Page 32 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 7, 2011 ‘The Descendants’ (continued from Entertainment page) enjoys a life of privilege and has never worked at anything seriously in his life. Yet his is a major voice in the cousins’ meetings on the real estate deal. Bridges has settled into a comfortable niche of character portrayals. Though he doesn’t headline movies these days, he is always a welcome cast member. Nick Krause plays Alexandra’s friend Sid, whom she brings along to what should be private family events: notifying Elizabeth’s parents that their daughter will die, saying goodbye to Elizabeth in the hospital, and looking over the expanse of property that will soon be sold. Initially, Sid seems an awkward attempt at comic relief, and his presence is more an annoyance to Matt than comfort, but a short scene between Sid and Matt shows that this boy is dealing with some hurt of his own. Clooney is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest movie stars. He has the easy charm that used to be the trademark of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, good looks, and an irresistible twinkle in his eye. He is also a talented actor equally at home in oddball independent flicks like “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” political thrillers (“Syriana”), and big-budget Hollywood studio films like “The Descendants.” The early scenes of “The Descendants” speak volumes. Clooney lets viewers feel how out of touch he is with his daughters and how awkward and desperate he feels in suddenly trying to be the nurturing parent his girls need. Watching Clooney is like observing a fine-tuned machine. He practices his craft effortlessly, completely inhabiting his character. What is most satisfying about “The Descendants” is the fact that it’s not geared toward audiences with short attention spans. There are no car chases, explosions, or aliens out to take over the Earth. How refreshing. This a solid drama set in a beautiful location that avoids clichés and portrays folks in a traumatic situation who have to bond together, despite past history, in order to get through a rough period. It emphasizes the value of family in time of crisis, and doesn’t take shortcuts as Matt and his family navigate the unfamiliar waters of imminent loss. Rated R, “The Descendants” is one of the best pictures of 2011. It follows a simple, but often elusive formula: good script, good cast, good performances, and good direction. The film is emotionally charged, but never cloying. There is never the sense that the audience is being manipulated or that the situation could never happen. With the many films that will open through Christmas, don’t overlook “The Descendants.” It’s a rich, memorable movie-going experience.