Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" - A Story of America

At first glance Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" might be described as a Mid-Western, but in reality it's an American.  And the best movie about Americans all year.  Real, working class, non-superhero citizens are the backbone of this excellent movie which captures the complexities and details of life in the post-recession landscape.  "Nebraska" is a movie that makes you think:  about our aging parents, about lost dreams, and about the new generation with substantially bleaker prospects than the old one.  It takes place in the literal center of the country, but the story is universally American.

"Nebraska" is about Woody Grant (Bruce Dern), who travels with his forty-something son David (Will Forte) to his home state of Nebraska to claim a million dollar sweepstakes prize that may or may not exist.  Along the way, they reconnect with old friends and family who reveal hidden truths about Woody's life.  David learns that his father is much more complicated than the aloof alcoholic he - and the audience - takes him for.  Over the course of one weekend, Woody and David's bickering gives way to a deeper understanding about family heritage and communal history that enlighten and invigorate both men.

Further complicating matters are the long-lost relatives who now believe Woody is a millionaire.  Having lost contact with Woody's family for over a decade, they make no qualms about now asking for a share of the riches.  The most stupefying and villainous are Woody's nephews Bart and Cole.  They love to drink beer and talk cars, and don't appear to have any sort of job.  They mock David for his Subaru wagon and for taking 2 days to drive 750 miles, yet spend their weekends doing roadside "community service" after a sexual assault charge.  Their aggressive attempts to snatch a share of their Uncle's jackpot are both sad and hilarious. 

Will Forte and Bruce Dern

Photographed in black-and-white across Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska, the movie is full of authentic images depicting small-town and rural life in the 21st Century.  The terrific script by Bob Nelson is filled with spot-on sayings and down-home characters that make this story both funny and poignant.  This rich portrait is anchored by Bruce Dern's phenomenal performance.  The 77 year old actor has worked with everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Quentin Tarantino, and brings all his experience to create a touching, layered father that is an archetypal Old Man of the United States.  Mr. Dern uses his eyes, his walk, his gestures, and even his grunts to convey his entire memory, filled with regret, disappointment, and the disbelief that time and tide wait for no man. 

At its heart, "Nebraska" is a father-and-son story.  David harbors resentment toward Woody for caring too little and drinking too much.  Woody feels David has not amounted to anything, relegated to "selling record players" at a local store.  Yet David knows that he's not all that different form his dad, and with no wife or house to call his own, David faces an even bleaker future.  The road trip to Nebraska is what they both need; David needs to connect with his father, and Woody needs to get away from his meaningless existence and feel alive once again.

The entire movie will hit close to home for anyone with family outside the big cities.  Every argument or insult has been said by real families for a hundred years.  The houses and taverns have a comfortable lived-in feel that might be your aunt's or a former business partner's.  What makes this movie brilliant is that no matter how crazy things get, or how bizarre people act, we as an audience recognize ourselves.  Every character is richly drawn with cracks and faults that could be any of our relatives.  Like the landscape where Woody Grant was born and raised, "Nebraska" is our home too.

Greek-American director Alexander Payne has now made six movies and every single one is great.  I recommend them all, and be sure to read my review of his first movie "Citizen Ruth."