Freaktana A Major Disappointment

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

juneebuggy A simple movie, kinda slow but worthwhile filmed entirely in black & white. Will Forte is really good in this; charming, sweet and funny -in a dark, dry way. He plays 'David Grant', a devoted son who drives his grumpy booze addled father from Billings Montana to Lincoln Nebraska so that he can collect a million dollar "prize" he claims to have won in a Mega sweep stakes lottery. For the most part this is a road trip movie and kinda sad as Bruce Dern is elderly and losing his marbles. There is of course no prize and everybody but dad knows it. David however sees the trip as an opportunity to connect, maybe get to know his dad before its too late. The trip gets waylaid in small town central Nebraska, where his father grew up and everyone seems to have a score to settle.Bruce Dern is perfect as Woody, cranky and bitter. Also worth a mention is Stacy Keach, a real bastard from his dads past. June Squibb is the mom and Bob Odenkirk from Breaking Bad 'Saul' fame the brother. What a family.

areatw Rather like the main character, it seems the people behind 'Nebraska' were in a world of their own when they made this film. It tears up the film rule book and completely rewrites it, with the end result being a real oddball of a film. It's extremely slow, with a simple plot and a real mishmash of characters, but everything comes together a treat and 'Nebraska' is a hugely enjoyable film.The humour in this film is as dry as you are ever likely to find. Bruce Durn is in his element playing Woody and is hilarious from start to finish. His character feels so genuine and realistic that it's almost as if you know him personally. It's a road trip journey like no other and a story of friendship and growing old. Those who like their films on the quirky side should definitely give 'Nebraska' a watch. It's not for everyone, but I loved it.

framptonhollis Although this movie seems to have been mostly forgotten about and only remembered for being one of "those Oscar movies", I think that it deserves to be talked about for years. This is one of the funniest and smartest films of the 21st century so far, and is filled top to bottom with the highest technical, performance, and writing achievements possible. It is a masterpiece of comedy and drama, of character and story. The screenplay is brilliant and funny as hell, filled with a sharp wit rarely seen in most comedies these days. The film is also quite emotionally intense at times, due to the simple premise leading to a lot of complicated conflicts-and the ending, which I will not spoil, is surprisingly heartwarming and satisfying.Bruce Dern is simply fantastic in this movie, playing a confused old klutz that receives a letter claiming that he has won a million dollars. He plays his complex character with much emotion and good humor. Even better is June Squibb as his ferocious and funny wife, who packs into her role all of the needed elements of anger and hilarity and more. Will Forte also does a great job, playing the most sane character in the film, as the old man's son, who is sucked into this mess, and whose brother, played by Bob Odenkirk, is comically mean spirited.Perhaps my description of these characters sounds mocking, but I must admit that I felt deep sympathy for each of them. This film does not just take the easy way out and laugh at its characters for 110 minutes, it also gives them time to show their better sides. Dern may seem like a ridiculous, silly old man with a drinking problem, but he is actually likable and I rooted for him strongly. His wife mainly spends her time yelling at him, but there is one brief moment of truth that exposes her love for him. While neither of them admit that they love each other, the love is still obviously there. Yet another masterfully complex and beautiful element to this masterfully complex and beautiful film!

mark.waltz There's a reason for the boom rush out of the small towns, increasing each year as the big city called to the younger generations thanks to movies and TV of the 1970's, 80's and 90's. They visit years later, like I did with a small New York hamlet, and you see how small it all was. The memories of the babbity, provincial people takes over, and I don't care what state it is, but it's all the same, everywhere.While I never got to have the type of relationship that the sensitive Will Forte has with the aging Bruce Dern, I do relate at least to the desire for camaraderie that he desires as he takes his father on the road, with Dern under the false impression that he's won a huge amount of money in a clearing house sweepstakes. As the news gets around the town where Dern grew up, money grubbing relatives come out of the woodwork demanding their share of what they claim he owes them. Fortunately by this time, Dern's no nonsense wife (June Squibb) has joined her husband and son, and tells each and everyone of them a thing or two in unprintable language.It's sort of "A Trip to Bountiful" meets "On Golden Pond" and "Dad" (and many other other films with aging legends) and a piece of art that gives several familiar faces (but unknown by name) to show off what they can do. In addition to Dern and Squibb, there's also Stacy Keach and Mary Louise Wilson, but it's Dern and Squibb who got and deserved the praise. Dern finds "Coming Home" quite difficult, unaware even with Forte's constant reminders that he didn't actually win anything, but in an extremely quiet performance, he shows how acting can be barely containing words. The precious Squibb could be the millennium's Olympia Dukakis, discovered and praised even though she's been around for years. She is a pistol with a delightful bluntness yet wisdom and tenderness that crops up in the middle of situations that couldn't be solved without it. It's obvious that she loves Dern even though she keeps insisting that he needs to be committed. Forte is gentle, filled to the brim with the desire for closeness with his father, and just bursting with a dreamlike desire that hides a child inside. While the older brother also appears, he's relatively minor. It was a great treat to see Mary Louise Wilson as his sister in law, having seen her in several plays and musicals, ever so memorable as the older Edith Beale in "Grey Gardens" and the lovable nut Mrs. Primrose in "On the Twentieth Century"."Nebraska" is one of those enchanting voyages to a not quite simpler life that us city slickers couldn't handle, even those of us who grew up in small communities. It's the proof that going home isn't always rewarding, yet those bittersweet moments something we should all face once in our lifetime. It's about keeping where we came from alive in our hearts, staying grounded, and reminding ourselves that there is life outside your huge apartment building single, your morning commute covered in cynicism and that boring job or nasty boss which pays for the lifestyle to which you've become accustomed when you are no longer babbity or provincial.