Next month, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will bring The Descendants to Blu-ray. Director Alexander Payne's first full-length feature since the Academy Award-winning Sideways, the film stars George Clooney (Michael Clayton) as Matt King, a suburban dad whose wife slips into a coma after a boating incident.
Already struggling with whether or not to sell his family's vast expanse of Hawaiian real estate, Matt begins to learn unexpected secrets about his wife that threaten to unsettle the tenuous family dynamic he maintains with his two daughters.
Adapted from Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel by Payne, Nat Faxon (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story), and Jim Rash (NBC's Community), The Descendants features a sterling supporting cast that includes Shailene Woodley (ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager), Beau Bridges (Jerry Maguire), Judy Greer (Adaptation), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Rob Huebel (The Other Guys), and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown).
One of 2012 top Oscar hopefuls, Payne's film recently won the Best Adapted Screenplay statue at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony.
Fox's Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy presents the feature in its 2.39:1 original aspect ratio with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The disc also contains a number of bonus materials, such as:
Deleted scenes with introductions by Payne
Seven behind-the-scenes featurettes:
- Everybody Loves George
- Working with Alexander
- The Real Descendants
- Hawaiian Style
- Casting
- Working with Water
- Waiting for the Light
Music videos:
- "Will I Ever See You Again"
- "Postcards from Paradise"
- "Honolulu's Whisper"
Silent film: The World Parade – Hawaii
Conversation with George Clooney and Alexander Payne
Fox actually put seemingly meaningful special features??? If they run over 90 minutes, that would be even more incredible. After all, this films deserves it. Can't wait!
I agree with PBateman87. This movie wasn't bad. It was actually very realistic. That is to say, it was a bit meandering and boring. But Clooney did a good job and I lovelovelove Judy Greer so I'd give it a marginal thumbs up.
Ha. I live on kauai (The Island the movie was filmed on) and I never had time to see this movie. Damn, Movie theaters (Kukui Grove Cinema) here only showed it for about a week...But I'll Be Picking this Up Day One.
The Descendants is a fine slice-of-life film, with a realistic mix of drama and comedy and more solid writing from Alexander Payne. His Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay is deserved as is the film's continued popularity among audiences and critics. George Clooney turns in another strong performance with this one, as does all of the supporting cast. I'll likely buy this down the road — perhaps along with Sideways, which I still haven't gotten around to acquiring.
Such an amazing film that takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. George Clooney gives the performance of his career in it (He should've won the Oscar). Day 1 buy for me.
After praise like that, Ray, why on earth would yOu buy the movie even if it was under $10? Would you even watch it again?
Sometimes the people on this site are so befuddling... "movie was slowwww, but day 1 for me if it's got a slip!!"
which makes me really wonder what's up with these slipcover people. I love having a slip with my movies too, but what I don't need are 7 different versions of a single film because it comes in different slips ( target v-day exclusive slip? Cheap-o awards edition slip?). Or how about buying PROM or Whatever other horrendous film is out there just because theirs some amazing embroidered font...
Blah blah.
Back to The Descendants, one of the finest films of 2011 in my opinion. Payne writes situations and characters in ways that catch you off and dig deeper then you thought they would at point A. I admire his ability to present scenes simply and deliver with subtly and nuances that get at you the further you go along.
I would watch it again if it was under $10. I thought it was o.k., but nowhere near the brilliance of Sideways. I guess the next time I have the urge to listen to young girls with foul mouths, that have zero respect for themselves and others, I'll look around for a deal on this.
Different strokes for different folks. I saw The Decendants and Hugo on the same day a while back, and Hugo was considerably better in every facet of filmmaking and enjoyability.
I gave you +s for your differing opinion than mine and for being careful while driving.
