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Captain Fantastic (film)

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Captain Fantastic
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMatt Ross
Written byMatt Ross
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyStéphane Fontaine
Edited byJoseph Krings
Music byAlex Somers
Production
companies
  • Electric City Entertainment
  • ShivHans Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 23, 2016 (2016-01-23) (Sundance)
  • July 8, 2016 (2016-07-08) (United States)
Running time
118 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[3]
Box office$22.8 million[4]

Captain Fantastic is a 2016 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matt Ross and starring Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, and Steve Zahn. The story centers on a family 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.[5] It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.[6][7] It was theatrically released on July 8, 2016, by Bleecker Street.[8] It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten independent films of 2016[9] and Mortensen was nominated for the Golden Globe, the BAFTA Award,[10] and the Academy Award for Best Actor.[11] The film was released with a soundtrack.

Plot

[edit]

Ben Cash, his wife Leslie, and their six children live an isolated existence on ten acres in the mountainous Washington wilderness. They are former left-wing anarchist activists disillusioned by capitalism and American life, who choose to instill survivalist skills and left-wing politics and philosophy in their children.

They educate them to think critically, and train them to be physically fit, athletic, and self-reliant without dependence on modern technology. They are raised to coexist with nature, are given unique names, and celebrate Noam Chomsky's birthday instead of Christmas. The children are accustomed to reading many forms of college-level literature, and, while showing high aptitude and intelligence beyond their years, they are socially awkward as they have not been socialized with the outside world.

Ben has been raising the children on his own while Leslie is hospitalized in New Mexico for bipolar disorder, away from her family and near her wealthy elitist parents. She dies by suicide while undergoing treatment and Ben learns that her father Jack plans to hold a Christian burial despite Leslie being a philosophical Buddhist who abhorred religion. Ben tries to persuade Jack to honor Leslie's wish to be cremated, to no avail, and Jack forbids Ben from attending the funeral, threatening to have him arrested if he comes. Ben initially decides not to go and prevents his children from doing so, but then changes his mind, driving his children across the country on a repurposed school bus.

The family briefly stays at the home of Ben's sister, Harper. She and her husband try to convince Ben that the children should attend school to receive a conventional education; Ben quizzes Harper's children and his children on various topics, illustrating that his children are better educated and embarrassing Harper and her husband.

Later on their road trip, some of Ben's children start to doubt him and his parenting skills, with his second eldest son and middle child Rellian accusing him of failing to treat Leslie's mental health, and eldest son Bodevan accusing him of not equipping them for the real world, showing him acceptance letters from several top Ivy League colleges to which Leslie had helped him apply.

Ben arrives at Leslie's funeral with their children and reads her will, which instructs her family to cremate her and flush her ashes down a toilet, in the hopes of convincing Jack to honor her wishes, only for Jack to have him forcibly removed from the church. Angered by Jack's refusal to respect Leslie's wishes, Ben follows the funeral procession to the cemetery, planning to intervene, despite a police presence and Jack's threat to have him arrested. Ben relents at his children's insistence that they cannot lose both of their parents.

Rellian runs away to live with his grandparents, who want custody of all the children. When one of Ben's older twin daughters Vespyr tries to clandestinely exfiltrate Rellian from their grandparents on Ben's orders, she falls from the roof and narrowly avoids breaking her neck. Ben, shocked and guilty, allows Jack to take his children. Although the children bond with their grandparents, they quietly decide to follow Ben and reconcile with him.

The children desire to honor Leslie's final wishes, and persuade Ben to help them. Exhuming her corpse, they burn it on a funeral pyre then flush her ashes down an airport toilet. Bodevan then leaves the family to travel through Namibia, while the rest settle into a more "real world" life on a farm. The final scene shows the school-age children eating breakfast around the kitchen table with their father, waiting for the school bus to arrive.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film was conceived by its writer and director, Matt Ross, as he began questioning the choices he and his wife were making as parents. He wondered what would happen if he were "completely present" in his children's lives while noting that modern technology had made that difficult.[12] In making the film Ross also took autobiographical moments from his own life, notably being raised in what he termed as "alternative-living communities".[12]

Viggo Mortensen was cast in February 2014.[13] That June, it was announced that George MacKay, Annalise Basso, Samantha Isler, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks and newcomer Charlie Shotwell had also been cast.[14] Much of the rest of the cast joined in July and August.[15][16]

Principal photography on the film commenced in July 2014, in Western Washington,[17][18] with additional photography in Portland, Oregon,[19] and Albuquerque, New Mexico.[15]

Release

[edit]

In July 2014, eOne Entertainment acquired international distribution rights to the film.[20] In August 2014, it was announced that Bleecker Street would distribute the film in the United States.[21] The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016.[5][22] The film was released on July 8, 2016.[8] The film was aired in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, with Matt Ross winning the Best Director prize.[23]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Captain Fantastic grossed $5.9 million in the United States and Canada and $15.4 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $21.3 million,[4] against a production budget of $5 million.[3]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 83% based on 229 reviews, with an average rating of 7.10/10. 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."[24] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 72 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[25] It received a ten-minute standing ovation at Cannes.[26]

Alonso Duralde of TheWrap 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 a passionate defender of his wife's final wishes, and Mortensen plays all these notes, and more with subtlety and grace."[27] 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."[28]

A negative review from The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw states, "There's a meaty whiff of phony-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."[29]

Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com believes "It's the attitude of the film that's the problem" and it "could have used a lot more skepticism." While praising the cast, she writes that the film "treats the situation (and Ben) so uncritically and so sympathetically that there is a total disconnect between what is actually onscreen and what Ross thinks is onscreen."[30]

Accolades

[edit]
List of awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AARP Annual Movies for Grownups Awards February 6, 2017 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [31]
Academy Awards February 26, 2017 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [32]
British Academy Film Awards February 12, 2017 Best Actor in a Leading Role Viggo Mortensen Nominated [33]
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 [34]
Prix Un Certain Regard Captain Fantastic Nominated
Costume Designers Guild February 21, 2017 Excellence in Contemporary Film Courtney Hoffman Nominated [35]
Critics' Choice Awards December 11, 2016 Best Actor in a Comedy Viggo Mortensen Nominated [36]
Deauville American Film Festival September 11, 2016 Audience Award Captain Fantastic Won [37]
Jury Prize Captain Fantastic Won
Grand Prix Captain Fantastic Nominated
Dorian Awards January 26, 2017 Unsung Film of the Year Captain Fantastic Nominated [38]
Evening Standard British Film Awards December 8, 2016 Best Supporting Actor George MacKay Nominated [39]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 23, 2016 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [40]
Golden Globe Awards January 8, 2017 Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Viggo Mortensen Nominated [10]
Houston Film Critics Society January 6, 2017 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [41]
Best Poster Captain Fantastic Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards February 25, 2017 Best Male Lead Viggo Mortensen Nominated [42]
IndieWire Critics Poll December 19, 2016 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen 8th place [43]
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 9, 2016 Audience Award Captain Fantastic Won
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild February 19, 2017 Feature-Length Motion Picture – Contemporary Make-Up Akemi Hart and Karen McDonald Nominated [44]
Nantucket Film Festival June 27, 2016 Audience Award Captain Fantastic 2nd place
National Board of Review January 4, 2017 Top Ten Independent Film Captain Fantastic Won [45]
Online Film Critics Society January 3, 2017 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [46]
Rome Film Festival October 22, 2016 BNL People's Choice Award Captain Fantastic Won
San Diego Film Critics Society December 12, 2016 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Runner-up [47]
Satellite Awards February 19, 2017 Best Film Captain Fantastic Nominated [48]
Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Won[a]
Best Original Screenplay Matt Ross Nominated
Best Costume Design Courtney Hoffman Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival June 12, 2016 Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film Captain Fantastic Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards January 29, 2017 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Viggo Mortensen Nominated [49]
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The cast of Captain Fantastic Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2016 Best Actor Viggo Mortensen Nominated [50]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tied with Andrew Garfield for Hacksaw Ridge

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kaufman, Anthony (January 25, 2016). "'Captain Fantastic': Review". Screen International. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Captain Fantastic". British Board of Film Classification. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Captain Fantastic – PowerGrind". The Wrap. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Captain Fantastic (2016)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Sundance Institute Completes Feature Film Lineup For 2016 Sundance Film Festival". sundance.org. December 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "2016 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup". IndieWire. April 14, 2016. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "Cannes 2016: Film Festival Unveils Official Selection Lineup". Variety. April 14, 2016. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Penderson, Erik (February 4, 2016). "'Captain Fantastic' Gets Summer Release From Bleecker Street". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "National Board of Review Announces 2016 Award Winners". National Board of Review. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Golden Globes 2017: The Complete List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  11. ^ "Oscar Nominations 2017: Viggo Mortensen on 'Captain Fantastic' Nod". abcnews.go.com. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Tedder, Michael (July 7, 2016). "This Silicon Valley Actor Made One of the Strangest and Most Beautiful Films of the Summer". Esquire. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "Viggo Mortensen to Star in 'Captain Fantastic'". Deadline. February 20, 2014. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Yamato (June 27, 2014). "Viggo Mortensen Starrer 'Captain Fantastic' Adds Cast Of Youngsters". Jen. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 18, 2014). "Frank Langella To Star With Viggo Mortensen In 'Captain Fantastic'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  16. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 4, 2014). "'Captain Fantastic' Enlists More Cast As eOne Boards Viggo Mortensen Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
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  20. ^ Nancy Tartaglione (August 4, 2014). "eOne Takes International On Captain Fantastic, Zahn, Hahn, Pyle, Moriarty Join Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  21. ^ McClintock, Pamela (August 13, 2014). "Toronto: Former Focus Co-CEO Andrew Karpen Launches New Distribution Company". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  22. ^ "Captain Fantastic". Sundance.org. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  23. ^ ‘Olli Mäki,’ ‘Captain Fantastic’ Win Big in Un Certain Regard at Cannes Archived August 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ^ "Captain Fantastic (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  25. ^ "Captain Fantastic Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  26. ^ "deadline.com". May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  27. ^ Duralde, Alonso (January 24, 2016). "Captain Fantastic' Sundance Review: Viggo Mortensen Raises an Off-the-Grid Family in This Touching Dramedy". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  28. ^ Debrudge, Peter (January 23, 2016). "Sundance Film Review 'Captain Fantastic'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  29. ^ "The Guardian". TheGuardian.com. September 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  30. ^ O'Malley, Sheila (July 8, 2016). "Captain Fantastic". Roger Ebert. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  31. ^ Rahman, Abid (December 15, 2016). "Denzel Washington's 'Fences' Leads Nominations for AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  32. ^ Kakar, Utkarsh (June 16, 2017). "Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Nominations". QuirkyByte. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
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  34. ^ "Hell or High Water at Cannes Film Festival". Cannes Film Festival. May 16, 2016. Archived from the original on December 5, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  35. ^ Tschorn, Adam (January 12, 2017). "'La La Land,' 'Hidden Figures,' 'Nocturnal Animals,' 'The Crown' among nominees for Costume Designers Guild Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  36. ^ "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  37. ^ "2016 | 42nd edition". Deauville American Film Festival. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  38. ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 12, 2017). "'Moonlight' Leads Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics' Dorian Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
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  40. ^ "'Moonlight' Leads 2016 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations". Florida Film Critics Circle. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  41. ^ "Houston Film Critics Nominations for 2016 Films". MovieAwardsPlus.com. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  42. ^ Warren, Matt (November 22, 2016). "2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced!". Independent Spirit Awards. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  43. ^ Greene, Steve (December 19, 2016). "2016 IndieWire Critics Poll: Full List of Results". IndieWire. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  44. ^ Petski, Denise (January 11, 2017). "'Fantastic Beasts', 'La La Land' Among Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominees". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  45. ^ "2016 Archives". National Board of Review. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  46. ^ "20th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards Nominations". Online Film Critics Society. December 27, 2016. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  47. ^ "San Diego Film Critics Society's 2016 Award Winners". December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  48. ^ Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  49. ^ "SAG Awards 2017: The Complete List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  50. ^ "2016 StLFCA Annual Award Nominations". St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
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