Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
In our countdown to the Oscars, we continue with Best Picture. Our previous countdown eliminated “Her” – “Captain Phillips” – “The Wolf of Wall Street” – “Gravity” and “Dallas Buyers Club.” The remaining nominees for Best Picture are: “12 Years a Slave” – “American Hustle” – “Nebraska” – “Philomena”
Now we explore “Nebraska”
“Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is found walking in Billings traffic and stopped by a police officer. He is picked up by his son, David (Will Forte), who learns that Woody wants to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect a $1 million sweepstakes prize he has won. When David sees the sweepstakes letter, he realizes that it is a mail scam to make a person purchase magazine subscriptions. He returns Woody to his home, where David’s mother Kate (June Squibb) becomes annoyed by Woody insisting on collecting his money. This happens again with David being disrupted at his job as a stereo salesman. He and his brother Ross (Bob Odenkirk), a local news anchor, discuss putting Woody in a retirement home. David is later paid a visit by his ex-girlfriend Noel (Missy Doty), who is returning his things, and refuses to move back in. Their conversation is cut short by a call from David’s mother reporting that his father has left yet again. David retrieves Woody and decides to drive Woody to Lincoln, much to Kate’s dismay.” Wikipedia
The movie is definitely bittersweet. It only goes to show you that it’s not always the money, but rather losing one’s dignity that can cause a person to suffer…. The characters were well chosen and the scenes with the family, like a live portrait, were amazing. But, the movie was slow … have never been to Nebraska so maybe that is what life is like out there. Despite Bruce Dern being a favorite for best actor with the old timers in the Academy…….we are taking it off the list…..six down, three to go.
