Watched: March 19, 2015 on DVD

Hashtag: #WatchingTheDescendants

Year Released: 2011

Genre: Drama

Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley

Run Time: 115 minutes

Description (from Google): Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife’s will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family’s enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother’s possible death.

I went into this movie not knowing much about it (like most of the movies I’m watching for this project), except that Shailene Woodley had received a lot of praise for her performance and my mom didn’t understand why.  See, I got the copy of the DVD from my mother and she said that while Shailene was fine in the role of Alexandra, there wasn’t a lot to it, certainly nothing extraordinary.  I actually disagree.

Shailene and Amara Miller, who played the younger daughter Scottie, were the best part of the movie.  I was a little worried that Shailene would be too angsty, too misunderstood teen, but she actually took that start and really amped it up with pain and betrayal and grief and loyalty to her father, yet at no time did it feel like she was acting the part.  It was so natural.

Mr. Clooney, on the other hand, I really didn’t care for.  Especially at the beginning of the movie – his narration just keep reminding me of the old writer’s adage, “Show, don’t tell.”  I wanted him to stop telling us the story and let it unfold for itself.  Usually I like narration in film and television, but it really took this film down a few notches for me.

I liked the Hawaiian music and the overall plot, but I probably won’t watch the movie again.  I can’t see myself getting anything else out of it on repeat viewings.

 

“Paradise can go fuck itself.” Sorry Hawaii. #WatchingTheDescendants

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) March 20, 2015

like this philosophy: “You give your children enough to do something, but not enough to do nothing.” #WatchingTheDescendants

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) March 20, 2015

“Is this a bad time?” “Oh no, we’re just fighting.” #hilarious #WatchingTheDescendants

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) March 20, 2015

Alex’s friend Sid is everything I ever wanted in a surfer stoner dude #WatchingTheDescendants

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) March 20, 2015

And there is no way any woman in her right mind would cheat on George Clooney with Matthew Lillard #WatchingTheDescendants

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) March 20, 2015

 

If you want to see more of my tweets from my viewing of this movie, follow me on Twitter @RLHammAuthor and search for #WatchingTheDescendants