# The Descendants

The Descendants is a 2011 American tragicomedy film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash is based on the 2007 novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney in the main role, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller in her film debut, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Michael Ontkean, Matthew Lillard, and Robert Forster, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011, after premiering at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2011.
Tracing the journey of attorney and land baron Matt King, who struggles with unexpected occurrences in his monotonous life, The Descendants was a critical and financial success, grossing $177 million against a $20 million budget and receiving acclaim for the performances of Clooney and Woodley, Payne's direction and writing, and Kevin Tent's editing. The film was nominated for five Oscars at the 84th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Payne, and Best Actor for Clooney, winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also won two Golden Globe Awards; Best Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Drama for Clooney.

## Plot

Matthew "Matt" King is a Honolulu-based attorney and the sole trustee of a family trust of 25,000 acres (100 km$^2$) of pristine land on Kauai. The land has great monetary value, but is also a family legacy. While Matt has ably managed his own finances (as his father did), most of his cousins have squandered their inheritances. With the trust expiring in seven years due to the rule against perpetuities, the King clan is pressuring Matt to sell the land for hundreds of millions of dollars. Amidst these discussions, a boating accident has rendered Matt's wife, Elizabeth, comatose. With Elizabeth hospitalized, Matt is forced to cope with his two troubled daughters, 10-year-old Scottie, who seeks attention by bullying other children, and 17-year-old Alex, who has a history of substance abuse and is away at a private boarding school on the Big Island. Elizabeth's coma is determined irreversible and her living will directs all life support be discontinued. When Matt tells Alex, she reveals that Elizabeth was having an affair, which had caused a major rift between mother and daughter.
Close family friends, Kai and Mark Mitchell, tell Matt that Elizabeth was unhappy and loved Brian Speer, a real estate agent. She also wanted a divorce. After Matt informs friends about Elizabeth's condition so they can say goodbye, he decides Brian should have an opportunity to do the same. He and the girls, along with Alex's slacker friend Sid, travel to Kauai to find Brian. While there, Matt's cousin, Hugh, mentions that Brian is brother-in-law to Don Hollitzer, the developer the majority of the family wants to sell the land. Brian stands to make a small fortune from sales commissions for the properties that will be developed on the land. Matt and his daughters find Brian vacationing with his family at an oceanside cabin. Matt privately confronts Brian and informs him Elizabeth is dying, and offers him an opportunity to say goodbye. Matt asks Brian if Elizabeth loved him, and he says she did, but he only considered her a fling and still loves his wife and children. Brian then apologizes to Matt for the pain he caused and asks he not tell his wife.
Frustrated and fragile from recent events, Matt asks the doctor to explain Elizabeth's inevitable death to Scottie. Elizabeth's father, Scott, admonishes Matt for failing to be a more generous and loving husband. Withholding his wife's affair, Matt agrees with him, but Sid and Alex unexpectedly defend Matt. At the King family meeting, Matt overrules the majority vote of his cousins, preferring to keep the land and find a way around the rule against perpetuities. Shocked, Hugh warns Matt that the family will take legal action, but Matt is undeterred.
After learning about Brian's affair, his wife, Julie, comes to the hospital. She tearfully tells a comatose Elizabeth that she wants to hate her for "trying to destroy" her family, but that she forgives her. Matt comes to terms with his wife's infidelity and impending death. He kisses her goodbye, followed by Alex and Scottie. After she dies, they scatter Elizabeth's ashes in the ocean off Waikiki.
Later, Matt, Scottie and Alex eat ice cream and watch March of the Penguins, covering themselves in a blanket that Elizabeth had at the hospital.

## Cast

* George Clooney as Matthew "Matt" King
* Shailene Woodley as Alexandra "Alex" King
* Amara Miller as Scottie King
* Nick Krause as Sid
* Beau Bridges as Hugh King
* Judy Greer as Julie Speer
* Matthew Lillard as Brian Speer
* Robert Forster as Scott Thorson
* Patricia Hastie as Elizabeth King
* Mary Birdsong as Kai Mitchell
* Rob Huebel as Mark Mitchell
* Milt Kogan as Dr. Johnston
* Laird Hamilton as Troy
* Michael Ontkean as Cousin Milo
* Matt Corboy as Kaiba

## Production

The film began its on-location shoot in Hawaii on March 15, 2010. Most of the film was shot in Honolulu and around Hanalei Bay. The location used as Matt King's house lacked the banyan tree described in the book; the filmmakers solved the issue by transplanting a banyan. For the scene where the King family drives up to a ridge to look over their land, the film used a 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) private cattle ranch on the south shore of Kauai, Kipu Ranch. Kaui Hart Hemmings, the author of the novel on which the movie was based, had a cameo as Matt King's secretary.
The private boarding school attended by Alex King was depicted as Mid-Pacific Institute, which is in Honolulu, Oʻahu. Kaui Hart Hemmings stated that Hawaii Preparatory Academy, which is located in Kamuela, Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), was the inspiration for the private boarding school.
Postproduction began on June 14, and continued into February 2011. The film was screened at the Telluride, Toronto and New York film festivals and was originally scheduled to have a limited release on December 16, 2011, but was moved to November 23, 2011, and then November 18, 2011.
The soundtrack uses Hawaiian music, featuring artists including Gabby Pahinui, Ray Kane, Keola Beamer, Lena Machado, Sonny Chillingworth, Jeff Peterson, Makana, Dennis Kamakahi, and Danny Carvalho. It was released by Sony Classical Records on November 15.

## Reception
### Box office

The Descendants opened in North America on November 16, 2011, in a limited release in 29 theaters, and grossed $1,190,096, averaging $41,038 per theater and ranking 10th at the box office. The film then had its wide release on December 9 in 876 theaters, and grossed $4,380,138, averaging $5,000 per theater and ranking seventh at the box office. The film was in cinemas for 156 days and its widest release in the United States was 2,038 theaters. The film ended up earning $82,584,160 domestically and $94,659,025 internationally for a total of $177,243,185.

### Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 268 reviews, with an average rating of 8.10/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Funny, moving, and beautifully acted, The Descendants captures the unpredictable messiness of life with eloquence and uncommon grace." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.

### Top ten lists

The Descendants has appeared on these critics' top-10 lists for the best films of 2011:
| Critic | Publication | Rank |
| Todd McCarthy | The Hollywood Reporter | 1st |
| Betsy Sharkey | Los Angeles Times | 1st |
| Don Kaye | MSN Movies | 1st |
| Stephen Holden | The New York Times | 1st |
| Marshall Fine | Hollywood & Fine | 1st |
| Joe Neumaier | Daily News | 2nd |
| Ann Hornaday | The Washington Post | 2nd |
| Peter Travers | Rolling Stone | 3rd |
| Corben Carpenter | Corben Carpenter's Top Ten Lists | 3rd |
| Michael Phillips | Chicago Tribune | 4th |
| Anne Thompson | IndieWire | 4th |
| Peter Rainer | The Christian Science Monitor | 5th |
| Lisa Schwarzbaum | Entertainment Weekly | 6th |
| Sean Axmaker | MSN Movies | 6th |
| David Denby | The New Yorker | 7th |
| Peter Hartlaub | San Francisco Chronicle | 7th |
| Jaime N. Christley | Slant Magazine | 7th |
| Peter Paras | E! Online | 7th |
| Richard T. Jameson | MSN Movies | 9th |
| — | MTV | 9th |
| Jack Gregson | ScreenGeeks UK | 9th |

### Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Picture | Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Film Editing | Kevin Tent | Nominated | |
| Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences Awards | 2012 | Best Foreign Film | Alexander Payne, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, and Jim Taylor | Nominated | |
| American Film Institute | 2011 | Movies of the Year | | Won | |
| Art Directors Guild | 2012 | Excellence in Contemporary Film | Jane Anne Stewart | Nominated | |
| Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts | January 27, 2012 | Best Film – International | | Nominated | |
| Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts | January 27, 2012 | Best Screenplay – International | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts | January 27, 2012 | Best Actor – International | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | December 11, 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | December 11, 2011 | Best Use of Music in a Film | | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 12, 2012 | Best Film | Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 12, 2012 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | February 12, 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| Casting Society of America | 2012 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting for a Big Budget Drama Feature | John Jackson, John McAlary | Nominated | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Best Picture | | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 19, 2011 | Most Promising Performer | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Picture | | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Won | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Young Actor/Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Acting Ensemble | Cast | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | 2011 | Best Film | | Nominated | |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | 2011 | Breakthrough Performance | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2011 | Best Picture | | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Golden Globes | January 15, 2012 | Best Picture – Drama | | Won | |
| Golden Globes | January 15, 2012 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Golden Globes | January 15, 2012 | Best Actor – Drama | George Clooney | Won | |
| Golden Globes | January 15, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Golden Globes | January 15, 2012 | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| Grammy Awards | February 10, 2013 | Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media | | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Film | | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Supporting Female | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Film | | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| MTV Movie Awards | June 3, 2012 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| National Board of Review | 2011 | Top 10 Films | | Won | |
| National Board of Review | 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Won | |
| National Board of Review | 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Won | |
| National Board of Review | 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Online | December 11, 2011 | Best Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Picture | | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Nominated | |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | January 5–16, 2012 | Chairman's Award | George Clooney (Also for The Ides of March) | Won | |
| Producers Guild of America | January 21, 2012 | Best Theatrical Motion Picture | Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild | January 29, 2012 | Best Ensemble | Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild | January 29, 2012 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Satellite Award for Best Film | | Won | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Judy Greer | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Editing | | Nominated | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Actor | George Clooney | Won | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash | Won | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Film | | Nominated | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Director | Alexander Payne | Nominated | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Shailene Woodley | Nominated | |