Nebraska
2013, Drama, 1h 54m
253 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Elegant in its simplicity and poetic in its message, Nebraska adds another stirringly resonant chapter to Alexander Payne's remarkable filmography. Read critic reviews
You might also like

Captain Fantastic

Sully

The Edge of Seventeen

Bombshell

Before Midnight
Where to watch
Nebraska Videos
Nebraska Photos
Movie Info
Cantankerous old buzzard Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) can barely walk down the street of his home in Billings, Mont., without stopping for a drink. So when Woody receives receives a sweepstakes notice in the mail and insists on making a 750-mile trip to Lincoln, Neb., to collect his prize, it falls to baffled son David (Will Forte) to accompany him. During a stop in their Nebraska hometown, word gets out about Woody's fortune, first making him a hero, then later, the target of predatory people.
Cast & Crew
Bruce Dern
Woody Grant
Woody Grant
Will Forte
David Grant
David Grant
June Squibb
Kate Grant
Kate Grant
Bob Odenkirk
Ross Grant
Ross Grant
Stacy Keach
Ed Pegram
Ed Pegram
Mary Louise Wilson
Aunt Martha
Aunt Martha
Critic Reviews for Nebraska
Audience Reviews for Nebraska
-
Jul 10, 2016Stark, perfectly observed low-key comedy/drama with striking black-and-white photography clearly influenced by 'The Last Picture Show' and evocative musical score. Smalltown flavor feels so real, I'm sure I've met some of these people at family gatherings. Will Forte is a revelation showing a real sense of comic timing and drollery that I found completely missing during his SNL tenure. Bruce Dern garnered all the accolades as the addled, heavy drinking estranged father who thinks he's won a million dollars, but it's June Squibb as his agitated, long-suffering wife who really deserved an Academy Award nomination. The foul-mouthed senior citizen is such a tired stereotype used for cheap laughs, but the excellent script allows Squibb to develop a full character so that when she interjects the occasional obscenity, it is surprising and truly funny. The highlight though is when Forte and his brother Bob Oedenkirk decide to retrieve their father's compressor 'borrowed' by a neighboring farmer 40 years ago, and the conversational aftermath in the van had me rolling on the floor.Doctor S Super Reviewer
-
Dec 07, 2014Slow, quiet, but charming and at times hilarious, Nebraska is a well-filmed portrait of a Middle-America family coming face to face with its roots.Matthew Samuel M Super Reviewer
-
Nov 29, 2014A touching, wryly funny dramedy featuring a pair of stellar leads that channels the style of the Coens' while maintaining a more mellow, wistful demeanor.Isaac H Super Reviewer
-
Oct 06, 2014This is the most brutal, maudlin, pathetic film to come from the House of Payne since "About Schmidt" and this has the same mood and somewhat the same premise. The film follows an elderly man (Dern) who believes he has won a million dollars, and travels all over Nebraska with his son, and later his family, trying to collect it. The ending is one of the most empathetic, tearjerker moments in recent film history. Payne builds up this decrepit old man throughout the film, showing that he is lost, self-destructive, and giving, but that no one gives him credit. His son realizes the true history of his family, and how he has treated his father thus far. That is a clearly life changing revelation, and Payne handles this transformation with aplomb. Forte's performance is also very nuanced and sincere in its sentimentality. Odenkirk is great as well, as the concerned older brother who has his own view of the world. June Squibb reminds me of every older woman I have ever met, and yet she's so original in her lewdness and likeability. This is a very deliberate and complex story that revolves around amazing characters played by thoughtful actors.Spencer S Super Reviewer
Verified