Review: George Clooney anchors great ensemble in emotional 'The
Descendants'  Alexander Paynes scores again with another story
of a man in crisis  <p>George Clooney finds himself looking for
understanding and forgiveness when his family is struck by a
tragedy in Alexander Payne's new film 'The Descendants'</p>
Credit: Fox Searchlight  Alexander Payne had one of the most
promising starts of any of the filmmakers in the Class of '99,
as I like to call them, and "Election" is one of those films
that I find always rewarding to revisit.  "Sideways" and "About
Schmidt" are both strong, mature pieces of work, and they both
demonstrate a clear sense of voice as well as a very strong
sense of place.  Locations play a major part in his work,
helping to define who these people are and giving them a proper
landscape in which to play out their issues.  And, yes, like his
earlier films, "The Descendents" captures a character in crisis,
someone facing a major life-changing event and having to
redefine themselves as a resu