Nebraska

Nebraska
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Written by: Bob Nelson
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Oedenkirk

During a road trip the Grant family, Woody, Kate, and David, visits the cemetery to pay respects to Woody’s family.  Woody, the elderly patriarch of the Grant family is quiet, reserved, and respectful of the dead.  Kate, his wife, has no filter and openly discusses her (biased) feelings towards her husbands family.  David, the younger son desperately tries to keep the peace - awkwardly entertaining his mother’s verbal diarrhea while trying to respect the silence his father longs for.  Though a wildly comedic moment, it illustrates the family dynamic.  A family which has largely coexisted through the love of each others differences.  A family that, like most families, may not always understand one another but loves unconditionally.

Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) thinks he’s won a million dollars.  No, not thinks, firmly believes he’s won a million dollars.  While the rest of the people around him are aware of the scam, Woody is unassuaged as the letter he holds clearly states he is an instant millionaire.  So what do you do when no one believes you?  You walk the 900 miles from Billings, MT to Lincoln, NE and prove the bastards wrong.  After a few failed attempts his younger son David (Will Forte) offers to drive him.  David is one of the doubters, but with a recent break-up and a dead end job at a local electronics store, he isn’t doing much else.  Plus, he and his dad can spend some time together.  They decide to drive the first leg to Woody's brother's house, where Kate and elder son Ross (Bob Odenkirk in a decidedly un-Saul like role) will meet them.  It becomes a family vacation.  

The letter that at first pulls the family apart brings them closer together.  While staying in Northern Nebraska Woody not only reconnects with family, but with friends - many of whom he hasn’t seen in ages.  One friend in particular is Ed Pegram (Stacy Keach).  Like many in this small town, Ed quickly tries to capitalize on Woody’s ‘fortune.’  Asking Woody to remember that time he loaned him some money…  The conflict created by Woody’s false winnings helps bring him closer to his own family.  It’s clear that the family has never been emotionally available to one another, but there is loyalty.  The ending comes as no surprise, Woody is not a millionaire.  Just another victim.  But, the film was never about Woody and his million dollars. 

The script, from first time screenwriter Bob Nelson, is a refreshing look at the family unit.  As touching as it is funny, Nebraska deftly introduces each of it’s characters and treats them as unique individuals - not once forgetting who each person is.  It would be easy to take each character on surface level.  Woody is cranky, Kate is a bitch, David is dull, and Ross is uptight.  And while each brings out the negative qualities there are moments when the positive qualities shine through.  Those moments elevate the film higher than quirky comedy.  

Director Alexander Payne, who is no stranger to quirky comedy, finds the right pacing for the movie, letting both comedic and serious moments play out naturally and trusting his actors to deliver.  Bruce Dern gives a lot of heart to Woody Grant.  It would be easy to write off Woody, as you know from the beginning he is chasing a dream.  Yet the audience is along for the ride, rooting for Woody, hoping that maybe he’s right and we are wrong.  Even with a gruff exterior, Dern layers in enough emotion to give Woody depth.  June Squibb takes an easily one dimensional character to make her irreverent, yet endearing.  Both Forte and Odenkirk play against type, creating two sons who share an apathy and empathy for their aging parents.  At face value, this film is a road trip comedy.  Dig deeper and you’ll uncover a family dynamic that, chances are, will not be too much different from your own.