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Nebraska

Some of you wanted to know my opinion of the movie Nebraska.

 I thought it was really well done, deserving of its mostly high ratings in reviews.  My personal reaction can be summed up in one word--HEARTBREAKING.

Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant of Billings, Montana, who has been notified of authorization to collect a prize of one million dollars (if....).  He is determined to go to Lincoln, Nebraska, to collect his money.  He doesn't trust the mail.  He will walk if he has to.  After his younger son fails to convince him the letter is only a come-on for selling magazines, he agrees to drive his father to Nebraska.


The movie was heartbreaking to me first of all because as far as looks and also certain aspects of the curmudgeonly personality, I was watching Mike on the big screen.  Sweet and bitter torture.  Heartbreaking.

When the trailer first came out, Mike's daughter texted me to google it.  Leave it to Dad to come back as Bruce Dern.

The second reason for its heartbreaking effect on me was the recognition of my mother in Woody.  She was also convinced beyond doubt that she was about to be a millionaire when she received one of those letters from Publishers' Clearing House.  I would think I brought her to an understanding that it was a hoax and the next day she would be bursting with excitement at winning a million dollars.  And, as with Woody, she wanted the money to leave to her children.  Heartbreaking.

Finally, although there was laughter in the theater during some of the scenes where they visit the old home town and the extended family, I found the jealousy, the greed,  and the conniving distressful.  Sad because I know it happens in real life.  Heartbreaking.

You can find a trailer HERE.


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Comments

  1. MuffieFebruary 14, 2014 at 11:31 AM

    Thanks for the honest review. I won't see it until it comes out in On Demand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CarolFebruary 14, 2014 at 12:54 PM

    Thank you for your review. Think I will skip over that one since my heart can't take any more breaking for awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 14, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    Thanks for the review and I think I will skip it for a while, too. Just sounds to depressing and like it would hit to many raw nerves. But I do love Bruce Dern...

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2014 at 1:37 PM

    I couldn't bear to watch such a movie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SextantFebruary 14, 2014 at 4:05 PM

    Good old heartbreak, as you say, sweet bitter torture. So much of life is heartbreaking, so at least revel when the sweet is sweeter than the bitterness of the bitter. If you saw Mike on the big screen, then Mike is still with you and that is preciously sweet. Bless you Olga, you have brought a tear to my eyes yet again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. TaborFebruary 14, 2014 at 5:45 PM

    Well, with that review I will wait until it shows up on TV. I am so sorry that it brought memories of your Mike. It is odd and disconcerting when we see people who are the essence of someone no longer with us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sally WesselyFebruary 14, 2014 at 10:18 PM

    I also am sorry it brought back such strong memories of Mike. I can imagine how hard that must have been. The movie is probably not one I will rush out to see. Take care, Olga.

    ReplyDelete
  8. SakuFebruary 14, 2014 at 10:34 PM

    Wow, sounds rather powerful. My dad was like your mom, he thought for sure he would the Reader's Digest sweepstakes. I hate to think how much money he spent on trinkets trying to do so.

    I would still see the movie, though I'll probably wait until it shows up on television.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Linda ReederFebruary 14, 2014 at 11:36 PM

    Thank you, Olga. You have connections here that many of us might not have. When I see it now I'll be watching partially through your eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Linda MyersFebruary 14, 2014 at 11:48 PM

    I'll wait for it to come out on Netflix. Thanks for the honest thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Granny AnnieFebruary 15, 2014 at 7:07 AM

    That is interesting about Mike. Like Linda Reeder, I will watch it now with different thoughts. Plus, my father was a very practical man and never believed those mailings until he was in his 90's and I will never forget him handing me a Publisher's Clearing House letter and thinking they might have won. It is kind of scary when you think about the people who believe in this and are so disappointed when dreams are shattered.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jenn JilksFebruary 16, 2014 at 1:13 PM

    I have'nt been to a movie in years!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. KayFebruary 23, 2014 at 9:53 PM

    This sounds awfully depressing! We had a friend with Alzheimers who kept expecting the Clearing House people to show up any day because she was convinced she'd won. We also have another friend who is convinced he's won, but that people are deliberately trying to keep him from his money. It was/is really weird. I don't understand what it is about the Clearing House sweepstakes that does this.

    ReplyDelete

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