Nebraska is a story about failed expectations, both spoken and unspoken, in families. Although it did not make a lot of money in theaters, it was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The look of the film, from its landscapes to its black and white photography, gives it the feel of a classic, and this is already a film I’ve gone back to re-watch a couple of times.
Director Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways, The Descendents) grew up in Nebraskaand, even though this is the first script he has ever shot that he did not write, he understands Midwestern culture. He has been accused of mocking his characters and playing them for stereotypes, and while that may have been true in earlier works like Election, it doesn’t seem true here. He treats his characters with respect and fondness, while gently poking fun at Midwestern life. A scene where the men of the family are sitting and staring at the television, occasionally interrupting the silence to talk about cars, rings very true.
Bruce Dern is terrific in his role as Woody, a retired and very tired man, who thinks he has won a million dollars from a sweepstakes letter. This is his first starring role in a long time and it won him the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival and he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. Will Forte is a revelation in a non-comedic role, and Bob Odenkirk is also very good as Woody’s other son. But it is June Squibb, also nominated for this role, who steals every scene she’s in as the blunt, fed-up wife and mother, Kate. Maybe Betty White has already spoiled the big laugh of a white-haired lady cursing, but the scene where Kate finally gets fed-up with the extended family and lets them have it is hilarious.
Road trip movies that are poignant and humorous are hard to do. By the end of most road trip movies, you either wished it had ended 20 minutes ago or you know exactly what has to happen to complete the emotional/spiritual journey (or both). Nebraska is not predictable, but it is redemptive, and it earns your attention to the very last shot. It is rated R for some curse words and dirty jokes, but it is one of the first R rated movies I showed my daughters (nothing they haven’t heard at school) and they really enjoyed it
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