Over the years, director/producer Alexander Payne has established himself as one of Hollywood's most distinctive filmmakers. He was offered the chance to direct his film by Miramax back in 1996 after his university thesis from UCLA was screened for audiences at the Sundance Film Festival. From there, he has gone on to direct and produce over a dozen films.
Payne always prefers to always have total control over his movies. He always does the casting himself and also writes or oversees the script. A few recurrent things have been noted about his work as well. He mostly films in Nebraska and always shoots a few scenes at history museums. This isn't surprising given that he also majored in History. Payne is also known to use ordinary citizens in minor roles. Amazing! According to Rotten Tomatoes, these are his best films.
Downsizing (2017) -48%
Though it has an impressive cast that includes Matt Damon and Christoph Waltz, Downsizing is widely considered the least impressive film in Alexander Payne's body of work. It also made losses at the box office, grossing just $55 million yet it cost $69 million to make. It is also important to note that Waltz hasn't impressed critics since his performance as Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained. What's wrong Waltz?
In Downsizing, scientists come up with a groundbreaking discovery on how to shrink human beings to a mere five inches tall in order to tackle the overpopulation crisis. Paul and his wife Audrey decide to undergo the procedure in order to escape their current 'grown' challenges but Audrey backs out at the last minute. The two end up divorcing, leaving Paul with more problems than the ones he had initially wished to flee from.
The Assassination Of Richard Nixon - 67%
Who killed Richard Nixon? Actually, nobody did but this film tells the story of a man who considered doing it. When Sam Bicke learns about a government program meant to boost small businesses by giving them loans, he applies for it. When he is denied the loan, he becomes angry and feels that Nixon only cares about war and not the welfare of the citizens. He thus sets himself on a mission to assassinate the president.
The Assassination Of Richard Nixon is based on the real-life story of Samuel Joseph Byck who attempted to hijack a commercial plane in 1974 so that he could crash it into the White House and kill President Nixon. Delusional? Pretty much. The title still doesn't feel right. Killing Nixon would have been a better choice.
Citizen Ruth (1996) - 81%
Focussing mainly on the theme of abortion, Citizen Ruth is a clever political satire that does a great job of discussing both pro-choice and pro-life angles. This first-ever film by Payne follows Ruth, an unemployed woman who finds herself pregnant for the fifth consecutive time. When she gets arrested for drug abuse, she is given a condition stating that she will only get a lesser sentence if she aborts her baby.
Ruth initially agrees but then she bumps into a group of activists who are pro-life. Unknown to her, they plan to use her to further their agenda by publicizing her case. When she discovers this, she feels betrayed and ends up joining a pro-choice group. Soon, she finds herself at the center of a battle between the two groups.
About Schmidt (2002) - 85%
Payne was also able to convince the great, elusive Jack Nicholson to star in his film. In About Shmidt, the Hollywood veteran plays Warren Schmidt, an elderly retired insurance salesman, who is content with staying at home all day and doing nothing.
However, he hates everything his wife does. He also doesn't think his daughter's fiance is the right man for her. When his wife suddenly dies, he postpones his daughter's planned wedding. Thinking he has found peace, he ends up discovering weird secrets about himself and his late wife, secrets that throw him into a state of turmoil.
Cedar Rapids (2011) - 86%
Do you love R-rated comedies? Then you are in for a treat here. Your child might turn into a total juvenile delinquent if you let them catch a glimpse of Cedar Rapids. Okay, maybe that might not happen but it really is an explicit film. Go to bed kids. Daddy's gotta watch TV.
Cedar Rapids follows Tim, an insurance agent who has never set foot out of his hometown. When he is sent to represent his company at an insurance convention in Iowa, he gets overwhelmed. The fact that he meets three wild party lovers who are keen on making him push his boundaries doesn't help. Payne is the film's creator and executive producer though Phil Johnson directs it.
Paris, Je t'aime (2006)
Paris, Je t'aime is not the kind of film we see every day. The best way to understand it is to think of it as an anthology book. In it, twenty different directors contribute five minutes of footage that revolves around the city of Paris. There is also one recurring character who is involved in all the short films.
Paris, Je t'aime was widely praised by critics. Audiences? Not so much. It's not an easy film to understand but if you pay close attention, you just might understand what's going on. It was also the first film in Europe to be filmed in ^K resolution.
The Savages (2007) - 89%
The Savages is about Wendy and Jon, two adult siblings who never get along. Wendy is a struggling playwright who enjoys stealing essential office supplies. She's also having an affair with her married neighbor. Jon is an author and college professor who still can't commit to his long-term girlfriend despite her love for him.
The two siblings soon learn that their father is seriously ill and has no one else to take care of him. They thus ave to put their chaotic lives on hold and come together to care for their father. Soon, they learn that there's more to being an adult than just mindless sibling rivalry. Alexander Payne also served as executive producer for the film.
The Descendants (2011) - 89%
The Descendants has a lot going in it. Attorney Matt King (George Clooney) is finding life very difficult. His dear wife Elizabeth was involved in a boating accident and now she is lying on a hospital bed in a coma. On the other hand, his daughter Scottie is being unruly so Matt is forced to be tough on her.
Matt is also in charge of a trust that owns a huge chunk of land. The land is being sought by developers and Matt isn't sure whether to sell it. Soon, he learns that his wife Elizabeth was cheating and she was even planning on leaving him. He decides to look for the man and confront him but doubts still linger in his mind.
Nebraska (2014) - 91%
Shot entirely in black and white, Nebraska follows a middle-class Missouri father who is quite convinced that he is the winner of a million dollars in a magazine sweepstake competition. He asks his son to go on a road trip with him to Nebraska so that he can claim his money. Okay. let's go, dad. Or should we? It turns out its a scam.
Nebraska received six Academy Award nominations. Sadly, it didn't win any. The American Film Institute also included it in its 'Best Movies Of The Year' list. It was also the final film that the once-popular Paramount Vintage Company distributed before it closed shop.
Sideways (2004) - 97%
Sideways is a movie about two friends called Jack and Miles who decide to take a road trip to the prestigious wine country in Santa Barbara County to celebrate Jack's upcoming wedding. Jack is a struggling actor while Miles is a writer who has found very little success. Payne really loves the idea of road trips, doesn't he?
After reaching Santa Barbara, they meet a gorgeous wine pourer called Stephanie who is played by Sandra Oh. This role is actually one of Oh's best-ever performances. Eventually, Jack falls for Stephanie and ends up sleeping with her. Not cool Jack. Sideways won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar at the 2004 Academy Awards.