Alexander Payne is one of the last remaining great directors of script- and character-focused dramedies. Payne came up with the boom of Sundance indie directors in the 1990s and earned repute with some biting portraits and satires. In the 2000s, his films became a smidge nicer and messier. They also started getting awards buzz. Payne remains an Oscar darling whose films always satisfy even when they’re uneven.
Rankings
Chronological
- The Passion of Martin (1991) (Good) – Student film
- Citizen Ruth (1996) (Very Good)
- Election (1999) (Exceptionally Good)
- About Schmidt (2002) (Good)
- Sideways (2004) (Exceptionally Good)
- The Descendants (2011) (Nearly Good)
- Nebraska (2013) (Good)
- Downsizing (2017) (Nearly Good)
- The Holdovers (2023) (Very Good)
By Rating
Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Very Good (6/8)
Good (5/8)
- The Passion of Martin (1991) – Student film
- About Schmidt (2002)
- Nebraska (2013)
Nearly Good (4/8)
Last Updated
- 9/28/2024
Review Index
| Title | Date | Film Year | Director | Is It Good | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Holdovers (2023) | 01/23/2024 | 2023 | Payne, Alexander | 6 | Alexander Payne, 2023 |
| Downsizing (2017) | 01/20/2024 | 2017 | Payne, Alexander | 4 | Alexander Payne |
| Nebraska (2013) | 01/10/2024 | 2013 | Payne, Alexander | 5 | Alexander Payne |
| The Descendants (2011) | 01/08/2024 | 2011 | Payne, Alexander | 4 | Alexander Payne |
| Sideways (2004) | 01/06/2024 | 2004 | Payne, Alexander | 7 | Alexander Payne |
| About Schmidt (2002) | 01/04/2024 | 2002 | Payne, Alexander | 5 | Alexander Payne |
| Election (1999) | 01/02/2024 | 1999 | Payne, Alexander | 7 | Alexander Payne |
| Citizen Ruth (1996) | 12/19/2023 | 1996 | Payne, Alexander | 6 | Alexander Payne |
| The Passion of Martin (1991) | 12/14/2023 | 1991 | Payne, Alexander | 5 | Alexander Payne |
- Review Series: Alexander Payne
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