Nebraska tells the story of Woody Grant, an old man who’s convinced he won a one million dollars sweepstakes prize. Determined to go and get his money, his son is forced to drive him to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect the reward. It wasn’t a film I was attracted to, it seemed blank and quite frankly, after the disaster of Payne’s previous movie The Descendants, I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to see Nebraska. Well, against all odds, it’s one of the most touching movies I’ve seen in 2013 and definitely one of my favorites.
Road movies have always been some of my favorite movies because it’s all about the people. It’s about stories, memories, and real life. I mean not much can happen in a car or a small town, so it’s all focused on those folks and what they have to say.
We don’t see enough movies like Nebraska. It writes itself in history as it feels like it’s been around for a long time. It’s entirely shot in black and white, recalling us of those old American road movies with that very special aesthetic (with long meaningful silence, close-ups, and wide shots).
It’s a movie about the difficult relationship between a father and his son, as well as the bittersweet side of aging. Their family is a bit of a mess, they don’t listen to each other, they fight, and they don’t understand one another. But with the crazy hope of the old man, there’s a regain of faith in their family, and they stick together against the adversity of others.
It’s funny, very well written, and it’s full of heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes. The last scene of Nebraska is probably one of the most powerful scenes I’ve had the pleasure to watch. It seems so simple and yet it shakes you by its intensity and meaning.
All the actors are incredible. Bruce Dern’s portrayal of Woody Grant is as real as it gets. You feel for that poor old man, for whom aging hasn’t been easy: he can’t do anything on his own, he’s losing his mind, and it is hard for him. This road trip was what he needed to regain his senses, realizing his simple dreams and stand up for himself when faced with old bullies.
Will Forte is an amazing supporting part to Dern’s acting, that should have gotten more recognition. This heartwarming character somewhat forged my respect. When your parents are aging, it’s not easy to take care of them, and yet he does it the best he can: he’s not pushing him and tries to be as patient as he possibly can. The last gift he’s giving to his father is very moving and important, it reflects all the meaning of this journey for them both.
June Squib is hilarious, even if she doesn’t appear to be. Everytime she was on screen, shouting her incredible insults, I was under her spell, a real American grandma. I noticed that she always defend her loved ones, almost like she is the only one entitled to insult them. Everyone, without an exception, was amazing. I only have one slight criticism: some of the secondary characters are a little bit too cliché, but I guess that you need that kind of characters here.
Nebraska is a little jewel of cinema that everyone should go and see. I really hope that they will get some awards this Sunday at the Oscars because it will be well deserved.
Rating: 5/5
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