If you are over 40, please be sure you see Nebraska. It’s an incredible heartwarming, emotion-tugging, eye-opening, reality-grounding, laugh-out-loud film about aging, parents, family, middle-age, love, acceptance, understanding, and life. And it is excellent.
Granted, for the first half hour, I found myself waiting for one of Will Forte’s SNL characters to turn to the camera with commentary, but I finally settled into him as this son. I think I did that because the strength of the rest of this cast—absolutely phenomenal (Bruce Dern & June Squibb—WOW!) —carries this story as it unfolds about the life that could be that of anyone we love.
I’ll admit that my über familiarity with small-town life might give me a closer perspective to the plot here, but I do hope it can translate even to those unfamiliar with bars such as The Blinker. wink emoticon
And yes, the movie could feel slow to some. But in that pace, what is more important is that it *feels.* Oh. My. Heavens. It feels. Deeply. With incredible heart. It’s the kind of film that quietly reaches into the depths of you as you watch it and sucker-punches you in the gut from within—-as you realize how frail life is and how important our family is, idiosyncrasies included.
See Nebraska. Embrace every emotional layer involved. And if you still can, hug your parents. And accept them.
( P.S. I love you, Mom!! )