Friday, August 19, 2016

Captain Fantastic - Movie Review!



Who's In It?

George MacKay, Trin Miller, Frank Langella, and Viggo Mortenson


What's It About?

When an 'off the grid' (literally mountain people) families' mother doesn't return from a stay with her 'normal' parents, the Cash family leave their secluded lives to bring her home.




Any Good?

What the hell is with kid actors this year? I don't know if it's me getting used to them but they've mostly been hugely impressive. ESPECIALLY the kids in this movie. Every single one was brilliant, expect for maybe a shaky scene or two from the teenage son, it felt fully immersive, like watching actual family dynamics play out. 




While the children were incredible, they were still outshone, that's no mean feat. The best performance had to be from Viggo, the eldest son or the grandfather. Viggo is so stuck with his anti-capitalist ways that he can't see what's happening in front of him, eldest son is a smart kid with literally no social skills, and grandfather is full (grand)father lion mode. It's the full spectrum of male angst and Captain Fantastic was all the richer for it. 

There was something odd about this film though, I'm not sure if it was the idea of 'off the grid' being so alien to me because most people from Ireland I know are like 4 acquaintances from each other, or the fact it's the hippie Tarzan family movie. 


The film itself is absolutely beautiful (even if the opening drags somewhat) and the score is sublime. The bizarre scenes of this unconventional family look much more acceptable or 'normal' when they look this good. Aesthetic on point, if you will. I found the ending a bit useless (though Mam loved it) I felt it made the last 30 minutes irrelevant.Though challenging & somewhat off kilter, like the family themselves, Captain Fantastic is beautiful to watch... like the family themselves. 


 Rating:

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