"Nebraska" (2013) Directed by Alexander Payne

“You’re just like your father. Stubborn as a mule!”.

As a fan of cinema sometimes a film will charm and endear itself to you through it’s utter simplicity, a thoroughly engaging narrative and character creations that you can’t help but cheer for, and Nebraska is certainly one such film. In many ways it’s a companion piece to Alexander Payne’s under appreciated 2004 classic Sideways with two male lead characters bumbling through middle America on their comic, yet often melancholic road movie of discovery. The film also owes a debt to the Coen Brothers eponymous 1996 film Fargo, albeit minus the snow and mysterious briefcase, as our characters are enveloped in the wonderful wide shots of a desolate, untouched and out of touch middle America left behind by big business in the nearby larger cities. The wide angle shots of what some might argue as unspoiled American countryside are brilliantly captured by regular Director of Photography and collaborator Phedon Papamichael, as are the simple and unassuming small towns that our protagonists visit in their quest, however the comparisons with Fargo continue with the long straight roads they traverse, the awkward, stilted language employed and Mark Orton’s mournful, simple fiddle and string inspired musical score.

The film garnered six Oscar nominations in 2014 including Phedon Papamichael for his brilliantly realised cinematography, Bob Nelson for his Best Original Screenplay and both the Director and the film itself were nominated for the highest honours available in the categories of Best Director and Best Film, however these accolades only serve to highlight what a wonderful and justly recognised triumph of a film this is.

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The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Nebraska" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 22nd January 2023 and which can be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/nebraska-2013-ae61674670c8

This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 3 of my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form, each substantial volume of numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free:

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1

All 7 Volumes

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