The Descendants (2011)

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

Alexander Payne (screenplay) and
Nat Faxon (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 December 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Daughters | Boating Accident | Affair | Coma | Lawyer

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 51 wins & 82 nominations

Cast

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)

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
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

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Ad Hominem Enterprises

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2011) (worldwide) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Australia (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Portugal (2012) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Uruguay (2012) (Uruguay) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Israel (2012) (Israel) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Tatrafilm (2012) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Iceland (2012) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox España (2012) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film de Mexico (2012) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through Warner Bros.)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Forum Cinemas (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2012) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• EMS Payroll  extras payroll
• FotoKem  Avids
• Happy Feet Foley  foley services
• Hawaii Media  grip and lighting equipment
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound for Film  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"Family Tree" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Datasat | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46583) | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Malaysia:18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:9 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Mexico:B | Japan:G | India:A | Brazil:12 | Philippines:R-13 | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Sweden:7

Filming Locations:

Hanalei, Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Elizabeth's Punahou School diploma is briefly shown in a closeup. Located in Honolulu, Punahou School is the largest private school in the United States. It was built in 1841 and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972. Barack Obama graduated from the Punahou School in 1979.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Matt meets Brian for the first time in the beach house, Brian is wearing a blue and white checkered shirt. While talking alone in the kitchen, the back collar of the shirt goes from folded up to down between shots.

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?

Movie Connections:

Features March of the Penguins (2005)

Soundtrack:

Auwe

Payne knows exactly what he's doing, and what he's doing is tremendous.

Alexander Payne hasn't made a film from the director's chair since his incredible Sideways back in 2004. Seven years later, he finally returns, and with The Descendants, he returns with a bang.

Like Sideways, his screenplay (co-written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash) nails the tone right on the head. It has to balance out three tricky narratives in the film (Matt King's self-crisis, his comatose wife's affair with another man before her boating accident, and a land deal he's reported to make), and without the proper guidance it needed, along with Payne's own confidant direction, it could have faltered. Thankfully, it balances out heavy themes and complicated emotions in uncommon detail.

The characters in this movie are many, complicated, and sorrowful in their own unique ways. Matt King was a perfect role for George Clooney. He keeps his composure, but we can still see a very heavy, filtered sorrow beneath the surface. Shailene Woodley's character (Woodley, by the way, gives one of the year's best performances) begins with a rebellious, even angry sadness, but we can see her develop over the course of the film, gaining a strong maturity beyond her years. Judy Greer and Robert Forster are each given a few spare scenes, and they make every second of their screen time count.

It really is an emotional ride, even depressing sometimes, but I'm surprised by the occasional review I read where critics say they didn't feel the emotion to be sincere. In my opinion, the emotions of the film never hit a single false note. I don't think just anybody could have made this movie the way it is. This isn't a typical drama, the movie's genre is Payne, and he knows exactly what he's doing.

***1/2 out of ****