Nebraska and a Q&A with Bruce Dern and June Squibb

We recently attended a screening at LA's Landmark of the Alexander Payne film Nebraska, followed by a Q&A with two of the films stars, Bruce Dern and June Squibb.  The movie centers around Dern's character, a cantankerous alcoholic named Woody Grant, and his family, mainly his son David, played by Will Arnett, and wife Kate, played by Sqibb.  David agrees to accompany his father from their home in Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a sweepstakes scam, and we follow them on their often surprising and calamitous journey. 

Dern is excellent in the role - he has been receiving many long overdue accolades for it - and had some interesting things to say about the film and its creative process.  He noted that as an actor, sometimes he can try too hard to act and talk about his craft, but Payne told him to simply 'show us, and we will find it.'  He also said that one of the first people to see the film was his longtime best friend Jack Nicholson, who immediately noticed the slow, pained walk that Dern adopted for Woody, and said 'typical Dern.  Had to do the walk.  Who gives a sh*t?'  We do!  The film is funny, heartfelt, and a wonderful slice of Americana, all shot in classic black and white.