‘Descendants’ team proud of film’s island authenticity

In the last few months, whenever someone from Hawaii praised "The Descendants" for its honest portrayal of island life, producer Jim Burke felt as if it were getting an Academy Award nomination. Now the film really does have some nominations — five.

Burke won’t lie: Awards are nice, and in his business none is better than an Oscar. But Burke, as well as everyone associated with the film, took pride in getting Hawaii right, he said.

"We tried very hard to make it authentic and right," he said in a telephone interview after the Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday. "We did out best, so it feels gratifying. But so does this."

The poignant drama about a Hawaii family in crisis, adapted from the novel by local author Kaui Hart Hemmings, was nominated for best picture, actor (George Clooney), director (Alexander Payne), film editing (Kevin Tent) and adapted screenplay (Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash).

The nominations came a week after the film was tapped for best picture and best actor in the drama category at the Golden Globe Awards.

"It is not just a nomination for us; it is for all of Hawaii," Burke said. "As good as it feels to be nominated for an Academy Award, it feels that good for so many people in Hawaii."

The whole thing started five years ago this month when Burke got an email from a friend urging him to read the novel, which had not been published yet.

Burke was intrigued by "The Descendants" from the start.

"It was set in Hawaii, and that was enough to get me reading and saying to myself, ‘I hope this is good because it would sure be great to make a film in Hawaii,’" Burke said. "And then it was not just good, it was great."

THE FILM shot in Hawaii in the spring of 2010.

The story Hemmings had crafted was as moving as it was insightful — a glimpse into the world of Hawaii’s landed elite. Clooney stars as the main character, attorney Matt King, in a performance some say is the best of his career.

King is the descendant of Native Hawaiian royalty and a haole banker, his social status entitling him to wealth and standing long before he was born. He is suddenly forced to address the reality that his comatose wife is about to die from a brain injury and that she was also having an affair. At the same time, he is trying to reconnect with his two rebellious daughters and negotiate the sale of his family’s extensive land holdings.

The elder daughter is played by Shailene Woodley, whose performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress. She wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, however.

"The only person that my heart breaks for a bit is Shailene, who did such an amazing job, and everybody, including me, thought she would get recognized," Burke said.

"No disrespect to the other nominees, but it hurts a bit. She was sensational."

Hemmings was thrilled by the Oscar nominations and, like Burke, felt bad for the 20-year-old Woodley. But being left out doesn’t lessen the young actress’s performance, the author said.

"I thought she was a huge part of making the film what it is," Hemmings said. "This is a film starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley, and their relationship is such a big part of the story. They are responsible for one another."

The winners will be announced Feb. 26. Burke and company will have to be patient in the meantime.

"I was given advice from a new friend, a producer of ‘The King’s Speech,’ and his motto was ‘Don’t say anything to screw it up,’ and that has been adopted by all of us," Burke said. "I really think it is a wonderful film, and I’m proud of it. And we’re right in the thick of it."

AND that’s a wrap …

Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.