MOVIE REVIEW - Nebraska

Here comes one of the quirkiest movies you will ever see.  The new black and white Indy pic, Nebraksa.

This is a true independent movie if ever there was one.   Nebraska stars veteran actor Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Quibb, Stacy Keach, and a really nice, little known supporting cast.  This movie is wonderfully put together, and is going to be this years "concept piece," as it is filmed 100 percent in black and white.  Sadly, that will turn off a ton of movie goers without even giving this a chance.  But what a great decision.   This will be a love/hate situation.  If you love quirky flicks, this is your movie. If you don't want to interpret a movie, but simply to watch it...go next door.

This is the story of an old man from Billings, Montana named Woody Grant (Dern).  He is a very confused elderly man who receives a contest form from a promotional company in Lincoln, Nebraska saying he has won 1 million dollars.  So Woody thinks it's true. And since he does not drive anymore and his wife Kate (Squibb) won't take him there knowing it's a sham, he starts to walk there to claim hi winnings.   He tries this time after time.  Finally his son, David agrees to take his dad to Lincoln just to put the whole thing to rest.

Along the way, they decide to stop in Hawthorne, South Dakota, Woody's hometown.  While there, word slips out that Woody HAS won the million dollars to the general small town population. Many of them have known Woody for decades and of course nothing ever happens in this town.  So, the race is on to see who can sponge off Woody, trying to settle old scores and mooch some of his "money" that he has seemingly not even won.  

This is a very simple little movie that develops characters so wonderfully, you relate to, and love all of them right off the bat.  This is a strange movie to some, as it is paced with an extremely off beat syncopated rhythm that keeps you watching, and is insanely charming.  But as simple as this is presented to you, including the black and white format adding to it, this makes powerful statements. Including treatment of the elderly, human greed, fractured families and how the world can easily leave some people behind.   How will this pay out for Woody, and his tragic family?

Dern is terrific as the gray-minded Woody who is living in his own world that he has created for himself.   Squibb is fantastic as the loud mouth Kate, who is extremely funny at times, and really gives this the surprise factor that it needs. she could be award nominated somewhere.   And it's great to see Stacy Keach back in the movies, and he is great as an old "friend" who wants his some of Woody's money.  Even though he has never had the guts to leave his dinky little town.

Nebraska is a comedy, a dark comedy, a tragedy, and bold movie making that will be critically acclaimed and will probably walk off with some hardware of some kind. And be seen by about 1000 people nationwide.   But his is a fine movie, and wonderfully refreshing at the theaters, when there is so much of the same out there in the other 10 screen.  This is in very limited release, but it is worth the drive and a coffee afterwards for discussion.

Nebraska. This is clearly not for everyone.   If you like quirky, independent movies this is for you.  Well, well done.