Exclusive Descendants Featurette: George Clooney and Alexander Payne Discuss Acting

The Descendants may look like a 21st century family drama, but as this exclusive featurette proves, writer/director Alexander Payne and George Clooney can trace its world back to cinema of the '50s and '60s. Watch as George Clooney talks about Gregory Peck and his uncle, the late Oscar winner José Ferrer, and Payne recalls wise words from a kooky Czech stage actor.

As of this minute, The Descendants leads our Oscar Index tally of Best Picture candidates. Is it too soon to say that its only real competitors are War Horse and The Artist? Maybe some Dragon Tattoo in there if the Academy decides to tolerate darkness? What do you think?

Movieline Exclusive: George Clooney and Alexander Payne Discuss Acting and 'The Descendants' [YouTube]