Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: The Descendants (2011)

What it is it about? 

Matt King, a trustee who holds the fate of vital land in Hawaii, attempts to re-connect with his daughters and make sense of the last few years of his life after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. 

Who is in it? 

George Clooney - Matt King

Shailene Woodley - Alexandra King

Amara Miller - Scottie King

Favorite Scene: 

On their first visit to Elizabeth's parents to break the news of her impending death, Sid's personality and antics rubs the family the wrong way and eventually results in him being punched in the face. 

Favorite Quote: 

Matt King: I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father - you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing. 
---

Matt King: ...Do you get hit a lot? 
Sid: I don't know, I've had my share. 
Matt King: [to Alex] Your friend is retarded, you know that? 
Sid: Hey I've got a brother who's retarded! You don't have to get all derogatory. 

Review: 

All of the critics and reviews already out there are completely correct about this film. The Descendants is an absolutely terrific movie. Just out right fantastic. George Clooney is amazing as always, and really delivered his best work since Up in The Air in 2009. Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller were just as good in their supporting roles as well. However, Clooney, in his role as Matt King really hooks the viewer in with a transparent sense of the character's situation at hand, but also causes you to feel the mixed array of emotions he is in. 

And honestly, Nick Krause deserves at least a mention as the memorable Sid. You will get a kick out this character!

What really makes The Descendants a must-see film is it's ability of pacing and storytelling. The film does a great job of slowly giving you more and more to the point where you understand and feel what this transforming family of three is going through as they not only cope with the situation of a dying mother and wife, but becoming re-connected after this situation. 

The Descendants is the ultimate self-recovery story, and one that is highly enjoyable with moments of laughter, sadness, and intrigue all rolled into a great movie. 

Check this one out, for sure. 

Grade: 4/5

Labels

Labels:

Recently Read

Was It Ever Real?

Does time change me? Or, did I evolve through experience? How many signals did I miss? Or, did I choose this fate? Do I understand the wrongs and regrets? Or, did I act with the best interest in the moment? What did they say about me? And, what will they say about me today? Was I appreciated? Or, did I imagine that? What were the opinions in the shadows? And, what were the feelings expressed before me? Is it a misunderstanding?  Or, a matter of not confirming?  Why didn’t it last? Or, was it never meant to? …ever able to? Was it ever real? Some of it? Part of it?
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/23/25

3 Up   1. New Old Cookbook - I thought this was really cool. The oldest published cookbook just got a remake and is now available. The cookbook, by Malinda Russell, is 160 years old. There has to be some really good (clean) stuff in that book. It's also Black History Month (are we still allowed to push that?), and there's a lot of history and significance that can be found through food.  2. Frankie Munoz - This dude went from Malcolm in the Middle and decided, I'm gonna be a race car driver! Munoz finished 10th recently in his debut as a NASCAR driver.  3. Yankees Policy - It's about time. The Yankees really were eventually going to find themselves in something MUCH uglier than a narrative surrounding "would George have done this?!" or "Why, this is the Yankee way!". Kudos to Hal Steinbrenner for the move.  3 Down 1. Another Plane Crash - This one in Toronto. A place landed on its roof. What is going on out there? Doesn't help when you read and ...
Read more

2025 NBA All-Star Weekend - "Throw this format in the trash"

There's no other way to put this, the NBA has a serious problem on their agenda going forward regarding All-Star Weekend. What was once the standard for All-Star presentations and must-watch television has quickly turned into social criticism and an entity that undoubtedly reminds fans of what used to be.  Simply put, NBA All-Star Weekend is broken.  I don't want to pile on like we expect the talking heads and personalities to do. This is fixable. Like everything else in sports. However, this...what we experienced tonight, is not it.  Other quick thoughts on the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend:  The Skills Challenge was cool when it was first introduced. Now, it's become over-produced. The map of the floor, the gadgets involved, and even the rules...just ask Chris Paul and poor Victor Wembanyama.  By the way, the constant camera focus on both of them following the "disqualification" had such "Principal Office" vibes.  The Three-Point content remains the purest...
Read more