Simplistic nearly to a fault, Alexander Payne's Nebraska is a charming story that centers around the relationship between a father and his son.
Bruce Dern stars as Woody Grant, a Missouri father who's convinced he's won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes. After being found walking along the highway to get his winnings, his son (Forte) agrees to give him a ride to Nebraska to claim his prize. Their journey, easy in nature, proves to be anything but as an unexpected detour leaves them facing the past head on, for both better and worse.
Presented in black and white, Payne's film is human to the core. Dern gives a standout performance, providing Woody with a strong pulse as he navigates a world that has refused to slow down. HIs chemistry with Forte allows a true relationship to be seen as the pair attempts to understand one another during their unexpected road trip.
With the central story proving to be quite tame, Payne uses his characters to add depth. Rich dialogue filled with wit and dry sarcasm helps to keep the audience engaged, and the small cast works brilliantly together as they feed off one another with precise comedic timing and impeccable character interactions.
June Squibb makes the most of her screen time, stealing the show every time she is present. Her deadpan delivery and steady stream of one-liners proves invaluable to the story. She demands your attention, and rightfully so. Her portrayal of an aging woman who is coming to terms with years of frustration and disappointment is heartbreaking. Her use of humor to get through each day makes her both sweet and relatable.
But performances aside, Payne's Nebraska is really a thing of beauty. Nostalgic and authentic from beginning to end, the film originally threw me off with its colorless presentation and present day setting. But Payne is using the film as a character study, and it works magnificently. Enriched with a strong sense of meaning and purpose, the film comes into its own, never rushing a moment and savoring each second as part of a much larger, broader experience.
I can't say that any of the characters possess a personality that requires an intimate meeting. Nevertheless, each is held with a sense of reality, and the bond that forms on that long highway is something that must be seen to be fully understood. The film is slow and a bit drawn out at times, but as in life, sometimes you have to make it through the tough parts to appreciate the journey.
