. Like Matthew Broderick’s envious teacher Jim McAllister in 1999's "Election", Jack Nicholson’s glass-half-empty retiree Warren Schmidt in 2002's "About Schmidt" and Paul Giamatti’s muddling, middle-aged wine country tourist Miles in 2004's "Sideways", King is not the man he would like to be. His mischievous daughters don’t trust him, his imperiled wife has been cheating on him and his broke cousins see him and the land trust he controls as a piggy bank. To add insult to injury, he’s surrounded by a lush, fertile, awe-inspiring landscape that defies his inner turmoil. Yet all of this leads Matt to a tumultuous awakening that might be awkward, comical and sometimes absurd, but nevertheless changes his concept of love, fatherhood and what it truly takes to be a man. Oscar® winner Payne (Best Adapted Script, "Sideways"), has always been drawn to these peculiar situations in everyday life that can be experienced as comical, devastating and revealing all in the same breath. When Payne read the acclaimed debut novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings (who traces her own lineage from a Hawaiian woman who married a descendant of one of the Protestant missionaries from Boston, who came to Hawaii in 1836) "The Descendants", he was immediately lured by its sharp contrasts. Here was a portrait of a man grappling with some of the worst news, most difficult people, and most impossible decisions of his life. "The novel appealed to me because it’s an emotional story unfolding in an exotic locale," the two time Golden Globe winner recalls. "It’s a story that perhaps could be told anywhere, but what made the book for me was its completely unique setting among the landed upper-classes in Hawaii. It’s very specific to this place, yet it is also universal." "On a filmmaking level, it was very interesting to me because I’ve never seen a filmic Honolulu. We see New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Seattle: but this is a region we never see in films. There’s a whole distinctive social fabric to life in Hawaii and that intrigued me. I love films with a specific sense of place. I started making movies in Omaha, then I went to Santa Barbara and now I have ended up in Hawaii." Hemmings was able to entwine Hawaiian culture into her story of a bewildered man lurching towards redemption because she herself grew up in a not so conventional Hawaiian family, as the step-daughter of well-known champion surfer and local politician Fred Hemmings Jnr, who adopted her when she was a teenager. When she started writing short stories, she began entwining themes of family, soil, history and inheritance. "The Descendants" began as a short story (published as "The Minor Wars"), which Hemmings started writing in the voice of youngest daughter Scottie, but decided to take a daring leap for a young, female writer: into Matt King’s middle-aged, male Point Of View. The risk changed everything. The story, and then the novel, were no longer just about a clan of fierce individualists doing their own thing but about a father learning to hang on to his family. "As soon as I switched into Matt’s voice, the story found its rhythm," Hemmings recalls. "There was so much at stake for him." Those stakes gave the novel’s title a double meaning, referring not only to King’s comic descent but also to his discovery of what it really means to be a Hawaiian descendant and what his own descendants mean to him. Hemmings created Matt to reflect a distinct subset of the Hawaiian populace. The subset was that of the Hawaiian populace, a generation who are able to trace their births back to the intermarriages of white missionaries and landowners with native Hawaiian royalty and their wealth back to the spoils of the colonial Hawaiian plantation system. When Hemmings found out Alexander Payne was interested in adapting her book, she could hardly believe the news. "I just about died. I mean he is my favorite director, I love the kind of movies he makes." After discussing the adaptation of the Kaui Hemmings book with many screenwriters, the producers at Ad Hominem selected the writing team of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash: wonderful actors who continue to be fixtures at the Groundling Theatre, which by the way, launched the careers of Lisa Kudrow and Jon Lovitz. When he decided to direct the film himself, he also determined that the best way for him to forge a personal connection to the material, was to adapt the book himself. "One of the many things we learned in Hawaii is that people here know their genealogy like they do in no other place," producer Jim Burke ("Walking Tall" & "Cedar Rapids") explained. "Everybody knows when their family first arrived on the island, and some go back six or seven generations and they feel a deep, deep connection to this place. We learned all this by meeting authentic descendants who have inherited land a lot like Matt." Hemmings was impressed with the adaptation. "I wasn’t concerned about Alexander changing this or that, because he really got the tone of the book and that’s all I cared about. He got that it’s funny and it’s sad at the same time. I also loved that he took the time to really get to know Hawaii." From the beginning, Payne and the production team felt it was essential to venture far from the well-beaten tourist paths to get to know the authentic Hawaii only locals ever see. As they did so, they developed a more nuanced understanding of what the term 'descendants' means on an island where ancestors have always been an important link in the chain of living history. Payne also relied on Hemmings to serve as an insightful guide into the alluring blend of American and Hawaiian cultures that imbues island life, from its politics to its traditions and relationships. "When we came over to the islands to start making the movie, Hemmings became a really big part of it, because this is her land. She knows these people. She was able to give us a reality check and at the same time, Alexander was able to run all his ideas past Kaui to make sure they seemed right for the characters," Burke explained. "We wanted to protect her story because we believed in it." Burke (who reunites with producer Jim Taylor for their fifth collaboration with Payne) notes: "It’s a great story with great characters, but I think the thing that sets it apart is that it is very open to interpretation: none of the characters are entirely right and none of the characters are entirely wrong. It’s not a movie everyone will view in the same way. It’s a film that allows the viewer to participate and connect in their own way." When Kaui Hart Hemmings was first creating the character of Matt King, she dared to dream of who might play him on the screen. The person that came to her back then was Oscar® winning actor George Clooney ("Syriana"), a filmmaker renowned for performances that are often as darkly funny as they are palpably human. "Sideways" co-producer George Parra notes that the pairing of Payne and Clooney for the first time on this project was an intriguing match. "They’re both incredibly talented and, after this movie, I think they will forever be friends. They got along from day one. They were both open to great creativity and just letting the film happen." With quite different personalities, how did the two get on? "Alexander is the ultimate professional, very serious and polite and can be fun at times. But he’s very serious when he’s at work. George, on the other hand, is the ultimate prankster. He loves to laugh a lot and he’s hysterical, so between their two personalities, the set had terrific energy." Once Clooney was cast in the central role, the challenge was to build the rest of the King family around him. Payne ("Paris, je t'aime")soon began an exhaustive series of auditions to find that tricky family chemistry made up of equal parts love, fury and miscomprehension, working closely with casting director John Jackson ("The Host"), who has collaborated with him since his first film, "Citizen Ruth". Payne considers the auditions a significant part of the creative process. "We auditioned a ton of people for every part, even one line parts. I think auditions are good. I like to have actors come in and read the words." It was especially key to find two young actresses who were capable of holding their own against Clooney in the roles of his two willful and defiant daughters Alexandra and Scottie, who resent Matt for never having been an involved parent until now. For Alexandra, a feisty free spirit who worries that she takes after the mother she is angry with, Payne ultimately chose Shailene Woodley (TV'S "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"). Woodley (in her first major film role) struck Payne right away as ready to take on the emotional rigors of a role that would take her from a boarding school bad girl to a young woman trying to stitch her family back together. Woodley was thrilled because, by the time she auditioned, she was already in love with the story. "It’s a heart wrenching journey about growth. I love how everybody in the story grows in their ability to love, grows in maturity, in figuring out their individuality and who they are as a family." As for Alexandra, Woodley says she enjoyed the idea of taking her from a wild rebel with a chip on her shoulder to a young woman ready to battle for her loved ones. Woodley (who played Kaitlin Cooper in "The O.C.") says she’s grateful to Payne for giving her the trust and support to navigate the bumpy terrain of merging outrageous situations with intensely real feelings. "Alexander is up there with a few of the favorite people I’ve ever met in my life. He’s got such heart and I’ve learned from him as a director and as a person. When he gets excited, he doesn’t hold it in. He literally jumps up and down and talks in this funky voice and goes up and hugs people." To find a young actress who could handle the humor and heartache of playing a pre-adolescent eccentric, Scottie, the director saw more than three hundred girls from around the country. He still hadn’t found the right candidate with shooting about to start. That’s when he encountered Amara Miller, a promising nine year-old newcomer from Pacific Grove, California who had no previous acting experience. He received an e-mail with her videotaped audition and recalls that "about a minute into it I just said, 'oh that’s her.' I don’t need to see her. I knew that she was the one. I just knew she would show up. And like many things in life, she did, but in the most unpredictable way." Miller says her character has, "a sassy attitude. She goes after what she needs." Alexandra’s boyish, goofy, best friend Sid, is played by Nick Krause. An interloper who ends up making his own iconoclastic mark on their road adventure. "Sid is so laid back that he’s completely forgotten any social standards. He never knows what to say or how to put anything tactfully. Even though he always means well, he just doesn’t know how to express it." What's It All About?

Matt King, a husband and father of two girls, must re-examine his past and navigate his future when his wife is critically injured and placed on life support after a boating accident off Waikiki. As he attempts to repair his relationship with his daughters: precocious Scottie and the rebellious Alexandra, he's 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 having an affair at the time of the accident, Matt has to take a whole new look at his life, 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, Matt will realize he’s on course toward rebuilding his life and family.

The Verdict "For the first five minutes or so, as I listened to Clooney's voice-over, I remember thinking to myself, 'I hope this isn't a Morgan Freeman style narrative, that runs on and on and on.' Thankfully, it didn't! And, ten minutes into "The Descendants", I was starting to question why so many were making such a big fuss about this film: it wasn't doing that much for me. Until Shailene Woodley and Nick Krause's characters hit the screen. It was then that "The Descendants" really took off. By film's end, I too, understood why so many were singing the praises of what is an excellent, enjoyable, film. Yes, George Clooney does give an Oscar® worthy performance as Matt King, but it is his twenty year old co-star Shailene Woodley: who with roles in TV shows such as "The District" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"; steals the film from under his nose. Add to that you can add: a solid support cast featuring delightful turns from: newcomer Amara Miller; Robert Forster (look for him in the new J.J.Abrams TV series "Alcatraz"); Matthew Lillard); an exceptional mix in the perfectly matched soundtrack and, the glorious Hawaiian scenery (thanks to D.O.P. Phedon Papamichael and his team) that will have many rushing to their local Travel Agent. But don't just take my word when it comes to making a decision as to whether you should take in "The Descendants", here's what producer Jim Burke (in his fifth collaboration with Payne) had to say: "It’s not a movie everyone will view in the same way. It's a film that allows the viewer to participate and connect in their own way." And author Kaui Hart Hemmings (formerly Johnston, who was as an eleven year old, was adopted by legendary big wave surfer and Hawaiian politician Fred Hemmings) thoughts? "Writing a book is such a solitary thing, but with a movie, the beauty is in sharing the experience." If you've seen any of Payne's films you'll understand those words, 'sharing the experience.' Without a doubt, "The Descendants" is one experience you'll probably want to share with other film fans. Highly recommended. Make sure you see it on a big screen. 4 1/2 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

George Clooney Shailene Woodley Amara Miller Nick Krause Matthew Lillard Judy Greer Robert Forster Barbara L. Southern Patricia Hastie Grace A Cruz Kim Gennaula Karen Kuioka Hironaga Carmen Kaichi Kaui Hart Hemmings Beau Bridges Matt Corboy Matt Esecson Michael Ontkean Stanton Johnston Jonathan McManus Hugh Foster Tiare R Finney Tom McTigue Milt Kogan Mary Birdsong Rob Huebel

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Matt King Alexandra King Scottie King Sid Brian Speer Julie Speer Scott Thorson Alice 'Tutu' Thorson Elizabeth King Scottie's Teacher School Counselor Barb Higgins Lani Higgins Matt's Secretary Noe Cousin Hugh Cousin Ralph Cousin Hal Cousin Milo Cousin Stan Cousin Six Cousin Wink Cousin Connie Cousin Dave Dr Johnston Kai Mitchell Mark Mitchell

The Production Team Directed by Alexander Payne Screenplay by Alexander Payne/Nat Faxon/Jim Rash Adapted from the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings Produced by Jim Burke/Alexander Payne/Jim Taylor Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael Film Editing by Kevin Tent Casting by John Jackson Production Design by Jane Ann Stewart Art Direction by T.K. Kirkpatrick Set Decoration by Matt Callahan Costume Design by Wendy Chuck Run Time 115 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Fox Searchlight Films - All Rights Reserved Enduring © - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.