Captain Fantastic (film)

Captain Fantastic

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Matt Ross
Produced by
Written by Matt Ross
Starring
Music by Alex Somers
Cinematography Stéphane Fontaine
Edited by Joseph Krings
Production
company
  • Electric City Entertainment
  • ShivHans Pictures
Distributed by Bleecker Street
Release dates
  • January 23, 2016 (2016-01-23) (Sundance)
  • July 8, 2016 (2016-07-08) (United States)
Running time
 118 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Box office $9 million[2]

Captain Fantastic is a 2016 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matt Ross and starring Viggo Mortensen. The story centers on a family who is forced by circumstances to reintegrate into society after living in isolation for a decade.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016.[3] It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.[4][5] It was theatrically released on July 8, 2016, by Bleecker Street.[6]

Plot

In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, Ben Cash raises his six children off the grid by himself after his wife, Leslie, was hospitalized for bipolar disorder. Ben and Leslie became disillusioned with capitalism and American life and chose to instill survivalist skills and philosophy in their children. Ben, though a loving father, is also extremely strict with the children maintaining physical exercise and education by reading extensive texts ranging from foreign language to quantum mechanics. The children, except for teen son Rellian, are accepting of this lifestyle.

The children wonder when their mother will return from the hospital, but Ben is evasive. While Ben and eldest child Bodevan make a routine trip into town, Bodevan finds multiple college acceptance letters in the mail, but keeps this information private. Ben learns on a call to his sister Harper that Leslie committed suicide the previous night. Ben breaks the news to his family, who react with shock and grief. Ben calls his estranged father-in-law Jack to discuss Leslie's wish for a cremation. Jack replies that Leslie will be buried, and Ben is not welcome at the funeral. Ben refuses to travel to the funeral, despite the children's wishes to go, out of fear of being arrested. Though Rellian breaks his hand while rock climbing, Ben refuses to offer aid and instead orders his son to keep climbing.

Seeing how his children are grieving, Ben takes them on a road trip to crash the funeral, where they get their first glimpses of city life. They confront an inquisitive police officer, leave without ordering at a local diner due to Ben's disgust with the menu, and steal food from a supermarket while Ben fakes a heart attack. Ben, considering Christmas to be nonsense, instead celebrates "Noam Chomsky Day," giving the children various weapons as gifts.

The family eventually arrives at Harper's house and shares a dinner with her family. Tensions explode at dinner over clashing ideas about whether Ben's children should have been given the details of their mother's death (by suicide); Harper storms out in tears. The following morning, Harper and her husband argue that Ben's children should be in school to learn real things but Ben counters by demonstrating that her sons lack basic understanding of the Bill of Rights. The family continues on to a caravan park, where Bodevan has his first interaction with a girl his own age. Although Bodevan lacks social skills, the two share a kiss, and Bodevan quickly proposes marriage. She laughs it off, leaving Bodevan dejected.

The family arrives late for Leslie's funeral, in flamboyant outfits. Ben interrupts the service, reading from Leslie's will, indicating her wish for a musical celebration and cremation followed by her ashes being flushed down a toilet. Jack has Ben forcefully removed. Jack and his wife meet some of their grandchildren for the first time, and Ben is warned to stay away from the burial. Ben attempts to crash the graveside service but relents after his children talk him out of it.

Rellian later tells Bodevan that he often overheard their parents arguing over their lifestyle choice, and Ben refused to change course even after Leslie began having mental health problems. Bodevan confronts his father with the college acceptance letters. Ben is proud but betrayed by Bodevan's rejection of the independent lifestyle that he has tried to teach. Their debate is cut short by news that Rellian has fled to Jack's mansion. Rellian tells his father that he wishes to live with his grandparents. Jack tells Ben that he and his wife will seek custody of Ben's children.

In an attempt by Ben and his other children to 'rescue' Rellian, daughter Vespyr is injured after falling from the roof of Jack's house. She is rushed to a hospital, where a doctor explains that she'll suffer no long term disability but could easily have been paralyzed or killed. Acknowledging the danger that he places his children in, Ben has the family stay with Jack. The children bond with their grandparents, and Ben comes to understand Jack. Ben departs, supposedly alone on his empty bus, but finds the children had stowed away, and they all reconcile.

The children tell Ben that they still wish to honor Leslie's funeral wishes. Ben is convinced when Rellian quotes Chomsky. That night, they dig up Leslie's body and travel to a nearby beach, build a pyre, and cremate the body. Ben pays his last respects and they serenade their mother's memory by singing and playing "Sweet Child o' Mine". At the airport, Leslie's ashes are flushed down a toilet, and the family sees Bodevan off on a flight where he may find his place in the world.

Later, the rest of the family are shown living on a farm. Although they adhere to Ben's education and philosophy of life, the children are also attending school and are content.

Cast

Production

The idea of the movie started for Mark Ross as he began questioning the choices he and his wife were making as parents. From there he wondered what would happen if he were "completely present" in his children's lives, while noting that modern technology had made that difficult.[7] In making the film Ross also took autobiographical bits from his own life, notably being raised in what he terms as an "alternative-living communities" growing up.[7]

Viggo Mortensen was cast in February 2014[8][8] That June, it was announced that George MacKay, Annalise Basso, Samantha Isler, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks and newcomer Charlie Shotwell had also been cast.[9] With much of the rest of the cast joining that July and August.[10][11]

Filming

Principal photography on the film commenced in July 2014, in Western Washington.[12]

Release

In July 2014, eOne Entertainment acquired international distribution rights to the film.[13] In August 2014, it was announced that Bleecker Street would distribute the film in the United States.[14] The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016.[3][15] The film was released on July 8, 2016.[6] The film was aired in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, with Matt Ross winning the Best Director prize.[16]

Reception

Captain Fantastic has received positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 81%, based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Captain Fantastic's thought-provoking themes—and an absorbing starring turn from Viggo Mortensen—add up to an above-average family drama with unexpected twists."[17] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 72 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18] It received a ten-minute standing ovation at Cannes.[19]

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap gave the film a positive review, saying "The movie really belongs to Mortensen, who allows Ben to be exasperating, arrogant and impatient but also warm, loving and caring. He’s a tough but adoring father, a grieving widower and an angry defender of his wife’s final wishes, and Mortensen plays all these notes and more with subtlety and grace".[20] Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a positive review, saying "Boasting half a dozen impressive youth performances alongside a leading role that takes full advantage of Mortensen’s own sensitive, back-to-nature spirit, Captain Fantastic easily ranks among the most polished and relatable of this year’s Sundance offerings."[21]

One of the few negative reviews was from Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian. He wrote in his 1*/5 review: "There’s a meaty whiff of phoney-baloney in this fatuous and tiresome movie, replete with forced emotional crises and wrong notes, topped off with an excruciatingly unearned, sentimental ending. It's a low-cal version of Peter Weir’s 1986 movie The Mosquito Coast, starring someone who is essentially a cross between Charles Manson and Captain von Trapp."[22]

Notes

The film has nothing to do with the Elton John song and album.

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival July 31, 2016 Save Energy, Save Earth Film Award Captain Fantastic Won
Cannes Film Festival May 22, 2016
Un Certain Regard - Prize for Best Director Matt Ross Won
Prix Un Certain Regard Captain Fantastic Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards[23] December 11, 2016 Best Actor in a Comedy Viggo Mortensen Pending
Deauville American Film Festival September 11, 2016
Audience Award Captain Fantastic Won
Jury Prize Captain Fantastic Won
Grand Prix Captain Fantastic Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards[24] December 8, 2016 Best Supporting Actor George MacKay Pending
Independent Spirit Awards[25] February 25, 2017 Best Male Lead Viggo Mortensen Pending
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 9, 2016 Audience Award Captain Fantastic Won
Nantucket Film Festival June 27, 2016 Audience Award Captain Fantastic 2nd place
Rome Film Festival October 22, 2016 BNL People's Choice Award Captain Fantastic Won
Satellite Awards[26] February 19, 2017 Best Film Captain Fantastic Pending
Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Pending
Best Original Screenplay Matt Ross Pending
Best Costume Design Courtney Hoffman Pending
Seattle International Film Festival June 12, 2016 Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film Captain Fantastic Won

References

  1. ↑ "Captain Fantastic". British Board of Film Classification. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Captain Fantastic". The Numbers. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Sundance Institute Completes Feature Film Lineup For 2016 Sundance Film Festival". sundance.org. December 7, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ "2016 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Cannes 2016: Film Festival Unveils Official Selection Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 Penderson, Erik (February 4, 2016). "'Captain Fantastic' Gets Summer Release From Bleecker Street". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Tedder, Michael. "This Silicon Valley Actor Made One of the Strangest and Most Beautiful Films of the Summer". Esquire. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  8. 1 2 Fleming Jr., Mike (February 20, 2014). "Viggo Mortensen To Star In Electric City's 'Captain Fantastic'". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ Yamato (June 27, 2014). "Viggo Mortensen Starrer 'Captain Fantastic' Adds Cast Of Youngsters". Jen. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  10. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (July 18, 2014). "Frank Langella To Star With Viggo Mortensen In 'Captain Fantastic'". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  11. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 4, 2014). "'Captain Fantastic' Enlists More Cast As eOne Boards Viggo Mortensen Pic". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  12. ↑ Keary, Polly (July 22, 2014). "Viggo Mortensen filming in upper Sky Valley". MonroeMonitor.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  13. ↑ Nancy Tartaglione. "eOne Takes International On Captain Fantastic, Zahn, Hahn, Pyle, Moriarty Join Film | Deadline". deadline.com. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  14. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (August 13, 2014). "Toronto: Former Focus Co-CEO Andrew Karpen Launches New Distribution Company". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Captain Fantastic". Sundance.org. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ ‘Olli Mäki,’ ‘Captain Fantastic’ Win Big in Un Certain Regard at Cannes
  17. ↑ "Captain Fantastic (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Captain Fantastic". Metacritic. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  19. ↑ deadline.com
  20. ↑ Duralde, Alonso (January 24, 2016). "Captain Fantastic' Sundance Review: Viggo Mortensen Raises an Off-the-Grid Family in This Touching Dramedy". The Wrap. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  21. ↑ Debrudge, Peter (January 23, 2016). "Sundance Film Review 'Captain Fantastic'". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  22. ↑ The Guardian
  23. ↑ "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  24. ↑ Moore, William (November 17, 2016). "Evening Standard British Film Awards - The Longlist". London Evening Standard. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  25. ↑ Warren, Matt (November 22, 2016). "2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced!". Independent Spirit Awards. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  26. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

External links

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