Director: Alexander Payne.
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Bob Odenkirk, June Squibb, Stacy Keach.
Running Time: 115 minutes.
Certificate: 15.
Synopsis: An ageing, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.
Alexander Payne’s latest is a black and white film focused on a father’s attempts to collect a $1m prize, and, with Payne in the director’s chair, the story is often ponderous but always intriguing. At the centre of the film is Woody (Bruce Dern) whose life has little besides a nagging wife (June Squibb), two sons David (Will Forte) and Ross (Bob Odenkirk), and a drinking problem. Residing in Montana, the film begins with Woody seen walking up the freeway en route to Nebraska, and from here we are taken inside his home life and learn this isn’t his first attempt to claim his prize. Following a bit of chat, David agrees to take his father to Nebraska and they hit the road, much to his mother’s disbelief.
NEBRASKA is an odd film. Payne is a master of telling stories where little unfolds in regards to plot, but a lot happens to the characters. This is no exception as we are taken into the lives of the main players and discover their histories, weaknesses and strengths making you feel a part of their lives even though you spend under two hours in their company. Bob Nelson is on script duty and puts together dialogue full of warmth and the kind of talk only family members have with each other. Nelson gives NEBRASKA its heart and Payne feeds off this with sensitive direction that never rushes the actors and shows the ‘other side’ of America so rarely shown – one that is ravaged by recession and full of emptiness.
Boasting some wonderful performances from Forte, Odenkirk and a hilarious but heartfelt turn from Squibb, this is unquestionably Dern’s film. His softly spoken, hard of hearing Woody is fantastic company and will have you laughing, crying, laughing while crying and everything in-between as he searches for his million dollars and meets some old friends along the way – one of whom is the always fantastic Stacy Keach.
NEBRASKA is a film with everything you could ask for, yet it once again misses the tightness so often lacking in Payne’s work. With the final thirty minutes unravelling the previously taut yarn at a formulaic trudge, this isn’t to say NEBRASKA doesn’t remain wonderful viewing, but frustratingly prevents it from reaching perfection.
NEBRASKA is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th December.
