The Descendants (2011)

What’s the difference between a good movie and a great movie? A great movie gets even better long after you’ve seen it

Such is the case for The Descendants. Directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, this familial drama looks almost like your typical indie fare. And from a film making standpoint you could say that it is. But in terms of character and story design and how you’re supposed to craft structure, narrative and concept, this movie is practically a masterclass

Any great premise has something going for it: Dramatic Irony. And not just in its core story but as a natural foundation to tell that core story. From the setting, to the sub-plot, to the characters, this film is filled with contradictions and twisted ironies. It’s a lot like life. One of the highlights of this film is how the brutal honesty of family conflict is leveraged with humor and unexpected levity. There is nothing predictable here.

I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it and see what you think. Oh, one last thing: You’ll want to go to Hawaii after seeing it

(Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael)