Alexander Payne's Movies Ranked From Worst To Best

Alexander Payne and George Clooney are like some kind of bohemian movie dream team. Where one is underrated and a man of few words in public, the other is a bonafide movie star whose films are always imbued by the light that he gives off. It would be a chalk meets cheese scenario, were it not for the fact that both of them share the same talents for underhanded comedy.

As we see the life of Hawaiian lawyer Matt King fall apart because of his rebellious daughter, dying wife, and vast land decision, Matt also has to contend with the revelation that his wife was having an affair, which begins a journey of finding and meeting this hateful individual. At the same time, he is also dealing with his youngest daughter's last memories with her Mother and trying not to ruin what will never be the same again.

Clooney leaves nothing on the table in his depiction of pure life pressure, distilled into a week of pain for him and his family. For Alexander Payne, it worked as a demonstration that he was capable of pulling most of his blunt comedy from a film and still leave a lasting impact on an audience.

It was a case of career-launching for Shailene Woodley, a career-best for Clooney (who would have won an Oscar if not for the career-best of one Daniel Day-Lewis), and iconic affirmation of greatness for Payne.