Director Spotlight: Alexander Payne
Plus, a guest joined us this week on the podcast to talk Sofia Coppola movies!
It’s been awhile since we’ve had an acclaimed and exciting new movie from director Alexander Payne. Since 2013, his only release was 2017’s Downsizing, a major flop starring Matt Damon. However, Payne is back with a well-reviewed awards season contender called The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti. We’re always interested in what Payne has to offer, so today we’re recommending two of his movies we’ve never written about before.
If you missed the podcast this week, past DYLA guest Taylor Blake joined us once again for our Sofia Coppola draft! Listen, subscribe, and share with a Sofia-loving friend!
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Drew recommends…
Nebraska
When Hollywood makes movies about small-town America and the people that live there, it can sometimes feel reductive at best and offensive at worst. Alexander Payne is the rare big-name director that’s from the Midwest (he grew up in Omaha), so it made sense for him to take on Nebraska. Amid a career full of smart dramedies about flawed people, Payne’s 2013 small-town road movie ranks among his best work.
Although Nebraska is the rare movie of his he doesn’t have a screenplay credit on, Payne’s sensibility runs throughout. The story follows an old man (Bruce Dern) that decides to leave his Montana home for Lincoln, Nebraska to claim what he thinks is a million-dollar sweepstakes prize. His son (Will Forte) reluctantly joins him on this fool’s errand. Much like Payne’s best movies (Sideways, Election, The Descendents), moments of sadness, humor, and grace punctuate a story of damaged characters searching for who they really are.
Nebraska is really Dern’s movie, and while the actor anchors the entire enterprise, Payne gets wonderful performances from so many cast members. Forte relishes the unexpected chance to flex some dramatic muscles, and Bob Odenkirk and 84-year-old June Squibb (who was Oscar-nominated for her role) deliver some of the funniest lines.
Not only does Nebraska have the messy and heartfelt core that Payne provides, but it’s also his best-looking film. Presented in gorgeous widescreen black-and-white, the empty terrain of Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska take on an even more mournful and elegiac tone, in beautiful contrast to the often comedic nature of the characters and their situation. It’s Payne depicting small-town life with all of its absurdity, melancholy, and indelible community.
Available to rent on digital platforms
Billy recommends…
Sideways
Sideways is fancier Swingers. I’m not watching any fucking Swingers! Today we delve into the Alexander Payne classic Sideways. Payne directing/writing and Paul Giamatti absolutely running away with a classic comedy performance.
Giamatti plays Miles, a mid-to-late 30s divorced writer, who is reluctantly taking his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a final bachelor party in California wine country before his wedding. Both men are quite awful, but in an attractive way. Their loneliness is palpable and nestled right next to me every time I watch Sideways. Like Miles, it is a feeling I hate but can’t help but welcome.
Payne is magnificent at finding dark humor in this space while not diluting the poignancy of the story's tone. The beginning 25 minutes show a hint of despair, but lean into a wacky vibe that is lovely. Then the most sad montage ever put on film comes at you. It should be illegal to use a montage in such a way. Impressive, but at what cost.
The rest of our runtime is dedicated to a fast spiral from our main character Miles. He meets a perfect woman for him, Maya, that he can’t quite navigate correctly. Jack ditches him for the mistress of the week, Stephanie. And Miles' lonely reality becomes more and more transparent.
This is the magic of a good Payne movie. What should just be a comedy is surrounded by darkness and melancholy with the tiniest bit of hope. I leap towards that tone when navigated excitingly. Maybe that says a lot about me, but take me there, Payne! I’m excited to be there for some of the same with The Holdovers.
Available to rent on digital platforms
From the DYLA Archive
Links
SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with the studios to end the actors' strike, which means we finally get to see Timothee Chalamet work overtime to promote Wonka, as God intended.
Variety has a profile out this week on Christopher Nolan. The man is coming for that Best Director Oscar.