Alexander Payne's Amazing Nebraska!

Dear Thanksgiving Cinema viewers, The French and the their love of cinema, Russia, Latvia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, and India.  Summit Cinema has to take a step back and swallow some humble pumpkin pie.  12 Years a Slave will be my favorite film of 2013, but as a cinephile it is vital not to snub amazing work when it hasn't been screened and for this I truly apologize.  12 years a Slave was not screened at Cannes, but Spielberg and the jury picked two amazing films to be honored.  "Blue is the Warmest Color" is an awe inspiring tour de force fully deserving the Palme d'Or.  Like wise the Cannes film festival awarded Mr. Bruce Dern best actor for Nebraska and his subtle performance which is mind blowing.

It's Thanksgiving week in America and today I went to the cinema with my father.  This happens about once a year if I am lucky.  We sat together with a large popcorn and waited to be blind sided by Nebraska.  This cinematic miner's cart was loaded with humor and deep emotion from the heartland in America.  I love road stories whether it's "Badlands" "Wild at Heart" "Into the Wild" "Bonnie and Clyde" "True Romance" "National Lampoons Vacation".  Seeing America captured on film and covering regions that becomes characters of their own is fascinating.

The look of Nebraska is simple, pure, and sticks to the ribs.  Black and White is utilized wonderfully.  The towns of boarded up main streets and a solitary tavern speak volumes for our nation's economy and psyche.  The broken down ranch house where Dern grew up is sad and beautiful.  The heartland on the screeen evokes a powerful sense of place.  The "Last Picture Show" and "The Straight Story"  are two films that evoke similar feelings.

The million dollar sweepstake earnings promised to Dern is a symbol of Hope.  No matter it's legitimacy he is determined to travel the distance of 4 states to collect.  Dern captures the walking of a senile man with dementia seamlessly.  Whenever we see him walking on the side of the road he seems almost biblically determined.  He fades in out of obscurity through out the film.  A variety of responses occur when his son Will Forte calls him.  He say's DAD!  And Dern finally responds through out the film as if he were dreaming in the clouds.  The humor of the film is a backbone.  The brothers, the mother, ex lover, and former best friend are all hilarious.

The relationship with Father and Son on the road is beautiful. The son realizes that keeping the dream alive for the father is vitally important and will go to any length achieve this goal.  From looking for his dentures on the train tracks to driving him across multiple states.  The son wants his father's respect.  He also wants to discover who his Father truly was.  But also the son needs to heal himself and get out the rut he has dug himself into in Montana and his personal relationship that ended with a girl who has recently moved out of his apartment.

The road offers both the opportunity to analyze life and get to the essence of what it's really about.
 
Me and my father laughed loudly through out the feature.  When the son buy's Dern a compressor and allows him to drive down main street in a new pickup , me and my Pop's were crying.

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank You Alexander Payne!  Thanks to all the hits from across the Globe especially, Russia, France, Australia, Kenya, and Malaysia.  Keep on Grooving and keeping Cinema ALIVE!