The Descendants is one of the best films of 2011 and one Alexander Payne's best directorial efforts. Payne has been working under the radar for years and he still has yet to get the recognition that he deserves. All of the traits that make him such an interesting filmmaker are on full display here. The lead performance by George Clooney is one of his very best and helps to tie the whole movie together very nicely. The family dynamic in a state of crisis is presented very honestly and realistically here which keeps the story from ever slipping into melodrama. Instead the story ends up being a funny and heartbreaking portrait of a broken family who are figuring out how to come back together and love each other.