Entertainment : In Depth - The Descendants

I was rooting for “The Descendants” and “George Clooney” at the Oscars this past Sunday, but alas, Jean Dujardin and Uggie the Dog swept those categories. That said, I’m now looking forward to “The Artist,” which opens on March 23!

Gerald and I had great luck to be stranded in Waterloo during a brief snowstorm in January and waited out the weather with George on the big screen. I encourage you to catch “The Descendants” which plays the Palace Sunday through Thursday only, March 4 through 8 at 7 p.m., and Monday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

The story centers on Matt King (Clooney), descended of Hawaiian royalty and bequeathed several beautiful acres of untouched tropical paradise, which he generously shares with his large, flamboyant family. Uncle Hugh is portrayed by Beau Bridges. I am a huge fan of the Bridges brothers – and Beau is charmingly Beau in this role.

The family wants to sell the land to developers. While workaholic King is pondering this decision, personal tragedy strikes. His wife Elizabeth is struck down in a boating accident and lingers in a coma, leaving King solely responsible for their two young daughters and reeling from the recent revelation of his wife’s infidelity.

“The Descendants” is rated R for language. Indeed, some of you will be offended by the sassy, potty mouth on King’s older daughter, Alexandra, played by Shailene Woodley. I, however, loved her character, back-talking f-words and all, and thought she deserved Oscar recognition for her portrayal. Her boyfriend, Sid (Nick Krause), is also one to watch.

This movie is not fast-paced, but tells a beautiful, gripping, real-life story, and showcases Hawaii like I’ve never seen it before. I hope you’ll laugh and cry and love it as much as I did.

QUESTION

I recently discovered an app, RunPee, free at iTunes.com, that tells you the best time to take a powder and what you would miss during the movie. We’ve actually had a few patrons request intermissions for longer movies. Apparently movie houses used to do that back in the day. With our new digital system the Palace now has the capability to pause the film and plan an intermission for longer movies. Would you be in favor of this added perk?

MEA CULPA X 3!

You read me, you really read me! Which was proven last week by the glut of email I received letting me know that #1 – I called last weekend March 24-26 instead of February, #2 – I spelled the website incorrectly – it’s vintonpalace.org, NOT vintonplace.org, and finally, #3 – I attributed Sandra Bullock’s role in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” to Julia Roberts.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, neither Sandra nor Julia (or their people) read my column, as I didn’t hear from those camps. Anyway, sorry, sorry, sorry for the confusion. I wish I could say it will never happen again.

OSCAR MONTH AT THE PALACE

Be sure to check online at www.vintonpalace.org or pick up a March schedule in the lobby of the theatre. ACT I will present “Dancers” the first two weekends of the month, www.act1.org, so our movie schedule is a bit erratic.

However, so many films worth seeing! “The Descendents” is up first, followed by “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,”  “My Week With Marilyn,”“The Artist,” and finally, for the kids, “The Secret World of Arrietty.”