It’s worth wondering what’s up with Alexander Payne and his fascination with the neuroses of white men. From Election’s poor sad sack Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) to About Schmidt’s retiring Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) all the way up to hard-drinking Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) who heads off on a deluded quest to claim a million dollar prize — the usual magazine scam that ensnares a sucker every minute — but drags his son David (Will Forte) along for a reunion of sorts with ghosts from Woody’s past. Nebraska promises to be smart but as emotionally withdrawn as Woody, with solid support from Forte, June Squibb (as Woody’s wife Kate), Bob Odenkirk and Stacy Keach. I’m curious what little dramatic corner is left for Payne to explore in terms of the haplessness of America’s aging mainstream. Opens Dec. 13 at Esquire Theatre. (R) Not screened in time for review
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2013.