'Nebraska:' The Good Life

From About Schmidt - to Sideways - to The Descendants - Writer/Director Alexander Payne knows how to charm audiences, while establishing a deep emotional connection to the characters in his films. Although his next picture Nebraska was not written by him, it still holds the same formula that has made Payne a critical darling, and Awards show favorite.

Filmed entirely in black-and-white, Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, an aging alcoholic hellbent on claiming his million dollar sweepstakes prize in Nebraska, along with his estranged son David (Will Forte). Woody is so determined to collect his winnings, he begins his journey from Montana to Nebraska by trekking up the road alone. While David wants to stop at places on the way like Mount Rushmore (which his father critiques as laziness), Woody prefers to stop at local bars and begins to realize that he no longer knows the people occupying them. Later joining their family to put this millionaire mission to rest is Woody's uproarious wife, played by June Squibb (About Schmidt), and newscaster son, played by Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad). Squibb is a riot, and steals the show mooning graves and belting out no filter one liners.

"I ain't fiddlin' with no cow titties. I'm a city girl!" -June Squibb, as Kate Grant

Woody's sweepstakes winnings (still unclaimed) becomes the biggest news in his small and desolate hometown of Hawthorne, while his sons gain discoveries about their father's past. Nebraska produces some big laughs, even with its slow pace. Although I wasn't as taken with it as the comparable About Schmidt, Nebraska is a sweet and charming story. It is no wonder this is Alexander Payne's hometown, with all of the beautiful Ansel Adams-like still shots of Nebraska. Favoring the road trip and protagonists who are lost, Payne doesn't aim for a complete change in his characters on the cross-state trip, but a heartfelt emotional understanding. Also notable is the mean brother from Home Alone (Buzz), doing what he does best.

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