Appeals More to Those That Can Relate

That's an interesting perspective. As a city slicker with an international background, I figured rural Americans would be offended by the portrayal of so many of these characters who came across as ignorant, socially awkward, and deceitful. I didn't really get that sense of warmheartedness and hospitality that you'd expect from a small town environment. The only characters I could empathize with were Woody's sons.


But with that said, I enjoyed the film immensely. Great acting, compelling script, and nice cinematography. I'd put it in my top 5 of 2013.

I am both a part of the international crowd and a city dweller and I still appreciated this movie. I'm in my 20s and I did not grow up in rural America nor rural anywhere for that matter. The fact that after watching it, I came to its message board counts for something. Listen, the film had heart and filming it in black and white only added to its existing allure. It had all the right elements; great script, great backdrop, great cast, compelling story lines, great performances, great pop-up characters, the right amount of up and down moments, excellent camera work, symbolism occurring naturally without it having to be spoon-fed to its audience. I'd give it a 9/10. In fact, actually a 10/10.

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Yeah, I totally agree. I grew up in mid-sized, midwest cities (less than 100,000 pop.), but spent plenty of time in rural areas growing up. The elderly characters in Nebraska are just like the older people I was around - my parents included. I liked that the movie was in black and white, too. I think it captures the overall mood of the area pretty well.

"I must express myself." - Delia Deetz

the city dwellers and international crowds don't appreciate this movie while folks that grew up in rural America liked the film.

I liked this movie because it rang true. The characters were real. The landscape and the towns looked real. There was a theme and a moral. A man manages to learn a trade, run a very small business, marry and raise a family, and stay with his wife with whom he's had his ups and downs. His life has been a struggle, and now he's old, and his mind is going, but he's still tough, determined, and sharp in his folksy way, though a little addle pated. He had a drinking problem, which the movie explains. Drinking alcohol as respite from the bleakness of their surroundings, and the paucity of entertainments for working class rural folk, was a norm. The old man was a Korean War veteran, though he never dwells on it; doesn't mention it at all. His grown son connects with him and befriends him over a couple days long drive across the plains, and does something beautiful for his dad. The good temper and modesty of the son tells us something about his parents; that despite the dreary monotony of small town rural America a good person or persons can prevail, that ordinary people for all their flaws, their petty self interest, and ludicrous simplicity, can be resilient, and kind, and lovely.

Me too. Aunt Martha reminded me of my aunts, who were just as welcoming and offered food the second you stepped into their house.

I disagree but we're all entitled to our opinions.
My son and I discussed this last night while watching the movie. We are solidly upper-middle-class and live in a very progressive, prosperous university town. The reason it was so interesting to us is because the movie was set in a "world" in which we are strangers. I think morbid curiousity would fit here. To those who live this type of life, seeing this movie would be like watching a home movie of their own lives and family!

I grew up in a small town back east and was in the Midwest for a while. The ideas may be right but the dialogue is not how they actually talk. Easy example, the grandma would never say "she was quite a slut." If she wanted to express that it would be "Well, she sort of moved around a lot."