Nebraska is the latest film by Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways). It is the story of an older man, Woody (Bruce Dern, The 'Burbs), who thinks that he has won a million dollars with a PCH type company. Despite the protests of his family who try desperately to make him realize it's a scam, he is determined to make his way from Montana to Nebraska to collect his million. His younger son David (Will Forte, MacGruber) decides to drive him to Nebraska and take this as an opportunity to get to know his father better. Along the way, they get sidetracked into staying with Woody's family in his hometown, which they have not been to in many years.
This film was shot in beautiful black and white that fit well with the simplistic overall theme of quiet life in small mid-western towns. There was a lot of great cinematography of quiet small town streets along with the gorgeous countryside. It cast small town life as simplistic, although how far they went with it may be my one and only complaint of the film. Every one of the people in the small Nebraska town they stop in were all so simplistic as to be kind of dimwitted.
The main cast was pretty great though. Will Forte and Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad) both did acceptable jobs as Woody's two sons. Bruce Dern was wonderful in the role of Woody. Woody was a man who grew up with a little bit of a liking for the alcohol, and seemed to have a hint of dementia in his old age. Dern played this well. Occasionally he would seem to be just not there, and then he'd snap back again and be present. This was also quite a charming and funny movie, and the shining star in my eyes would have to be June Squibb (About Schmidt), who played the mother, Kate. The whole movie was filled with great dry humor and she added a dash of straight up funny. She was a feisty no-nonsense old woman who would get right in your face and not be afraid to speak her mind. She had many lines that had me rolling with laughter.
Overall, this film was a joy to watch unfold. Filled with charm, heart, and humor and some stunning black and white cinematography, I'd say you can't go wrong watching this movie.
Rating: ********-- (8 out of 10)
Memorable Quote:
David Grant: "Jesus mom! Was the whole town trying to seduce you?"
Kate Grant: "These boys grow up staring at the rear ends of cows and pigs, it's only natural that a real woman will get them chafing their pants."
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