Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a flyer from a marketing company in the mail informing him that he has won $1 million in a contest. Woody believes this announcement to be true and wants to set out to Lincoln, Nebraska, to claim his prize. Woody no longer drives, so he sets out to walk from his home in Billings, Montana. A state trooper brings Woody back home. Woody is so insistent on going to claim his prize that his son David (Will Forte) finally agrees to drive him to Lincoln. David thinks it would be a nice drive, an opportunity to spend some time with his dad, and visit the small Nebraska town where the family once lived. Woody’s long-suffering wife Kate (June Squibb) and his other son Ross (Bob Odenkirk) are less sympathetic than David.

When Woody and David arrive at the town where they lived and stay with some family members for a few days, they send for Kate and Ross, who drive down to join them.

From a screenplay by Bob Nelson, acclaimed director Alexander Payne (“Sideways,” “The Descendants”) makes “Nebraska” a road story in which David comes to a greater appreciation of his father. Woody, now in his 70s, appears to be suffering from some dementia. Often he stares off into space. He still enjoys stopping at a tavern and having a beer. As David talks to people in the small town, he begins to see more dimensions to Woody. David discovers that Woody was a good, but flawed man. He was known for his generosity and remained faithful to Kate for 42 years. Maybe there’s more to Woody than the “old geezer” that he appears to be. If nothing else, Woody’s desire to claim his million dollar prize has given him a purpose in life that he has lacked.

“Nebraska” is not as good as Payne’s previous works. But, like them, his movies are character-driven and bring surprises. “Nebraska” requires patience. It’s not fast-paced. But neither are drives across the Great Plains nor small-town Midwestern life.

During the course of their journey, David begins to see his father not as just an old man to be humored, but someone worthy of respect. As with the folks in the small Midwest towns they encounter, there’s nothing at all glamorous or exciting about Woody. Life is not easy in the bleak Nebraska towns and farms, beautiful shot in black and white by cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. Yet there’s a dignity in Woody. In turn, others ridicule him for his naiveté; others want a portion of his fortune.

Even though David knows that his father will never see the million dollars, David does not want his father to be disappointed when they get to Lincoln. Without giving away the ending, it will bring a smile to your face.

Bruce Dern, a character actor in Hollywood for decades, gets the role of his career as Woody. Often his eyes are vacant-looking, like someone who is about to nod off. Yet there’s a stubborn determination in him and a triumphant look in his eyes at the end of the movie. Will Forte, best known as a comic performer on TV’s Saturday Night Live, is wonderful as David, moving from humoring his father to loving him again. June Squibb, another veteran character actor, steals every scene she’s in as Woody’s wise-cracking wife. At first, it’s easy to think that she doesn’t care about Woody at all; gradually you realize that she does indeed love him.

Alexander Payne’s films are filled with flawed people. At first they’re easy to dismiss. Yet, somehow Payne manages to find the goodness in them and allow them to find redemption. That’s a very Catholic sentiment.

Tom Condon, OP

Dallas Buyers Club takes us back to 1985 when the AIDS epidemic was young, terrifying, and largely known as the “gay disease.” The film, based on a true story, introduces the audience to Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) a Texas electrician and sometimes rodeo bull rider. In graphic detail, we witness Ron indulge in heavy drinking, drug taking, and sexual escapades. When hospitalized on a work-related accident, Ron is told that he is HIV-positive and has approximately 30 days to live. Ron is horrified to hear this news, insisting that there must be some mistake because he isn’t gay.

Slowly the news sinks in, and Ron realizes how sick he is. His friends ridicule and abandon Ron when they hear his diagnosis. In the hospital, Ron meets a cross-dressing man named Rayon (Jared Leto), who also has AIDS. Ron is repulsed by Rayon and wants nothing to do with him. Still in a state of shock over the turn of events, Ron checks himself out of the hospital against the advice of his doctors.

Ron begins to read anything and everything relating to AIDS research and treatment. When he learns that most treatment in the United States is still in the experimental stage and largely restricted by the FDA, Ron travels to Mexico. There he witnesses alternative treatments that were meeting with some success.

Ron returns to Dallas and begins a black market venture to provide drugs, vitamins, supplements and other treatments unavailable in the United States to those infected by AIDS. He names this venture “Dallas Buyers Club.” Once again Ron encounters Rayon and enlists his help. Rayon spreads the word about the Buyers Club and begins an unlikely partnership with Ron. Ron begins to get stronger, and becomes an advocate for AIDS treatment and research. In doing so, Ron bucks the powerful FDA and medical establishment, which he accuses of dragging their feet while people are dying.

“Dallas Buyers Club” is notable for the performances of McConaughey and Leto as Ron and Rayon. Both are sure bets for Oscar nominations. McConaughey, known for years for his good looks and lightweight roles in romantic comedies, has the role of his career. Not only does he lose 40 pounds to play Ron, he also inhabits Ron’s soul. His transformation from a homophobic, hard living redneck to an AIDS activist is remarkable. McConaughey bares Ron’s soul as he finds himself in the unimaginable place of suffering from a “gay disease” with people he has no love for. Don’t get me wrong; Ron never emerges as a saint. Yet he does begin to care about people different from himself and become an advocate for their health care.

Leto is also terrific as Rayon. His scenes with Ron are great, as they become an “odd couple” of business partners. Rayon is vulnerable and delicate, yet there’s a toughness to him as well. In his best scene, Rayon, dressed in men’s clothes for the only time in the movie, goes to see his father at work to ask for financial assistance. It’s a difficult meeting for father and son; it’s apparent that they have not seen each other in many years. And they will never see each other again.

“Dallas Buyers Club” is a powerful, yet uneven film. Jennifer Garner also appears as a sympathetic doctor who befriends Ron, Rayon, and the AIDS community. Yet her role is underwritten. The movie becomes too consumed with Ron’s battles with the FDA, IRS, and medical community. Yet the performances and human drama kept me absorbed.

Be warned that the movie does not shy away from showing the details of Ron and his friends. The movie also contains pervasive profanity. This does not seem to be totally out of place in the context, although I do think it could have been toned down to some extent.

Tom Condon, OP

Philomena recounts a true story of a woman’s search for the child she gave up for adoption 50 years earlier. The movie is powerful and disturbing; I can’t get it out of my head.

In the early 1950s, an unmarried young Irish woman named Philomena Lee became pregnant. In disgrace, Philomena’s father sent her to a convent of nuns to have the child. Young women who could not afford the fee for this service were required to stay a period of time to “work off” their debt to the sisters. The children were kept in the convent and the mothers had limited contact with them. One day, Philomena watches in horror as her son is taken away by a wealthy couple from America, along with another child at the convent.

Philomena lived with the secret for 50 years. On her child’s 50th birthday, she decides to find out what happened to her child. Through a chance encounter with her daughter, Philomena meets Martin Sixsmith, an unemployed journalist, who reluctantly agrees to assist Philomena with her search. Martin usually does not write “human interest” stories, but he needs the money.

Martin and Philomena go to the convent, where they are told that all records of the adoptions were destroyed in a fire. Therefore the sisters are not able to assist them. Using his own contacts in America, Martin finds a lead in Washington, D.C. He and Philomena fly to the United States to follow up on the lead.

Martin and Philomena have very different personalities. Martin, who was baptized Catholic, now claims that he does not believe in God. He is intelligent, but also cynical and arrogant. On the other hand, Philomena continues to practice her faith, despite all that has happened. She is trusting, loves people, and enjoys reading romance novels. Yet Philomena carries with her a deep sense of sadness and loss.

I expected Philomena to be a sweet movie in which the two main characters become friends and all things turn out well in the end. What I found was a much deeper and darker movie. Philomena and Martin’s search leads them back from America to Ireland and a bitter truth. Philomena finds that she has been consistently lied to and misled. Yet, in all of this, she is able to forgive and maintain her faith.

The great British actress Judi Dench plays Philomena. She gives a remarkable performance that will surely be recognized in award season. With just a look, Dench conveys the hurt that Philomena carries. Philomena also has an unexpected determination to discover the truth. At first, Martin is condescending toward Philomena’s unsophisticated, kindly nature. During the course of the film, he finds that she’s nobody’s fool.

Steve Coogan plays Martin, and also co-wrote the screenplay, based on Sixsmith’s book, “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.” Coogan is good, but this is clearly Dench’s movie.

Some have alleged that Philomena is anti-Catholic. And perhaps there is an element of truth in the allegation. It certainly does not show the Church in a positive light. For me, the most disturbing aspect of the film is not the events of the past, but the fact that there was a pattern of deliberate deception that continued into the 21st century. Not having read the book, or been more familiar with the case, I can only accept the facts as true. If so, they are despicable. The Church has had to face up to some sad truths in recent years. The story of Philomena Lee is one of the saddest.

Veteran director Stephen Frears (whose credits include “Dangerous Liaisons” and “The Queen”) does a good job of telling Philomena’s story. As he did with “The Queen,” he tells an intimate story and conveys its wider repercussions. Frears uses home movies effectively throughout to tell the story. I presume these are actual home movies of Michael, the name given to Philomena’s son by his adopted parents.

I recommend “Philomena” for its drama and great performance from Dench. I warn those Dominicans and others who read this review that they may find the movie disturbing. Ultimately, however, this is a story of hope. Despite everything, Philomena holds onto her faith and is able to forgive. I hope I could have done the same.

Tom Condon, OP