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Black and white film ‘Nebraska’ is luminous

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By Matthew Schulte ‘15 | Staff Writer

With black and white cinematography, director Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” is a mellow, yet euphoric film that provides viewers with a heartwarming and gratifying movie-going experience.

Skepticism filled my mind before viewing Payne’s new film. I have never been one to appreciate contemporary black and white movies, therefore, I figured “Nebraska” would be an uninteresting and boring experience; my predictions couldn’t have been more inaccurate.

The story begins when old, confused and alcoholic Woody Grant played by Bruce Dern receives a magazine advertisement stating that he has won a grand prize of one million dollars and must come down to headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska to claim it. Grant’s family is fully aware of the fraudulent marketing and attempt to talk some sense into him, however he is still insistent on going.

In an attempt to reconnect with his aging father, David Grant played by Will Forte steps up to the plate and offers to drive him out to Nebraska. The road trip itself has its highs and lows, as David makes a stop in his father’s home town, where he is reunited with old friends and family.

Throughout “Nebraska,” family bonds and friendships are made, mended and broken, but in the end, one will leave the theater feeling content with the film’s climax. During Payne’s grand finale, viewers will be fighting back tears.

On paper, “Nebraska’s” plot seems anything but exciting, however the actors employed by Payne truly make it a joy to watch. For example, Woody’s wife, Kate Grant, portrayed by June Squibb is absolutely hysterical. In the film, Squibb wields a colorful vocabulary and displays excessive toilet humor  in hopes of shocking the audience; her performance did just that.

Forte also does an exceptional job as David. A troubled son, David senses his opportunity for quality time with his aging father is becoming increasingly challenging and diminishes with each passing day.  He portrays a quiet knowledge that each remaining moment is precious, all the while trying to appease his father and yet keep everyone safe.

In the end, no actor’s performance came close to that of Dern’s. Dern masterfully conveyed a sense of confusion and elderliness, all while saying very few lines. His facial expressions, body movements and the emptiness he expressed through his eyes made the viewer undeniably connect and understand Woody’s state of mind.

While there are numerous strengths exhibited in “Nebraska,” there are also flaws. First off, the beginning half of the film is tremendously slow. It took every ounce of energy I had to bear through it. But then once the storyline picked up, it felt like the film ended too soon; I wanted more! Boredom and non-stop excitement are two elements that should not coexist in a movie.

Also, parts of the film’s dialogue and script seemed noticeably  mediocre. With a budget of roughly $13 million, good dialogue and lines should not be an issue; however, they were. While some scenes were expertly acted out, others were plagued with improper pronunciation and cliche phrases. Overall, however, the shortcomings of the film were outweighed by its charm and tender moments.

Although complete opposites, the best  way to describe “Nebraska” would be euphoric and meek. The black and white cinematography paired with rural shots gives off a simple feeling, while the plot and acting is emotionally filling. If anything, the black and white allows for noticeable contrast and adds to the  humble vibe the film gives off. Looking past its slow start, movie-goers will  without a doubt become  immersed in “Nebraska.”

As for award potential, while much of “Nebraska’s” cast will most likely be nominated for awards, Dern is the only actor who has a decent shot of winning the Academy Award for Best Actor. All in all, Payne made a bold move directing a film completely in black and white, but in the end the risk paid off; “Nebraska” truly is a must see.

Grade: B+

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