Matt King is a lawyer based in Honolulu and the sole trustee of a family trust of 25,000 acres of pristine land on island of Kauai that has been handed down from generation to generation. The trust will expire in seven years so the KIng family has been taking offers in from developers. Just before the family is about to endorse the deal, Matt’s wife, Elizabeth, is in a jet ski accident that leaves her in a coma.
Matt and Elizabeth have two daughters, 10-year-old Scottie and the rebellious 17-year-old Alex. Matt has been a “back up” parent throughout the girls lives and now he is thrust into the driver’s seat as things are not looking good for Elizabeth.
When Matt is told that Elizabeth will not be waking up from her coma he has to tell his daughters, and an angry Alex blurts out that Elizabeth has been having an affair. Matt confronts close family friends who confirm this.
As Matt tries to make sense of all that is happening he is left to deal with his daughters who are hurt and feel betrayed, his own family that is waiting for Matt to get the papers in order to sell the land, his wife’s family who think if Matt had been a better husband Elizabeth would not have been such a thrill seeker and of course, now this mystery man who has been seeing his wife.
I received a preview screening of this movie from Fox and after seeing it was up for awards this year, I was curious about it.
Starring George Clooney as Matt, there is a lot going on in this movie. With beautiful scenes of Hawaii, this is a story of love, and family, and hard decisions. While on the outside Matt’s life looks like the life to have, this whole movie is about a closer look… a painfully close look into a family’s life.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Matt King:
My friends on the mainland think just because I leave in Hawaii, I live in paradise, like a permanent vacation. We’re all just out here, sipping Mai Tais, shaking our hips, catching waves. Are they insane? Do they think we are immune to life? How can they possibly think our families are less screwed up, our cancers less fatal, our heartache less painful?
In the end, The Descendants is not a high action movie like I am normally drawn to, instead this is an emotional drama that will leave you once again in wonder of what the human heart can withstand.
It is Bloggiesta weekend and as promised…. I was going to have giveaways! I have a bonus copy of this screening to give away (full movie!) Just leave a comment here and I will enter you into the drawing. Using random.org I will choose a winner on Tuesday morning.
Book Journey 
This sounds like a movie worth seeing i would love to be entered into the drawing…thanks for the chance…
You got it – thanks for stopping in 🙂
Whoo, Sheila! New look. I like it!
We saw this movie on our trip to AZ recently. I kind of dragged my husband there, knowing it probably wouldn’t be his kind of movie. Well, it wasn’t. I really liked it – made me want to read the book. He, on the other hand, well, let’s just say that I owe him a couple of action flicks or maybe 5. LOL
Don’t need to enter me in the drawing. Hubby would probably run screaming from the house if it showed up here. 😉
Bloggiesta brings out the “crazy” in me….LOL
My hubby didnt like it either… and I have two copies sitting here. 😉
Have you read the book? I won both the book and DVD earlier this week and am wondering which I should pick first. Don’t enter me.
I have not read the book….. hmmm… I guess I would suggest the book first, it is a remake (the movie) I believe… I am curious what the book would be like. Enjoy!
Since I’m not into high action movies, this sounds more like the kind I would choose. I like your new layout, with its colors. The gray, after the green you had when I first started reading your blog, seemed too blah for you. This is better, especially with your smiling face at the top where we see it when we arrive here.
LOL…. thanks Bonnie 😀 I put my face up there so you still knew it was Book Journey. Sometimes when people switch up there blogs I think.. “whoa! Where am I?”
I like your new header. I’m going to work on my tomorrow! I’d love to be entered into the drawing, though if I do win it, I’ll be reading the book first.
Thanks you Alicia! 🙂 I think the book would be interesting.
I saw this movie with my mother in law, it was not what I expected. It was better.
I am glad you liked it! I am not really sure what I expected. It was different but I liked that about it.
I’d like to be counted in for this one.
Mystica – you are in 😀
I absolutely loved this movie! However, I can’t help but think that life might be a little better/easier if I lived in Hawaii and had lots of money. Please enter me to win this movie.
LOL…. yes. Agreed. My pains would be eased with sunshine, beautiful water, and fresh pineapple on the table 😛
I thought this movie was excellent and was disappointed that Shailene Woodley wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award.
She was a good supporting actor wasnt she? I dont think I have seen her in other movies before.
Sheila, I first saw her on TV (maybe you did too) in an ABC Family series that I got hooked on because the mom is played by Molly Ringwold. It’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Yeah, you wouldn’t think it would be my kind of thing, huh? But she does a great job, and she did in the movie, too.
Oh I know what show you are talking about Laurel but I have never watched it! 😀
LOL… your secret is safe with me!
I have the book checked out from the library but haven’t read it yet and I’ve been wanting to watch the movie. I love that quote!
Isnt that good Christina? People think just because you “look like you have it all” … you must.. 😛
Oh, I’d love to have the chance to win this one. I saw it on On Demand recently, and it’s the kind of movie I like to watch over and over (at intervals! lol).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
It makes you think Laurel that is for sure. At first I thought… this is ridiculous but the more I watched, the more I got into what was happening.
Ooh, interesting!
And whoa, your blog looks so different! I know you always change it during bloggiesta, but I was unprepared for how much you changed it this time! 😀
LOL I didnt even mean to this time Hannah! I was just playing with the sidebar and ummm… yeah, went a little crazy. Still working on it today… have to do something other than pink! 😀
Yeah, I read your Meanderings after I read this and realized it wasn’t all completely intentional. Hope you get it squared away soon!
I think I am on to something here… just got back home from church and a delivery to another church out of town and lunch… so now – back on it! 😀
I’ve seen the commercials for this one but had never paid attention to them until last week. It looks like a rather poignant film about families and their inner relationships.
Yes, thats a great description.
I’m very interested in reading the book after seeing the movie. How about when George Clooney was running in his boat shoes? Never thought he’d look dorky but that scene did it!
LOL that was pretty funny… I think he has mellowed through the years and can take some of the less than flattering roles…LOL
I would love a chance to win this!
I really liked the movie even if it was depressing.