Nebraska

If there was ever a film made this past year that captured the feeling of small town Americana it is “Nebraska.”

An elderly, alcoholic father, Woody, (Bruce Dern) sets out on a road trip to claim a supposed prize with his doting son, David (Will Forte). From Billings, Mont. to Lincoln, Neb. the pair runs across decades full of greed and disrespect. The mere notion of a one million dollar prize seems to give family and old friends the excuse to take a piece.

The film takes a very tender approach to life in a small town and touches very deeply on the aging process. Dern plays a man who is riddled by the plague of being “too nice.” Woody has been taken advantage of his whole life by those closest to him and this is only amplified by the thought of his impending fortune.

While his wife, Kate (played by the feisty June Squibb) and son protest the journey, Woody makes it a mission to seek out his prize money, albeit only wanting the money for a new air compressor and truck that he wouldn’t be able to drive. In one of the most touching moments in the film, David asks a broken-down Woody why he wants this money so bad. In a revelation so simple and so poignant, Woody divulges that he just wants to be able to leave his son something.

Love plays a prolific role in this movie. Whether it be the strained bond between father and son or the more complex relationship between husband and wife, Woody learns that those closest to him have his best interest at heart. Though his wife may be a spit-fire, always inserting her blatant opinion into every scene, their love is shown stripped down in one particular hospital scene. As Kate begins to leave her husband’s hospital room she bends down to straighten his hair and gives him a gentle kiss on the check. And in one gesture, the relationship that seemed strained after so many years lightens and we see why the two have stuck together for so long.

The black and white portrayal of this story sends a strong message. There are good and bad in this world, people who will be there for you through the troubled times and those who will swoop in when you’re at the height of your success. In life there are few who you can fully trust, but in the end the good guy shall prevail.