Captain Fantastic
Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest lives devoted dad Ben (Viggo Mortensen) and his six kids. Ben has dedicated his life to raising extraordinary children with a rigorous physical and intellectual education, and a primal connection to the natural world. When a tragedy strikes, the family is forced to leave. Suddenly the children must face the excitement and the perils of an unfamiliar outside world while Ben is compelled to reexamine his idea of what it means to be a parent.
- Director:
- Matt Ross ('28 Hotel Rooms')
- Writer:
- Matt Ross
- Cast:
- Viggo MortensenFrank LangellaMissi PyleSteve ZahnNicholas HamiltonShree CrooksAnnalise BassoGeorge MacKaySamantha Isler
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksViggo Mortensen stars as Ben, a back-to-basics dad raising his family way off grid, in a cabin deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. When his wife dies, the kooky family sets off to carry out her wishes and spare her the Christian funeral her parents plan.
A thoroughly engaging offbeat fable about conformity and difference
Subversive films are often camouflaged behind genre or movie titles. Many are promoted as action thrillers, dramas and even comedy but in reality carry dystopian themes about the breakdown of modern civilisation. Some recent examples of subversive films are High Rise (2016), Money Monster (2015) and 99 Holmes (2015). The film Captain Fantastic (2016) is...
Mostly Fantastic
Ignore the trailer. Captain Fantastic is not the quirky Little Miss Sunshine-style indie you might be expecting. Well, mostly not… Despite what some of its detractors have claimed, this is not a film that smugly champions the quirky, irresponsible life-style choices of a lovably zen hippie and his army of forest-sprite children. Rather, it is an...
Variety
pressShould connect in a major way with those looking to be swept up and moved by such a fundamental human experience.
The New York Times
pressMr. Mortensen, whose intensity has the sting of possession, has a way of making you believe his characters can do whatever they set their minds to: fly, leap over buildings, save the world.
The Guardian
pressFinely wrought and inventive, Captain Fantastic surely earns the lofty praise of its title.
Stuff
pressThe first time I saw it I walked away feeling quite moved. It was only the second time around – and there's not many films I find the time to see twice – that the flaws and omissions became unbearable.
New Zealand Herald
pressBen Cash might be a deeply flawed character. But he remains fascinating throughout and Mortensen's portrayal of him is perfect.
Los Angeles Times
pressIn largely succumbing to the very complacency its characters claim to abhor, it turns out to be - I hate to say it - a far less interesting movie than it appears.
Hollywood Reporter
pressCrowdpleasing for the right kind of crowd, but about as radical as a kale crisp.
Empire Magazine
pressA fiercely original, pleasantly unpredictable character piece. This is a gang of outsiders with something valuable to say about the world we live in.
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksViggo Mortensen stars as Ben, a back-to-basics dad raising his family way off grid, in a cabin deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. When his wife dies, the kooky family sets off to carry out her wishes and spare her the Christian funeral her parents plan.
Variety
pressShould connect in a major way with those looking to be swept up and moved by such a fundamental human experience.
The New York Times
pressMr. Mortensen, whose intensity has the sting of possession, has a way of making you believe his characters can do whatever they set their minds to: fly, leap over buildings, save the world.
The Guardian
pressFinely wrought and inventive, Captain Fantastic surely earns the lofty praise of its title.
Stuff
pressThe first time I saw it I walked away feeling quite moved. It was only the second time around – and there's not many films I find the time to see twice – that the flaws and omissions became unbearable.
New Zealand Herald
pressBen Cash might be a deeply flawed character. But he remains fascinating throughout and Mortensen's portrayal of him is perfect.
Los Angeles Times
pressIn largely succumbing to the very complacency its characters claim to abhor, it turns out to be - I hate to say it - a far less interesting movie than it appears.
Hollywood Reporter
pressCrowdpleasing for the right kind of crowd, but about as radical as a kale crisp.
Empire Magazine
pressA fiercely original, pleasantly unpredictable character piece. This is a gang of outsiders with something valuable to say about the world we live in.
A thoroughly engaging offbeat fable about conformity and difference
Subversive films are often camouflaged behind genre or movie titles. Many are promoted as action thrillers, dramas and even comedy but in reality carry dystopian themes about the breakdown of modern civilisation. Some recent examples of subversive films are High Rise (2016), Money Monster (2015) and 99 Holmes (2015). The film Captain Fantastic (2016) is...
Mostly Fantastic
Ignore the trailer. Captain Fantastic is not the quirky Little Miss Sunshine-style indie you might be expecting. Well, mostly not… Despite what some of its detractors have claimed, this is not a film that smugly champions the quirky, irresponsible life-style choices of a lovably zen hippie and his army of forest-sprite children. Rather, it is an...
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