'Descendants' Star George Clooney Talks Playing Matt King

George Clooney didn't take the role of Matt King in "The Descendants" because he knew it would earn him an Oscar nod -- he took it because it was challenging.

"It started with tucking the Hawaiian shirt into the khakis and then pulling the khakis up to your armpits," Clooney joked of his "Descendants" doubts to Entertainment Weekly.

But the actor had worries about taking on the role that went beyond his tropical outfit.

"I'd always played characters that were fairly confident and then found out later that they were f***ups," Clooney continued. "But this guy was a f***up from day one... he loses arguments to 10-year-olds. I just thought he would be interesting and very different to play."

As for the recognition the role got him, Clooney claims it's just part of the business.

"I am a fan of movies. And so my job is to try to make films that last longer than an opening weekend," Clooney told Brian Williams on "Rock Center." "And then if someone's nice to you at the end of the year -- and they've been nice and they've been mean -- my job is to try to make films that I think are entertaining."

For more on Clooney, head over to Entertainment Weekly.

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Comments

[dallas5100]

02:25 PM on 02/04/2012

excellent film..everyone did teriffic job.. it was very brave of the actors.. writer.. director.. to fim this picture..if anyone had this happen to them they would understand.. so real.. all the life situations were there.. you made a good choice doing this film george.. going to the island was also excellent.. made me realize the history of the island realestate.. thannx.. i vote for you to win..

[Lauren Kottwitz]

01:49 PM on 02/04/2012

I think a lot of people missed the nuance with which George pulled off this roll. The scene where the doctor tells him that his wife *Spoiler* is not going to ever wake up was among my favorite of the year - heartbreaking, and so subtle. Here is a man who loves/hates/can't live without/envies his comatose wife and he slowly comes to the realization that there is no way out for him He's sad, but so selfish...and struggling with knowing all of that, knowing that he's going to have to tell his kids alone. And the rest of the film is so fantastically helmed by Payne - I've never seen a director who has so much control over his audience. He doesn't want you to be overwhelmed by anything in this film (save for a few choice moments), he wants you to be underwhelmed - because that's what all of the characters are experiencing: the underwhelming reality of dealing with life. Life is dramatic, yes, but often noticeably underwhelming even when in the grips of the drama. Sitting in a hospital room with your wife who is going to die is dramatic, but one still has to get the kids to school, one still has to think about how to afford the hospital bills, one still has to sit there in an uncomfortable chair and wait - doesn't one? It wasn't showy, it wasn't particularly funny, it wasn't even particularly dramaticized - but it was realistic.

[Salukeitis]

07:21 AM on 02/04/2012

You are a nice guy George but you make Wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much money. Entertainers in the olden days were court jesters and court performers.

[bmermaid]

10:30 PM on 02/03/2012

I loved The Descendants, but it made me mad too. The teen-aged daughter was so mean to George Clooney! Doesn't she know who he is?

[mkdallas]

03:52 PM on 02/03/2012

Surprised to see so many peeps didn't like this film. I saw it twice and really thought it was great. I agree that it was hard to see Clooney as a dad...perhaps because I know he's not one in real life, perhaps because I'm so used to seeing him play alpha males who are always in control. But I thought (as a parent and spouse myself) that he did a fine job and achieved moments of real brilliance with this character. I agree that the other actors were amazing; it also didn't suck to see an R-rated movie that I could take my 13-year-old to (no sex, no violence) that showed how families in crisis can pull together. I had the wheels come off of my family in a somewhat similiar way as an adolescent and I could really relate to all 3 kids in the film.

[frant52]

01:38 PM on 02/03/2012

I really enjoyed this movie, it wasn't an action or sexy movie, but it was a good study of an uninvolved workaholic coming to grips with the reality of his family. I think he did that well and was impressed by his ability to look like a distracted, disheveled regular guy.
I agree the kids were brilliant in the movie.

[Scorpiaux]

09:42 AM on 02/03/2012

A movie is just a movie. Movies don't always have to deliver a message or provide insight into various personalities. Sometimes it is enough to just be entertaining. Those who want to find fault with the movie, will do so. Those who want to find fault with Clooney will do so. Personally, I liked the movie and the characters. The one, if I were asked and I wasn't, who got my attention was the young man who was Clooney's character's teenage daughter's boy friend. He played his part perfectly. Still --- no big deal. I'm glad I saw it. Will probably buy the DVD.

[MamacitaOfLove]

09:30 AM on 02/03/2012

Love George as an actor and a person. Didn't love The Descendants.

[metoo123]

02:47 PM on 02/03/2012

I was underwhelmed and thought he was miscast in this role.

[InsideBrooklyn]

08:37 AM on 02/03/2012

Didn't think much of either of Clooney's movies this year. Moneyball was the better film with better acting. Yes even Brad Pitt was better, by a wide wide margin.

[gurukalehuru]

08:35 AM on 02/03/2012

"But this guy was a f***up from day one... he loses arguments to 10-year-olds..." Haven't seen the film, but I'd just like to say - anybody who has a 10 year old loses arguments to 10-year-olds.

[Lochness71]

12:11 PM on 02/03/2012

Someone has to be the adult. Why are you arguing with a 10 year old in the first place?

[gurukalehuru]

02:25 PM on 02/03/2012

Go to bed. Do your homework. Be back in an hour. No, you can't watch Fear Factor.

[fredpa]

06:13 AM on 02/03/2012

I like Clooney. He looks like a guy that would be fun to kick back with. But the sad truth is that this movie survives only because of the very strong cast around him. He flatly did not convey his character's motivation. His last two scenes were strong, but too little too late.

[v eyepete]

05:51 AM on 02/03/2012

I am a Clooney fan, but I don't see what the fuss is about regarding the Descendants. To me it was just a bunch of rich people with very bad manners and the sort of morals that have put the country in the mess it is in today. I suppose the Hollywood types see themselves, and this is what they honor. I think Mr Clooney has distinguished himself as an actor much better in other films he has done. Awards for this film are just in-crowd mass hysteria. The film takes you nowhere and says nothing as far as I can see.

[solskin101]

09:21 AM on 02/03/2012

I really have to agree with you, I was left thinking: what was the point of wasting my time on this.
Obama/Biden 2012

[MikeDu]

01:28 AM on 02/03/2012

"...my job is to try to make films that last longer than an opening weekend." How very un-modern-Hollywood of him. My impression is that these days Hollywood films are skewed to making all their revenue in the opening weekend - before word of mouth about just how dreadful they are leaks out. Any shortfall they then try to make up marking the film to Indonesian and Thailand.

[redsetgo38]

01:19 AM on 02/03/2012

To me he is only a "room with a view" and not much more although I continue to see all of his movies with only that eye candy reason for going.I'm sure somewhere in his being there might be a really good performance but so far either it is the script he selects or miscasting but he is NOT in any way Oscar material....I hope sometime before he leaves the movie scene that he does secure a good script for his abilities to really show he can perform well...so far not.

[MikeDu]

01:29 AM on 02/03/2012

I heard that women responding to that website have been murdered when they went on dates.