Nebraska (2013)

Genre

Adventure | Drama

Director

Alexander Payne

Country

USA

Cast

Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, Mary Louise Wilson, Missy Doty, Angela McEwan, Rance Howard, Devin Ratray, Tim Driscoll

Plot

Old and alcoholic Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is convinced he has won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes, and all he wants to do is going to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect it. His son David (Will Forte) will grudgingly agree to drive him to claim his winning. 

Opinion

Slow, charming and hilarious, Nebraska is one of the most brutal and pathetic films ever made, and a brilliant, deep and painful portrait of life, that offers a view of some very unpleasant things: aging, greed, pettiness and ignorance.

Woody is a man who has done everything and nothing in his life, a man who believes his life has no worth, but he still may have a chance to change that for his sons, that's why he wants a new truck and an air compressor, so to leave something for his sons.

The photography is stunning, and the black and white added to the story. The sleepy music score from Mark Orton is fantastic.

All the acting is top class. Bruce Dern gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the semi-catatonic alcoholic. Will Forte gives a surprisingly good and sincere performance as the son. Bob Odenkirk is great as well as the concerned older brother. However, June Squibb steals the show, playing the extremely unpleasant wife. 

Quotes

Receptionist: Does he have Alzheimer's?

David Grant: No, he just believes what people tell him.

Receptionist: That's too bad.

Rating

9.0/10