So I popped this in expecting an Irish movie about a band, or an album by an Irish band. Turns out it's a movie and not an album and it has nothing to do with Ireland. In fact it's a George Clooney vehicle set on the island of Hawaii. But it's a movie, not an actual vehicle like a car or a train or something.
So what we have here is another one of these here Hollywood movies that are about something, but more or less just play out as slice of life films. Clooney is a land baron who has a decision to make regarding property that his family has owned in Hawaii for ever and ever. While he is the trustee, he has a boatload of cousins and relatives whom his decision will affect greatly. Monies and all that.
Anyhoo, that's sort of the subplot. The main plot surrounds his wife and an accident she just had, if she'll survive it, and other things that come to light about her recent activities.
The cast is good and strong and the story is solid but at times it gets frustrating watching George Fucking Clooney play an everyman. So many of his recent films have seen him play down to his character. While it may not be fair to judge a movie based on how you want its lead to act, I've done that anyway, so fuck off.
The film is well paced, though it does drag at points given its 2 hour run time.
The girl who plays his oldest daughter is pretty hot, and she's in a bikini or cut off shorts most of the film so there's that.
There is some heavy handed melodrama, but it's not played out in the usual way that makes you feel like you're watching Lifetime.
In the end it's a fine film and I guess it's what passes for "Oscar worthy" these days, but Christ Almighty it'd be nice if Hollywood started aiming bigger.
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