The Descendants (2011 Alexander Payne)

Written by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, based on a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings.

George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Beau Bridges, Matthew Liddard (right after I said I hoped I'd see him in something else soon). I think Payne is good at getting great performances.

Thank Wilder for Clooney, as an actor, a producer (and director) and as a man. He has that same star quality as someone like Cary Grant, but is much more active than just an actor.

Really good, well-written and acted film about family ("families are like archipelagos") affected by mother's infidelity and accident. And great line from Krause to Miller "Easy there, half pipe!" Subtle stuff e.g. Krause's family history.

Nice compositions above courtesy Phedon Papamichael (in Panavision), ed. Kevin Tent (both also Sideways).

Kaua'i and Hawaii look windy and stormy. "Paradise? Paradise can go fuck itself." Our second film in Hawaii recently.