The Descendants

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🎙️ EPISODE 608: 11.29.22 Payne's first film in seven years and his first in the 2010s is also his biggest miss. Not having long-time script collaborator Jim Taylor onboard seemed to hurt somewhat (the voiceover is bulky and somewhat unnecessary, for example), but — for me — this all comes down to George Clooney being one of the most overrated actors ever. I realize I'm in the minority on this, but he's just one of those "handsome dudes who doesn't fuck up his lines" type guys. I never buy his emotional moments. All I see is George Clooney trying to look emotional. This film is a fine example of The Clooney Problem, and maybe the best honestly. Take any really dramatic scene here where he's pitted against Shailene Woodley, playing his daughter? She runs laps around him frankly, AND it's her first movie role! I will say that it wasn't the complete disaster I remember when it came out. At this point, it feels like Payne is incapable of making a true piece of trash (*we'll have to wait and see about Downsizing!).

CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ EPISODE 607 - (YOU ARE HERE) - EPISODE 608B ⫸

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The Descendants is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney in the main role, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller in her film debut, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, and Robert Forster, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011, after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released on September 10, 2011.