NEBRASKA  initially gave me a bit of that wrinkle-shoulders-warning-feel that occurs when  critics line up in near-unanimity to declare a small-scale comedy-drama “compelling” or (begin to shudder) “essential”. So we approached with a tab of hesitation. “Daringly shot in black & white” and “the great Bruce Dern” didn’t grease the brakes on the pickup, either.

Well, teach me to pre-scoff, because this a keenly observed, funny, trenchant look at forgotten America (Corn Belt meets Rust Belt strain) and Dern at long last gets something approaching a normal human to play. Not likable, mind you: can Bruce Dern even be likable?  He’s very good here. Cranky without any fakey sympathy-guilt-trip, dry as an empty silo, consistent and spot-on, though the plaudits he received (and the Best Actor Oscar nomination) also served to take away luster from the likewise impressive, but less showy Will Forte.

Beer with Dad.

A life-fatigued son takes on the ‘family duty’ (with not much help from the rest of his ‘relation’) of escorting his pain-in-the-ass elderly father on a road trip to claim a prize the old man is convinced he’s won.

Oafs.  Been there.

Director Alexander Payne deftly guides the 2013 sleeper through writer Bob Nelson’s 115 mostly worthy minutes (maybe ten too many), with a canny assist from cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, whose lensing recalls Robert Surtees beautiful work on The Last Picture Show. Done for $13,500,000, it covered the bet by grossing $27,700,000, nesting at 112th place that year.

Aside from Dern, the Picture itself, its direction, script, and camerawork were Oscar nominated as well as an element I had more trouble buying, a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the diminutive 83-year old June Squibb. I just didn’t think her cantankerousness, let alone some laugh-pandering crudity, rang truthful.  But, hey, everyone else with a keyboard thought she was the most delightful thing since myrtle-berry jam, so why carp?

No sale.

Stacy nails bar-bigshot.

Perhaps also a tad overdone, but less grating and more acceptable as ‘types’ were the oaf cousins played by Devin Ratray and Tim Driscoll, and the loud-mouthed Tavern Big Shot acted to a razor-edge by the always welcome Stacy Keach.  Also present are Bob Odenkirk, Rance Howard and Casey Affleck.