For those of us who follow motion pictures and television shows filmed in Hawaii, we received exciting news yesterday when The Descendants was nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture (Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers), Actor in a Leading Role (George Clooney), Directing (Alexander Payne), Adapted Screenplay (Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash), and Film Editing (Kevin Tent).
The already much honored film (including Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture Drama and Best Actor Drama) was filmed on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. The film has already received numerous awards including Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture Drama and Best Actor Drama (George Clooney), the AFI Movie of the Year, Critics Choice Award for Best Actor (George Clooney) and National Board of Review awards for Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Shailene Woodley).
A major disappointment, however, is that the film did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Score. The film features a score consisting of primarily Hawaiian slack-key guitar music sung by such renowned artists as Keola Beamer, Sonny Chillingworth, Dennis Kamakahi and the late Gabby Pahinui as well as popular artists the Makaha Sons and Makana.
The Descendants traces the story of Hawaiian born land owner Matt King who takes his daughters from Oahu to Kauai to confront the man with whom his wife Elizabeth had been having an affair with prior to an accident which has left her on life support.
You can read an excellent review of The Descendants by Jordan Hoffman, About.com Guide to World / Independent Film.
Unfortunately the film has been playing only in limited release, but hopefully, now that it has been nominated for five Academy Awards, it will be released at a theater near you.
Remember to get your nominations in for the 2012 About.com Hawaii Travel Readers Choice Awards.
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