The Descendants (2011)
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89% of critics liked it
(230 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(62,638 ratings)
From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife… More From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries. -- (C) Fox Searchlight
- Directed By
- Alexander Payne
- Written By
- Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Nov 18, 2011 Limited
- Studio
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Payne is an unobtrusive director, a filmmaker who lets the script do the walking - in this case, perhaps too much.
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Tom Long, Detroit News
One of the year's best films, a bubbly meditation on family and responsibility that weighs just enough to matter.
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Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
In the hands of writer-director Alexander Payne, Clooney has rarely seemed so much at home.
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Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
With so many balls in the air the temptation is to rush from one plot strand to another, but Payne takes the opposite approach. He also captures the complexity of emotional reactions that grief stirs.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
It's Clooney and Woodley's movie, as they become a team before our eyes.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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George Clooney
as Matt King
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Shailene Woodley
as Alexandra, Alexandra King
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Amara Miller
as Scottie, Scottie King
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Judy Greer
as Julie, Julie Speer
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Beau Bridges
as Cousin Hugh, Hugh
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Nick Krause
as Sid
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Patricia Hastie
as Elizabeth King
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Matthew Lillard
as Brian, Brian Speer
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Robert Forster
as Scott, Scott Thorson
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Grace A. Cruz
as Scottie's Teacher
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Kim Gennaula
as School Counselor
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Karen Kuioka Hironaga
as Barb Higgins
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Carmen Kaichi
as Lani Higgins
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Kaui Hart Hemmings
as Matt's Secretary Noe
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Matt Corboy
as Cousin Ralph
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Matt Esecson
as Cousin Hal
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Michael Ontkean
as Cousin Milo
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Stanton Johnston
as Cousin Stan
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Jonathan McManus
as Cousin Six
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Hugh Foster
as Cousin Wink
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Tiare R. Finney
as Cousin Connie
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Tom McTigue
as Cousin Dave
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Milt [Lewis] Kogan
as Dr. Johnston
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Mary Birdsong
as Kai Mitchell
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Rob Huebel
as Mark Mitchell
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Laird Hamilton
as Troy Cook
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Aileen "Boo" Arnold
as Dorm Supervisor
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Esther Kang
as Alex's Roommate
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Melissa Kim
as Alex's Drunken Friend
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Barbara Lee Southern
as Alice "Tutu" Thorson
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Celia Kenney
as Reina
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Matthew Reese
as Buzz
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Zoel Turnbull
as Hotel Clerk
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Linda Rose Herman
as Grief Counselor
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Scott Michael Morgan
as Barry Thorson
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Darryl K. Gonzales
as Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)
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Koko Kanealii
as Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)
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Romey "Keola" Yokotake
as Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)







