The Descendants

When it’s over, I think this is one of Actor George Clooney’s best roles, where he doesn’t resort to charm, sophistication, or sex appeal to sell his character. I think I rather like this new Clooney, who plays Matt King, a man on the verge of physically losing his wife and who must find a way to re-connect with his two daughters while trying to come to terms with a family secret. That’s a lot for one character to go through in a 2 hour film, but Clooney pulled it off with silent heroism. I was surprised by his ability to embody this normal guy, who spent much of his married life clueless and detached. I think this film will appeal to a wide audience in varying age groups, and it will touch each viewer differently, depending on the person’s life situation, experiences, and age. For some people this film may be about death, acceptance, and self discovery. To a younger audience, it may be about rebellion, acknowledgement and attention. For me, the film was about:(1) Forgiveness - the importance of it even when our hearts don’t desire it, (2) Secrets - the lies and betrayals that bind them, and (3) Family - the important bond that keeps everything in perspective.