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Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt) directs from a script by Bob Nelson this father/son road trip story about a senile old man who mistakenly thinks he’s won a Publisher’s Sweepstakes and insists on getting to Lincoln, Nebraska, to pick up his winnings — at any cost. Bruce Dern plays the old man and Will Forte plays his son. This is one of those movies where the subtext never rises cloyingly to the forefront of our attention, which is good if you’re trying to avoid a sentimental journey. Nebraska is far from it. In fact, there’s even a scene where father and son walk and reminisce with mother (June Quibb) through an old prairie grave yard. Mom’s quick to point the failings of every person buried beneath their feet, including one who kept trying to get in her pants. She flashes her panties to the tombstone. There’s a little bit of conflict in the form of family and friends descending on the old man to try and wrestle away some of the money they think he has, but Nebraska is a very simple story with a sleek, unsophisticated narrative throughline. It didn’t knock my socks off, but it’s sweet enough. With Stacy Keach.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Bruce Dern), Best Supporting Actress (June Squibb), Best Cinematography