My pop-culture and literary credentials have taken a beating: my aunt, who lives in Hawaii, had to be the one to tell me that George Clooney was in the state filming an adaptation of one of my fave books of 2007—Kaui Hart Hemmings’ The Descendants. (Read our review of The Descendants)
Clooney has been running around Oahu and the North Shore of Kauai this month filming the movie, which follows Matt King, a wealthy and detached father (Clooney) who is forced to become hands-on when his wife is gravely injured in a boating accident. While Joanie lies in a coma, Matt discovers she’s been having an affair and takes his daughters on a trip to Kauai in pursuit of the other man.
Even in a Hawaiian shirt, Clooney exudes cool
Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways) is directing the film, and seems like a perfect fit to bring this nuanced novel to the big screen without turning it into a soap opera.
Newcomer Amara Miller and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” star Shailene Woodley will play Clooney’s daughters, Scottie and Alex. The film will be released sometime in 2011. Interested?
I loved that book. I hope the movie does it justice.
The 2010 midterm elections are generally here, and most expect Republicans to make big gains in both chambers of Congress. While prevailing opinion holds that this GOP will take within the House of Representatives, there are several dissenters among national political figures. The Senate outlook is extremely messy, but it is generally accepted that Republicans experience a steeper climb taking back the upper chamber.