IMDb > The Descendants (2011)
The Descendants
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The Descendants (2011) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 93 | slideshow) Videos (see all 15)
The Descendants -- A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.
The Descendants -- Clip: I Have Gotten My Act Together
The Descendants -- Go behind the scenes on the new Alexander Payne film starring George Clooney in this exclusive featurette.
The Descendants -- A TV spot for The Descendants
The Descendants -- With his wife Elizabeth on life support after a boating accident, Hawaiian land baron Matt King (Clooney), takes his daughters on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to confront the young real estate broker (Lillard) who was having an affair with Elizabeth before her misfortune.

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   131,965 votes »
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Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Alexander Payne (screenplay) and
Nat Faxon (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Descendants on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 December 2011 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Plot:
A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 51 wins & 82 nominations See more »
User Reviews:
Certainly one of the year's best See more (379 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

George Clooney ... Matt King

Shailene Woodley ... Alexandra King

Amara Miller ... Scottie King

Nick Krause ... Sid

Patricia Hastie ... Elizabeth King
Grace A. Cruz ... Scottie's Teacher

Kim Gennaula ... School Counselor

Karen Kuioka Hironaga ... Barb Higgins
Carmen Kaichi ... Lani Higgins

Kaui Hart Hemmings ... Matt's Secretary Noe

Beau Bridges ... Cousin Hugh

Matt Corboy ... Cousin Ralph
Matt Esecson ... Cousin Hal

Michael Ontkean ... Cousin Milo
Stanton Johnston ... Cousin Stan
Jon McManus ... Cousin Six (as Jonathan McManus)
Hugh Foster ... Cousin Wink
Tiare R. Finney ... Cousin Connie

Tom McTigue ... Cousin Dave

Milt Kogan ... Dr. Johnston

Mary Birdsong ... Kai Mitchell

Rob Huebel ... Mark Mitchell

Laird John Hamilton ... Troy Cook (as Laird Hamilton)
Aileen 'Boo' Arnold ... Dorm Supervisor
Esther Kang ... Alex's Roommate
Melissa Kim ... Alex's Drunken Friend

Robert Forster ... Scott Thorson
Barbara L. Southern ... Alice 'Tutu' Thorson (as Barbara Lee Southern)

Celia Kenney ... Reina

Matthew Reese ... Buzz (as Matt Reese)
Zoel Turnbull ... Hotel Clerk

Matthew Lillard ... Brian Speer

Judy Greer ... Julie Speer

Linda Rose Herman ... Grief Counselor

Scott Michael Morgan ... Barry Thorson
Darryl K. Gonzales ... Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)
Koko Kanealii ... Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)
Romey 'Keola' Yokotake ... Tahiti Nui Singer (Kanak Attack)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Dane Justman ... Drunk Guy #2

Fileena Bahris ... Passenger (uncredited)

Paul Edney ... Bicyclist (uncredited)
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Directed by
Alexander Payne 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Alexander Payne (screenplay) and
Nat Faxon (screenplay) &
Jim Rash (screenplay)

Kaui Hart Hemmings (novel)

Produced by
Tracy Boyd .... associate producer
Jim Burke .... producer
George Parra .... co-producer
Alexander Payne .... producer
Jim Taylor .... producer
 
Cinematography by
Phedon Papamichael (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Kevin Tent 
 
Casting by
John Jackson 
 
Production Design by
Jane Ann Stewart 
 
Art Direction by
T.K. Kirkpatrick 
 
Set Decoration by
Matt Callahan 
 
Costume Design by
Wendy Chuck 
 
Makeup Department
Julie Hewett .... makeup department head
Karen Iboshi Preiser .... key makeup artist
Debra Rego .... key hair stylist
Waldo Sanchez .... hair department head
 
Production Management
Renee Confair .... production supervisor
Mads Hansen .... assistant production manager
George Parra .... production manager
Rick Reynolds .... post-production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott August .... second assistant director
Tracy Boyd .... second unit director
Richard L. Fox .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Alvin S. Cabrinha Jr. .... property master
Jonah Chang .... carpenter
Brian Costa .... set dresser
Scott Ejercito .... assistant property master
Justin Fischer .... set dresser
Serena Rios Flores .... art department coordinator
Stani Franklin .... research/clearances
Jason Garner .... assistant art director
Quintin D. Gasper .... carpenter
Sean Hallock .... buyer
Alexandra Hearn .... art department assistant
Craig Hoffmann .... on-set dresser
Michael Kaahanni Jr. .... leadman
Gerard Kaman .... construction carpenter
Eric Knight .... camera scenic
Nancy A. Knight .... paint foreman
Robert E. Knight .... head scenic painter
Camille Komine .... set buyer
Ivan M. Lizares .... carpenter
John Marano .... leadman
Shanna Norton .... set buyer
Alvin Pittler .... general foreman
Isaia Robins .... greens lead
Kenneth K. Sato .... construction coordinator
Sam Sternthall .... set dresser
Darrell Tachibana .... greens foreman
Liloa Wong .... greens coordinator
 
Sound Department
Derek Casari .... adr stage engineer
Patrick Cyccone Jr. .... sound re-recording mixer
Russell Farmarco .... dialogue editor
Jonathan Fuh .... boom operator
Frank Gaeta .... sound designer
Frank Gaeta .... sound re-recording mixer
Frank Gaeta .... supervising sound editor
Luis Galdames .... sound effects editor
José Antonio García .... sound mixer
Brian Hackett .... sound mixer: interviews
Matthew P. Hanson .... assistant sound editor
Kaspar Hugentobler .... sound recordist
Joe Iemola .... sound editor
James Moriana .... foley artist
Chris Navarro .... adr mixer
Justin Van Hout .... assistant v.o. engineer
Brett Voss .... foley mixer
Chris Wiecking .... sound utility
Jeffrey Wilhoit .... foley artist
John Soukup .... sound transfer (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Mark Dornfeld .... visual effects supervisor
Michele Ferrone .... visual effects producer
Paulina Kuszta .... visual effects coordinator
Mikyoung Hahm .... titles designer & animator (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Terry Ahue .... stunts
Todd Bradley .... stunts
Craig H. Davidson .... stunts
Brian L. Keaulana .... stunt coordinator (as Brian Keaulana)
Titus Kinimaka .... stunts
Noland Martin .... stunts
Paul J. Merino .... stunts
Aden Stay .... stunts
Marcus Young .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Rylan Akama .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Norman Akau .... rigging grip (as Norman Akau III)
Troy Boggess .... electrician
Troy Boggess .... lighting technician
Richard J. Brock .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Gustavo Brum .... epk cinematographer
Cole Chetney .... company grip
Don Chong .... electrician
Shawn Christensen .... electrician
Rick Crum .... electrician
Rick Crum .... grip
Kanoa Dahlin .... camera loader
Drew Desjarlais .... electrician
Charles Ehrlinger .... best boy grip
Christian Franklin .... production assistant: camera
Vance Gage .... key rigging grip
Ray Garcia .... key grip
James Goldman .... second assistant camera
Michael J. Gregg .... rigging grip
Jeffrey M. Hall .... gaffer
Patrick Hoeschen .... assistant chief lighting technician
Tweed Johnston .... company grip
Don King .... underwater camera operator
Trevor Loomis .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
Brian Matsumura .... second assistant camera
Annie McEveety .... camera operator
Radan Popovic .... director of photography: second unit
P. Scott Sakamoto .... camera operator: "a" camera
P. Scott Sakamoto .... steadicam operator
Tuiaana Scanlan .... rigging grip
Monte Swann .... supervising video engineer
Rafael E. Sánchez .... gaffer
Don Tomich .... rigging gaffer
Raimar van den Bylaardt II .... rigging electric best boy (as Raimar Bylaardt)
Mike Weisbrod .... rigging electrician
Merie Weismiller Wallace .... still photographer
Curtis Wingert .... rigging electrician
Michael Romano .... rigging electrician (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Wes Ford .... casting assistant
Barbara Harris .... adr voice casting
Andy Henry .... casting associate
Sherlan N. Koloi .... casting associate
John McAlary .... casting associate
Yesi Ramirez .... casting associate
Susanne Scheel .... casting assistant
Katie Taylor .... casting associate
Christian Kaplan .... executive in charge of casting (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dana Kay Hart .... costume supervisor
Anne Hoss .... ager/dyer
Michelle Moder .... costumer
Carmen L. Rodrigues .... costume p.a.
Susan Strubel .... key set costumer
Linda Vollert .... costumer
Robyn Zucker .... costumer
 
Editorial Department
Brian Bautista .... post-production assistant
Christine Carr .... digital intermediate producer
Salvatore Catanzaro .... compositor
Mindy Elliott .... first assistant editor
Joe Finley .... digital film colorist
Brian Gee .... dailies assistant
Nicholas Hasson .... on-line editor
Mikki Levi .... assistant editor
Bryan Park .... film scanning operator: Modern VideoFilm
Jim Passon .... color timer
Alex Romano .... digital intermediate on-line editor
Kay Sievert .... colorist: high definition dailies
 
Music Department
Dondi Bastone .... music supervisor
Richard Ford .... executive music producer
Richard Ford .... music editor
Eugene Kulikov .... composer: additional music
 
Transportation Department
Kelly Loo .... transportation co-captain
John Reed .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Coleen Aiello .... first assistant accountant
Cameron Arguelles .... quality control
Deidre Backs .... assistant: Jim Burke
John Brady .... craft service
Sean G. Burke .... production assistant: intern
Gregory S. Carr .... set production assistant
Shawna Carver .... production assistant
Timmy Chinn .... location assistant
Kimberly Choi .... second assistant accountant
Katrin Chong .... key assistant location manager
Jeff Dash .... production accountant
Evan Endicott .... developement and production executive
Tal Fiala .... account executive
Jeff Fishman .... production assistant
Liz Georgoff .... production assistant
Matt Goldstein .... assistant location manager
Karen Greenlee .... location scout
Jessica Caress Hamamoto .... production assistant
Nancy Honeycutt .... production coordinator
Lee Johnson .... stand-in
Leah Kaina .... production intern
Xanadu Kekuewa .... key craft service
Xanadu Kekuewa .... key craft services
Josh Land .... production office intern
Lisa Lee Mitchell .... hawaii coordinator
Dagny Looper .... stand-in
Victor Lozano .... marine coordinator
Troy Manandic .... stand-in
Brad Dirk Martin .... boat captain
Larissa Martinez .... accounting assistant
Angel McConnell .... assistant: George Clooney
Courtney McCrory .... assistant accountant: post production
Dana Ledoux Miller .... production assistant
Anna Musso .... assistant to Alexander Payne
Nicole Nakamoto .... second assistant accountant
Anthony Ocasio .... post production assistant
Pablo Paz .... set intern
Stockton David Porter .... production assistant
Rebecca Robertson .... script supervisor
Andrew Rydzewski .... second unit factotum
Jason Skweres .... researcher
Ashley C. Smith .... travel and shipping coordinator
Cameron Spencer .... behind the scenes filmmaker
Gary Stone .... security: George Clooney
Jim Triplett .... location manager
Susan Wyshynski .... stand-in: female lead
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Family Tree" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Elizabeth's mother is referred to as "tutu" in one scene. This is Hawaiian pidgin slang for grandparent.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Matt is at his neighbor's house, all of the chairs have cushions. When he sits down, the cushion is missing from the chair.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 »
Soundtrack:
Hummingbird HeartSee more »

FAQ

The movie is based on Kaui Hart Hemmings's debut novel. Have any other adaptations of debut novels had this much success?
See more »
20 out of 30 people found the following review useful.
Certainly one of the year's best, 19 January 2012
Author: tmp93828 from Allentown

My only regret about this movie is that it took me this long to see it. The Descendants, is one of those films that fully succeeds at what it is trying to accomplish. George Clooney fully engulfs himself into the character of Matt King, and his emotional range sways from moments of pure pleasure to those of betrayal and discomfort. Clooney's spectacular and award winning performance is only outdone by Alexander Payne's ability to portray a beautiful slice of heaven in Hawaii while at the same time breaking the viewers heart with devastating character developments and scenes that will undoubtedly have an emotionally conscious viewer on the verge of tears. Even the brief supporting roles of Beau Bridges, Matthew Lilliard, and Judy Greer feel so real and intense that at times it felt like I wasn't watching a film at all, but rather the lives of several individuals in some of their most vulnerable moments. To put it simply, Clooney gives a knockout performance and the Descendants is surely one the most outstanding films of the year. If I had to choose one, this would have to be my choice for the Best Picture of 2011. A+

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Descendants (2011)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anyone hate Clooney's awful acting? Franjo_Frazier_Thad
Sid????? tskivolocki
Great movie if you're an adult lynfoster
Mainlanders saying it is not authentic. gomi28
Elizabeth and Brian's affair's status before boating accident? UniqueChic
What about ME? I want a camp! poncedeleroy
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