There were no real standout performances in Captain Fantastic because everyone is amazing. There were characters that were paid more attention to and had more of a chance to be amazing, but everyone in this film did an incredible job, which is saying something because most of the cast members are children. Child actors are bound to suck, but these ones really did a great job. I've never been more impressed with a cast. The chemistry between this make-believe family was incredible and completely believable.
You don't see the themes explored in this film done in such a genuine way as this film does it. To some, it may come off as pretentious, but I didn't see it that way. I think most of the people who find this movie pretentious disagree with the beliefs that are being showcased. More than teaching the new generation about the bleak reality of capitalism in America, this movie is about a father's attempt to be the best dad he thinks he can be. He believes he is providing the best environment for his kids while everyone else, including, at certain parts, his own kids, believe otherwise. While also asking questions like is today's America as great as we make it out to be, Captain Fantastic asks smaller, less politically charged questions, like can you ever be the perfect parent? Is it unavoidable and inevitable that children will find a flaw within their parent in order to sculpt their own lives and discover who they are? The film also presents parenting in two different lights: openness vs. protectiveness. This presentation is in no way unbiased-- it clearly favors the open way of parenting Ben (Mortensen) does. But it's certainly an interesting contrast to watch two types of parents deal with their kids in the same situation differently. These family-oriented investigative parts of this movie allow Viggo Mortensen to shine; this role was made for him. He makes the perfect hippie father who just wants the best for his kids.
Mortensen's character in particular I really loved. I loved the way he treated his relationships with his kids-- they are all basically independent and have a collective knowledge of pretty much everything they need to know, and as someone who never wants to have kids, I think everyone should raise their kids this way. He doesn't lie to them at all and he lets them experience things to provide them with as much information as possible. There's one part where one of the smallest kids asks what rape is and he tells his kid a very textbook definition of rape. One of the kids asks if they can have wine with their dinner and he gives it to them because in other cultures children are allowed small amounts of wine at meals. He fills their lives with a vast amount of information and perspectives so that they can establish their own opinions, and he encourages them to explain their viewpoints in a thought out and articulate way. He wants his kids to be able to have an intelligent discourse about the things they are interested in and care about. He wants his kids to fight for what they believe in, but in a clever, non aggressive way. The father in this film teaches his kids more than just information-- their lifestyle feeds their education and vice versa.
Despite how depressing the plot may seem, Captain Fantastic is overwhelmingly joyful. Another part of this film that I found affected me a lot was how positive everything seemed to feel. Their family is like a team, and everyone in the team matters, even when one kid in the team doesn't want to be apart of the team anymore. The third act is one of the most uplifting third acts I have ever watched. As it begins, it definitely seems like it's going to go down a deep dark hole and never return, but have no fear! It bounces back and is the most powerful part of the movie.
Apart from the acting and the plot, I also thought the movie was amazingly put together, aesthetically and otherwise. The costume design was so incredible in this film I almost lost my place in the story because I was paying too much attention to the outfits of the cast. It was so representative of their personalities and lifestyles while also not being satirical and over the top. They were also dressed perfectly to contrast with the outside world enough so that you noticed it, but again, it wasn't goofy or ridiculous. There's one scene where their clothes are supposed to be a bit jarring and 'goofy', but the overall point is to emphasize how the opposing characters are totally in the wrong.
The set design is also a really big part of the plot. The way the families bus is designed, contrasted with where that bus is driving through says a lot about how out of place they are. And obviously, none if this could be done if the direction was not amazing. Matt Ross did an amazing job putting this movie together. The shots were set up beautifully, the cast, and particularly the child actors, were directed astoundingly well. The plot moves quickly and there isn't one part of the movie that drags. There are plenty of scenes of the family just living their day to day lives and it couldn't be more enthralling, partially because their lives are so interesting, but also because they are shot in such a way that captures your attention relentlessly.
Captain Fantastic has something for everyone-- colorful scenes, wonderful acting, jokes, philosophical discussions, and so on. One may be able to call this movie polarizing, but that's simply because it doesn't hide the ideology it believes. In fact, this movie blatantly tells the audience what sort of moral code our characters living by, however, it's in a smart and developed way, not a way that is just meant to feed the plot. It's a beautiful film all around-- from the set to the costumes to the shot composition, it's really just a nice movie to watch aesthetically. This movie works with original content and makes it enthralling. I cannot respect more the people involved with this film, it was done so well and everyone in it was so amazing. I highly suggest seeing this movie. It's an incredible example of what a really amazing film can achieve.
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