Film review: More sideways than straight, a story of our times

On receiving a letter giving notice that he’s the lucky winner of one million dollars, septuagenarian Woody Grant (Bruce Dern, the father of Laura) doesn’t stop to question the letter’s authenticity and instead hits the road for Lincoln, Nebraska, with the intention of collecting his winnings.

Fearing him to be mentally unstable, his worried family quickly combine their efforts to bring him home and make him realise the exploitative nature of these prize draws. Even while enduring the consequent onslaught of his nagging wife, Woody remains resolute: he still intends to collect those winnings.

When his son David attempts to convince Woody of the implausibility of there being any money to claim, he sees the detrimental effect his words have on his father’s spirits. Instead of dissuading his father from journeying south, he ends up offering to drive him – and thus begins a road trip that crosses both state lines and family limits…

There’s a distinctly independent feeling about Nebraska, despite it being the latest film from acclaimed talent Alexander Payne, the director of About Schmidt, Sideways and 2011’s awards-soaked The Descendants. In fact, it feels more like a directorial debut than a seventh film.

That is to say that there’s an intimate, charming naiveté and a lo-fi, oddly 1990s vibe that informs everything from the black and white photography to the subject matter itself. It asks us to forgive the occasional cornball line, overly sentimental moment, plot-convenient coincidence, amateurish performer and gag that doesn’t quite work – and we do.

In fact, its faults only add to the overall charm of a film that is ultimately so well-meaning, it’s impossible to bear it any ill-will. It also helps that there are laughs a-plenty. They’re the best kind of laughs too – those derived from a keen observation of unexpected, absurdly truthful moments. They are the kind that make us laugh because we recognise them in our own lives.

Initially fearing Forte’s chirpy, cherry pie acting style was going to be so irritating that it would derail my enjoyment of the film, I soon found myself warming to the logic in his portrayal of the son, David. He’s a quietly tragic character: passed 40, he’s working in an unfulfilling job and his girlfriend recently left him. To add to his woes, things couldn’t be going better for his brother who has a wife, kids and has just been promoted to lead news anchor on state television. His chirpy state is all that stands between him and the abyss.

Presumably it is the same abyss that commands his father’s distant stare for nearly the entire running time. Dern’s permanently tortured, impenetrable expression haunts the film. A stubborn yet fragile old man, we understand implicitly why his son wants to assist in his hair-brained, cross-country quest.
Not only does he see himself in his father’s plight, but by helping Woody regain some sense of purpose, David is ultimately doing the same thing for himself. It’s a journey they both need, equally.

Resembling most closely David Lynch’s Straight Story (1999) with its gentle narrative engine and wistful tone, Nebraska will be noted for 77-year-old Bruce Dern’s incredible return to a leading role (despite a raft of character roles, he’s best remembered as the lead in the 1972 ecologically-aware sci-fi classic Silent Running), which justifiably earned him the best actor gong at last year’s Cannes.

Dern mines his character’s ‘man-of-few-words’ trait for all the comedy it’s worth, and the result is a surprisingly touching, dignified film that will probably prove as enduring as its themes.


Nebraska (7)

Dir: Alexander Payne; US comedy/drama, 2013, 116 mins;
Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach
Premieres Feb 13
Playing Grand & Dagmar



  • Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

  • Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes

  • A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.

  • “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “To some extent, Denmark is not fair to internationals.” Nichlas Walsted, 34 years old, is the CEO of Swap Language, a provider of Danish lessons to more than 10,000 internationals. Tens of thousands of people follow him, and he advocates for internationals: “Because no one else does. I can’t think of a single politician or well-known person in Denmark who stands up for them,” he says.

  • Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Almost 30 million passengers travelled to or from Copenhagen Airport in 2024. The profit was 1.4 billion DKK and both figures are expected to grow in 2025. Expansions continue, and investments are being made in continued progress

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.