Captain Fantastic (2016) Review

 

Captain Fantastic (2016)

Captain Fantastic follows Ben, a father who’s anti-establishment and Utopian views are challenged after the death of his wife.

What a beautiful film. It’s such an interesting concept where the Cash’s have rejected the expanse of the modern world and haven’t necessarily cut themselves off, but have become self sufficient in the world around them. They learn, train, and think with a higher purpose in mind, not following religion or the societal beliefs of others. It doesn’t however, demonstrate how one should or shouldn’t live because both sides are flawed in their own ways.

The core theme of family is the backbone of this movie, with it driving every decision they make. With Ben specifically, he is obviously not a perfect parent, but a father who has done his best, teaching them all he knows and it’s that love and respect that brings the kids back to him. People are innately afraid of what they don’t understand and the big takeaway from this is that that’s okay. Just don’t try to force change. When change is sought here, it’s heartbreaking because it’s obvious that Ben’s legacy and promise to his wife was to look after those kids, a purpose that needed to be realized no matter what Leslie’s family believed. Both sides are must learn to grow. Which we finally see realized in the compromise between nature and “normalcy” where the kids can grow in the life built for them, while also growing to live in and appreciate the greater world that awaits them in time.

I really enjoyed the cast, starring Shree Crooks, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Frank Langella, George MacKay, and Viggo Mortensen. Mortensen is stunning, showing so much emotion in his silence and parenting, demonstrating what true heartbreak looks like for one who must stay strong. The kids were all so great as well, with MacKay and Crooks standing out wonderfully in their innocence and hope.

Captain Fantastic, directed by Matt Ross, is a nuanced commentary about this issues with modern society, acting as a naturalistic adventure for a father and his family where one must figure out right from wrong in a world where you just want to do whats best for the one’s you love.

9.4/10