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The Descendants (2011)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  9 December 2011 (USA)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 134,703 users   Metascore: 84/100
Reviews: 381 user | 509 critic | 43 from Metacritic.com

A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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Title: The Descendants (2011)

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 51 wins & 82 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Sid
...
Grace A. Cruz ...
...
School Counselor
...
Barb Higgins
Carmen Kaichi ...
Lani Higgins
...
Matt's Secretary Noe
...
...
Cousin Ralph
Matt Esecson ...
Cousin Hal
...
Cousin Milo
Stanton Johnston ...
Cousin Stan
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Storyline

With his wife Elizabeth on life support after a boating accident, Hawaiian land baron Matt King takes his daughters on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to confront the man who was having an affair with Elizabeth before her misfortune. Written by realndn06

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including some sexual references | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

| |  »

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

9 December 2011 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Los descendientes  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,345,720 (USA) (18 November 2011)

Gross:

$82,624,961 (USA) (27 April 2012)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Matt King describes his inherited wealth, he says, "I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father; you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing." This is based on a well-known quote from billionaire investor Warren Buffett in a 1986 Fortune magazine interview. "Setting up his heirs with a lifetime supply of food stamps just because they came out of the right womb can be harmful for them and is an antisocial act. To him the perfect amount to leave children is 'enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.'" See more »

Goofs

As Matt is running down the beach when Brian approaches, the beach is "natural". As Brian passes, the beach over Matt's shoulder has been raked, specifically where Brian is running. As Matt turns and chases Brian, the beach is "natural" again. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Matt King: My friends on the mainland think just because I live in Hawaii, I live in paradise. Like a permanent vacation. We're all just out here sipping Mai Tais, shaking our hips, and catching waves. Are they insane?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Maltin on Movies: Awards Special 2012 (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

"Pau Lani"
Written and Performed by Jeff Peterson
Courtesy of Peterson Productions
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
From a person who's lived through it....
13 February 2012 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

This movie is one of the best movies I've seen in a while, and that's judging it from what it is. I became a fan of A P after watching Sideways and ended up reading the book before watching the movie. I think the biggest problem people have with this movie is that it's not the typical "HOLLYWOOD" movie that forces "emotion" down our throat nor is it the typical "INDIE" film with shaky cameras, far out one shots and so on. It's simple, a bit plain, and raw. We're presented with characters that may not seem interesting at first look, but when it comes down to it, AP has once again showed us a reflection of ourselves and people we know around us. We're normal. We're not all flashy people with cool lives and have interesting personalities. Some people just ARE and live that way. I recently lost the person who would have been my mother in law. I'm twenty four, and my girlfriend is twenty two, and her little sister is fourteen. My girlfriend has recently taken custody over her sister, and with their father passing away before the little sister was born, I've found myself in a bit of a father role and it's scary and new and very strange at times. I completely related to Clooney's character right away, and could feel the frustration he felt, and the emotions he felt. I think he did well with dealing with them. It felt real to me. In fact, everyone's emotions toward the tragedy the film presents felt very real. I saw those same reactions from sisters, aunties, uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers. Some blamed others while others completely lost it. Some felt mad, while others just cried and broke down. Some were oblivious to the news(like the grand mother in the movie) while others were simply there to comfort(Sid). I really appreciated the entire movie, scenery, and dialogue(and at times lack there of). I really enjoyed the frustration they felt one minute, the humor the next, and the forgetfulness of the tragedy at times. It was like seeing a movie based on what my girlfriend and I were going through, and it felt comforting that someone had captured that so well. Not every tragedy will be filled with a room full of criers. Some might. Not all we be filled with humor and relief. Some will. For us, it was everything. It didn't seem real, and at times, it seemed dull. This movie has a special way of presenting itself in that manner and I really liked it. I'm sure not everyone will like. Either they're use to super hero action movies, horror movies, or stuff like Twilight. Maybe you are into good dramas and indie flicks and for whatever reason you didn't connect with that one. For me, a person who's just lived through it and am discovering to be a dad type to someone I'm still getting to know…it was simple, perfect.

10/10


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Where are the Hawaiian people? jorgenson-s
Great movie if you're an adult lynfoster
Anyone hate Clooney's awful acting? Franjo_Frazier_Thad
Bad dialogue. Bad acting. Bad editing. Bad everything? kareldc2
Did anyone else think this was just plain terrible? Boing_Boing
The affair wiezzer2012
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