The Descendants

Matt King's (George Clooney) life seems to be falling apart. Things don't seem to be looking up as his wife is in a coma from a boating accident and she may have been having an affair.  

Without her help Matt isn't quite sure how to raise his two girls. He even admits to being the "back-up parent."  In the midst of selling his ancestor's land, King goes to search for his wife's secret lover.  

"The Descendants" is a beautiful movie from co-writer/director Alexander Payne. The story is nothing if not compelling as each character comes across as a relatable human being.

You can't help but feel every little thing that Clooney's character is going through. Luckily, there's this perfect blend of comedic genius to go along with this depressing tale.

Clooney's performance in "The Descendants" is obviously nothing short of what you'd expect from him, exceeding expectations and giving one of the best performances of his career.

How this man gets better every time he's in front of a camera, I'll never know. The man is a master of his craft and "The Descendants" is a showpiece for Clooney's career.

The child actresses playing King's two girls are some of the best I've ever seen. Shailene Woodley, who plays the teenage daughter, gives the best portrayal of a teenage girl. She's just one of those troublemaker teenagers who wants nothing to do with her parents and gives a realistic performance all around. Woodley makes it hard to believe that she was reading lines from a script. I can tell she's going to be a star one day.

At first glance, this movie doesn't seem like it's anything special. Not until you are in the theater witnessing its brilliance will you fully understand how great "The Descendants" is. The way these characters are developed turns this story into an interesting ride.

It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry but most of all, it will make you forget it's just a piece of fiction.