Saturday 9 August 2014

Nebraska (2013 Alexander Payne)

Another calm reflection on families and relationships, Payne's writer this time is Bob Nelson, who had written practically nothing before he won his Oscar and BAFTA nominations. Subtle writing in which we learn bits and pieces about these people's past lives gradually.

Payne is another of those directors who has built a good team round him: thus Phedon Papamichael for the lovely B&W Panavision (arguably, B&W has got as good as it's ever going to get); Kevin Tent one of our slow fade editors; Rolfe Kent's simple, mournful music.


Bill Forte and Bob Odenkirk are the sons, June Squibb as wife, Bruce Dern the dysfunctional father, both also very good. And Stacy Keach as a bastard.

It was when I realised the final shot is a clear homage to Paper Moon that I made the mental leap that the parallels don't end there...

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