Nebraska (2013)

When his aged alcoholic father (Bruce Dern) insists on going from Montana to Nebraska to collect his million dollar prize winnings from a contest, his wife (June Squibb) and son (Will Forte) attempt to explain to him that it's a scam. But when the befuddled old man demands to go, his son reluctantly accompanies him on the road trip. In many respects, this is a lovely film. Unlike his previous film THE DESCENDANTS (which I disliked intensely), director Alexander Payne doesn't ladle on the sentiment and the humor is restrained. It's only flaw is Payne's tendency to condescend to some of his rural characters. Other than that, it's a heartfelt yet keen look at a man nearing the end of a life filled with disappointments, the son who loves him and a gaggle of friends and family that suddenly get dollar signs in their eyes at the prospect of money. In many ways, it's like a male version of TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL and Bruce Dern (who won this year's best actor award at the Cannes film festival) gives a beautifully modulated performance. Will Forte, best known for his comedic work on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, also gives a dimensional performance and June Squibb as Dern's wife is a real scene stealer and provides the film's biggest laugh and applause moment. Handsomely shot in black and white widescreen by Phedon Papamichael. With Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk.