Movie of the Week: The Descendants

This heart string-tugging family drama had George Clooney immersed in a role we don't usually associate him with - a dad. Always an intensely-handsome-yet-complex character, Clooney took on a lot in this one and even added layers that I'm not sure were there originally. This silver fox found a humbling rhythm in what will definitely be considered one of the best performances of the year. In addition, Shailene Woodley who plays Clooney's troubled, eldest daughter gave a solid, honest performance in a role that could have easily been a cliché. Instead, she finds herself nominated for a Golden Globe along with Clooney - not bad for her breakout role.

The story begins mid stride, following Clooney's character Matt King as he tries to stay afloat despite the present unfortunate circumstances. In addition to his wife being in a coma, his nonexistent relationship with his daughters and his legal responsibilities as the primary beneficiary of his ancestors estate, he's just a hard working yet not entirely content guy. Something is off and it isn't until he discovers, courtesy of his eldest daughter, that his wife had been having an affair and planned to leave him that his world actually shatters. Fragile and beyond devastated, he is convinced that finding the stranger that would have destroyed his family had it not been for the accident will bring him some sort of closure. Relying on the counsel and assistance of his daughter, her absent-minded yet at times profound best friend, he walks the thin line between being that strong father figure and the broken down victim, stumbling more than a few times on either side. Together they pull each other through a bumpy grieving period and come out a family more resilient and beautiful than we found them.

More than anything, this was the story of a father learning how to parent and it touched me in a way I didn't expect. Perhaps it was that I was seeing things from the father's perspective instead of the daughter's. Maybe it was just that Clooney was that invested that his performance spoke in a language I could truly understand. Either way I will definitely make a point to watch this again, this time with my dad. Yes, it's that kind of movie and together with the spectacular scenery -which is a character in itself - "The Descendants" is definitely one not to be missed.