In George Clooney’s breathtaking performance in The Descendant,s he shows his insightful and affectionate side by playing the grief-stricken role of Matt King, a devoted father and husband. The film opens with a calm scene of a woman riding a jet ski on the peaceful beaches of Hawaii, but soon fades out to the beginning credits of the movie.
The film follows a newly-formed family of three, the Kings, as they find their way through life without their coma-stricken mother, the woman on the jet ski. The father of the family, Matt King, is a wealthy lawyer who lives on the beautiful island of Kauai. He has been left 25,000 acres of untouched land, but King must decide whether to sell the land to a wealthy broker, or keep it so the natural beauty remains the same. Meanwhile, King delves into secrets surrounding his marriage and re-evaluates past decisions he has made.
Throughout the movie, King’s daughters have a charming relationship. Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) is involved with the wrong crowd at college, but, as the movie progresses, she develops a compassionate and caring side for herself and her family. Scottie (Amara Miller), Alexandra’s younger sister is an angry pre-teen and a bold character who shares many fulfilling experiences with her family during the course of the film.
All three of the actors have a bond that feels undeniably true on the screen. The Descendants focuses on the breaking and healing of families, and shows how a group of people, so different from one another, can come together and form a beautiful relationship. The New York Times stated, “The brilliance of Mr. Clooney’s performance lies in his ability to convey indecision, hesitation and the precipitous tumble into error.” The excellence of Clooney’s performance shone through his realistic character formation, and his ability to own the role that was rightfully his will perhaps earn him an Oscar nomination.