First Look: On the road, maybe to an Oscar

Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk

Writer: Bob Nelson

Director: Alexander Payne

The story: Convinced he’s won a million-dollar sweepstakes, an old coot (Bruce Dern) drags his dubious son (Will Forte) 750 miles across four states in search of the prize in this black-and-white road trip.

The buzz: Payne’s four most recent movies have been nominated for a total of 13 Oscars with three (“The Descendants,” “Sideways” and “Election”) earning screenplay nods, two (“The Descendants” and “Sideways”) earning best picture nominations, and, along with “About Schmidt,” five acting nods. “Nebraska” should continue several of those traditions with both Dern and Squibb projected as likely nominees.

— CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE