The 13TH Hall of Fame

The main crux of this film is the rights and responsibilities of a parent. Exactly what decisions are you allowed to make for your child and who decides where that line is? I think we know what people are 'meant' to provide for their kids; a home, food, an eduation, a loving environment etc. But how about what a parent is 'allowed' to do in regards to their kids? That's a somewhat murkier area. I think most people would agree with the right to, and expect a parent to introduce their own beliefs to their kids in terms of politics and religion. But at what point do you cross the line into indoctrination? That's a question I imagine most viewers will ask upon spending time in the company of the unconventional family at its heart.

As the patriarch of this unique family is Viggo Mortensen and he unsurprisingly delivers a strong performance. Many of his most acclaimed performances (Lord of the Rings, History of Violence, Eastern Promises, The Road etc) have seen him display a great deal of intensity so it comes as not great shock that he brings a great conviction to his character's beliefs. Mortensen has always presented himself as a bit of an offbeat bohemian amongst his acting colleagues, not exactly fitting in with the Hollywood template. As a result he feels like a perfect fit for the character of Ben Cash. Also quite impressive I thought were the young cast that portrayed Mortensen's troop of kids. It's never easy working with kids, especially this many, but Matt Ross does a really nice job at drawing out performances from them.

I found that one of the most interesting facets of the film was the shifting emotions I felt towards the story and the characters. While Ben's ways are certainly different from the norm (I wouldn't foresee a childcare book authored by him becoming a best seller) there are things to admire about how he has raised his kids. In America today, one in three kids are overweight or obese. That's certainly not an issue for Ben's kids who are all in fine physical shape. Additionally, it's estimated that 19 percent of high-school graduates are illiterate. By comparison Ben's kids, even down the very youngest, are all exceptionally well-read and learned. And they certainly know more skills than your average child or teenager. So for the opening act of the film I found myself largely on side with Ben's parenting, however unconventional it may be. The longer the film goes however the less I felt this. We see just how extreme his methods are and also the damage he has done to his kids. They may be able to quote the Constitution and survive in the wilderness but they have no social skills whatsoever. Watching Ben's eldest, Bodevan, attempt to interact with members of the fairer sex is so uncomfortable to watch that it's painful. He has prepared his kids for everything except the real world. By the time they've crashed the funeral I instead found Ben to be an arrogant, obstinate ass who attempts to inflict his viewpoints on everyone around him.

Similarily I found my opinion of Frank Langella's grandfather character changing over time. Langella, in a very authoritative performance, initially comes across as a real d!ck; a bully who would deny his own son-in-law and grandchildren the chance to say goodbye to their beloved wife and mother. However the longer the film goes, and the more we see just how ridiculous Ben's actions are, the more you begin to understand and sympathise with his position.

I felt that the first half was certainly the strongest period of the film. The scenes that depict the off-the-grid existence of the kids; hunting, rock climbing, being pitted against each other in combat etc are lively and feel very authentic. And their initial interactions with the outside world work well. As the film moves into its second hour though I felt it began to lose its way somewhat; it just seemed to become a bit silly and over-the-top. All of a sudden it seemed to be throwing comedic set-pieces at us that just didn't sit comfortably with the rest of the film and I found its credibility began to seep away. I especially disliked the family's contrived arrival and disruption of the funeral. While the happy, sentimental conclusion didn't feel entirely earned to me. In fact I'd say that in the end I felt that the film actually goes fairly soft on Ben. Looking online I see that Matt Ross based the movie on some of his own childhood experiences as part of an 'alternative-living community' and perhaps that has led to a biased view. Now I'm very much of the left-wing persuasion so I'm on board with some of the stuff that Ben teaches his kids. However he goes way overboard in many respects, such as teaching his kids how to steal or that it's alright to mock Christians. The film seems to allow Ben off as just being loveably eccentric rather than harshly judging him.

For all of its family drama I actually found Captain Fantastic to have quite a tranquil sensation to it, largely down to some lovely photography of America's backroads and rural scenery, as well as its unique, somewhat beguiling soundtrack. While I'm not sure if I'd ever feel the urge to revisit it, all in all I'd describe this as an interesting film, even if Ben would deride me for using such an illegal non-word. It presents an alternative worldview, is very strongly acted and features the occasional moment of real beauty.

WARNING: "SPOILERS about "Dead Poets Society"!!!" spoilers below

WARNING: "SPOILERS for "Dead Poets Society"!!!" spoilers below

In late February, Manchester by the Sea was still playing here in a small theatre outside town so my room mate and I decided to go see it. We were the only ones in the theatre, so it was just like watching it at home. I had previously heard people describe this film as depressing, but I didn't find that at all. Yes, it had a sort of sombre tone, but there are a lot of comedic moments, many of which caused audible laughter from myself and my room mate. The banter between Lee and Patrick was particularly amusing. There were definitely a few scenes that were more melancholic or borderline heartbreaking, but as a whole the film didn't come across as overly sad, and I didn't leave the theatre feeling dejected or anything similar to that.

While I didn't experience a personal tragedy in my home town, not wanting to return to a smaller community that still talks about things that happens years ago is something that I found very relatable. Lee's character as a whole was very sympathetic, even when drunkenly getting into brawls. I think his story was handled very well, since you can see a clear distinction between how Lee behaves in the flashbacks compared to how he acts now, which clues the audience into the fact that something devastating must have happened long before the whole truth is revealed in the film. Casey Affleck really sold the character for me, and the whole cast was phenomenal as well.

I enjoyed Manchester by the Sea well enough, but it's not a film I feel like I ever need to see again. Perhaps that's because it feels less like a movie, and more like an experience in this other person's life. It all feels very real and authentic, and I appreciate how the film doesn't go for a neat ending that ties everything up nicely. The uncertain and bittersweet ending fits the film very well in my opinion. I was surprised to see such a recent film nominated, but it definitely feels at home in a Hall of Fame.