MovieChat Forums > The Descendants (2011) Discussion > Bad dialogue. Bad acting. Bad editing. B...

Bad dialogue. Bad acting. Bad editing. Bad everything?

posted 13 years ago by kareldc2
97 replies | jump to latest

The films starts with 5 minutes of voice over by Clooney. Red flag #1...

Huge cliche of a story. Tragedy happens within family and shakes them up while they grow closer to each other.

Because of that enormous cliche most of the characters next to Clooney are generic. The comic relief boyfriend. The little sister who is too young to understand what is going on. The older daughter who initially hates her father but who grows closer to him as the movie progresses.

The film is structured as being a road movie without being one. Noting bad with that but perhaps watch Little Miss Sunshine if you like that. It's a good movie that is actually about something. I think the director also liked that movie but forgot to copy the most important part.

Don't go see this. Really. Some of the scenes are so weird that it feels like a 12 year old did the cut.

Also the most ridiculous scene in the whole film (for me at least) takes place at the end of the film when Judy Greer's character burst out in tears. Over a person who she has never met. Who her husband was seeing on the side. A character who only made 2 brief appearances in the movie until then but who we are supposed to emphasize with?!?!

I ran out of the theatre when I saw the performance of the little girl hearing her mother was going to die. So bad.

Without looking back.

[–] BillK-5 12 years ago

Whatever; I loved it and feel it's a classic.

[–] Felix-La-PuBelle 12 years ago

I felt it had great dialogue, good acting, fine editing, and a great soundtrack and location.

We have different opinions about this film, it seems.

[–] Chocolegz 12 years ago

I couldn't agree with you more, kareldc2. And I had enough when I saw the scene with Greer crying over her husband's mistress. I'm not saying that pp can't surprise you. Wouldn't it have been less insulting if the writers allowed the character to have some anger. That's reasonable.

This movie has so many obvious plot turns, bad writing and bad acting. Yes, it's cliché city.

It's just not a good movie.

BTW, if you must use the f word, I should tell you that I'm a woman.

[–] leroyferg-1 11 years ago

She is clearly crying in anger because Clooney's wife has destroyed her marriage, her family. I detected no sign of forgiveness

[–] quochung91 12 years ago

You need help.

[–] dgross-3 11 years ago

Not bad scenery.

[–] Hamasaurus68 11 years ago

I agree. However, Greer needed some sort of closure, to see the woman her husband screwed, because she would never get the chance again. She wasn't crying because of her death as much as the situation.

Also, that teenage kid should have gotten at least 5 slaps to the face.

Let her act like a manipulative little bitch, then she ends up doing things 'right' in the end.

Yeah, right. What a *beep* fairytale.

[–] alecalbury 11 years ago

I don't agree with you at all but you're entitled to your opinion, I just wanted to say that I (who very much enjoyed the film) found Julie Speers' (not Judie Greers, sorry thought you should know) outburst to be somewhat comical. I didn't laugh out loud but I *beep*

IT's that fine balance between tragic drama and comedy that the critics enjoyed; it provided some typical pathos, her kind nature sets her off hysterically, Clooney has to get her out (I;m not saying laugh out loud funny but it was comical) and then he has that very tender moment with the wife who fell out of love with him.

I thought the film was crafted very well like this throughout, and the melancholic but ultimately redeeming journey was captivating, much like Inside Llewyn Davis (albeit without the redemptive side of things)

[–] 11 years ago

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