Nebraska

—“Nebraska” is one of those slightly quirky, somewhat sentimental, wonderful films that begins in the unspoken realm of family interactions and slowly reels you into the narrative. It’s part road trip, part family drama, and part glimpse at small town life. Many of the images are stunning, showing the landscape in black and white while the script blurs most of the edges. The film depicts the heartland I know, and is not one of those smart, urban, coastal films inhabited by people stepping out of the fashion pages and heading toward their next shrink appointment. There are some very funny moments and times when things are a bit wistful, maybe even melancholic, but it holds together as a single tale and is well worth seeing. By the end, a son has a better understanding of his father’s past and of the paths taken, regretted, and forgotten over time. Both Bruce Dern and Ruth Squibb’s performances are superb and Alexander Payne’s deliberate direction is spot on.

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[2013. 115 min. Directed by Alexander Payne. Starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, and June Squibb.]
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/movies/nebraska-directed-by-alexander-payne-stars-bruce-dern.html?_r=1&