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There are movies that do not have an incredible plot and where for the whole duration practically nothing happens... usually the main feeling is one of dissatisfaction and bitterness in the mouth, clearly feeling that you have wasted two hours of your life. But there are other times when, despite the fact that there is no action or plot twist, you end the film with a smile, with the feeling of having seen something interesting and engaging.
Nebraska left me with this feeling after finishing it, the story is nothing exceptional and there are no plot twists (maybe one or two, but I wouldn't call them such), but I became attached to its characters because they are 'normal', like any of us could be in our normal lives, with common problems in which we could all see ourselves. This in my opinion is the greatest strength of this film, it does not try to be special or to make us dream, it shoves reality in our faces as it is and as we all know it in our everyday lives.
And I personally appreciated that very much.
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A senior citizen named Woody Grant believes he has won $1 million in a marketing competition. His family is opposed to him traveling to Nebraska to claim his money because of his mental condition. Only David, his son, is persuaded to go with him so as not to let him down in his belief. The two protagonists' road trip is important since it gives them a chance to improve their relationship. The brief vacation to his hometown to see family reveals a particular aspect of American society.
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Bruce's tenacity, which Ross and his wife (Bruce's wife) have so harshly criticized, offers a chance for everyone in the family to come together, from the smallest and most significant nucleus (the strictly domestic one) to the largest and most diverse one (the one with the broadest range of family members in all degrees of kinship). A relationship that is genuine and open cannot always be established simply because of a blood or friendship connection.
The family institution is depicted as an emphatic and unsettling environment; just consider the protagonist's stubborn wife or the relatives that resemble snakes and are ready to beg Woody for money to pay off old obligations.
Bruce the fault for blindly believing everyone and approving every request.
In reality, as his son points out, the father is left without a purpose, and it is precisely out of this anxiety that his mind tries to cling to anything, even creating a parallel universe where the protagonist can find comfort. The soundtrack that subtly accompanies these scenes also helps to make this portion of the movie very emotional.
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The fundamental theme of the story is how quickly time passes. It discusses the condition of old age and its potential implications, which is a topic worth contemplating. The protagonist of the movie, a regular average American man, is treated with many sympathies as he battles an illness common to persons his age. The son's decision—to allow his father to live in a pleasant and consoling delusion or to bring him back to reality—is important.
Their relationship is as real as it can be in my opinion, it is not romanticised or sweetened to make it pleasant... the father continues to be an alcoholic and (let's face it) also an a**hole. Of course there are moments when it seems that their relationship improves, and it probably does to some extent, but there is always the bitter taste in the mouth of reality, which is that people cannot change that much. Perhaps the best course of action in the face of such a depressing vision is to withdraw into one's own thinking, which at the very least provides comfort and a justification for one's life.
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Nebraska is a movie that is full of positive sentiments but expresses them with bitterness and irony, giving the audience a tragicomic sense of decadence.The plot of the movie follows the on-the-road format of earlier American films, but in this case, the route gets destroyed almost right away to create room for the portrayal of a tiny, selfish, and lazy region. Payne disproves a number of clichés about American society in Nebraska, starting with the idea that the American dream has now essentially degenerated into waste paper, much like that postcard offering an impossible million-dollar jackpot.
Payne creates a picture of a simple rural America that he is familiar with because he was born and raised there. He also offers a story about adults and the elderly that is clearly characterized even in the most minor characters. Bruce Dern, who won the Best Male Actor prize at Cannes, had an excellent performance. He is genuinely exceptional in his portrayal of this intriguing character, a furious, moving, and resentful soldier of the past. Willy Forte's portrayal of his son David is as compelling, and they are surrounded by a talented group of character actors, with special mention going to Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, and June Squib.
The movie has a flawless visual design, a great screenplay, and a great cast that is flawless from the very first to the very last role. The story is strengthened by the stunning cinematography. The direction is very good, and the decision to keep the pictures stationary while describing the American rural landscapes in long shots is visually pleasing. Due to its close resemblance to real paintings, each frame might be shown in an art gallery. The last touch is the soundtrack, which highlights the frequently melancholy and sometimes carefree emotions of our protagonists.
I suggest to everyone to watch it!!!
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My personal vote is:
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Farewell image and text separators, created by me with Canva
