The Descendants

The London Film Festival is hotting up as another potential award winner causes a stir. Writer and director Alexander Payne’s latest big screen offering comes in the form of the comedy-drama The Descendants.

DCM were down at the BFI festival today to catch the latest flick from the former Oscar winning director (won for Sideways, best adapted Screenplay). This is Payne’s third adaptation from a novel, telling the story of a middle-aged father (George Clooney) who tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife has a severe boating accident which leaves her in a coma. Despite the serious plotline, it is predominantly a coming-of-age film, even though the film’s central character happens to be over 50, and follows the father’s struggle to patch together his family whilst also facing the decision to sell off one of the last areas of virgin Hawaiian land, passed down to him from his Hawaiian ancestors.

George Clooney is brilliant playing the unassuming and grieving father who tries hard to become a good parent to his daughters and to provide them with sound advice. When questioned at the BFI London Film Festival Press Screening today about what best piece of advice his father gave him in his life, Mr. Clooney answered simply “don’t mix grain and grape”.

As with real-life, the film perfectly blends together comedy with drama and tragedy, and is of a similar tone to Payne’s past productions (Sideways, About Schmidt).

Combined with a well-crafted screenplay and witty dialogue, there is no wonder why this film has already awards buzz surrounding it. Recommended if you also liked Juno or Little Miss Sunshine, the film will play well to an upmarket and mature audience.

Those of you who would like to catch a glimpse of the man himself, George Clooney will be attending the Centrepiece Gala for the BFI London Film Festival tonight in Leicester Square. The Descendants will release UK-wide on 27th January next year.

<p>[embed width=550]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWHNXJ1K4yA[/embed]</p>