MUST GO

The film is captivating, with Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn from Lord of the Rings) fitting the renaissance profile of Ben like a glove. He projects all the arrogance and hardheadedness of Ben together with his warmth, adoration for his children, and respect for his wife’s wishes with grace and subtlety in one of the most seemingly effortless performances I have seen. He is also surrounded by an excellent supporting cast, from the children to his in-laws and sister.

In addition to the terrific performance by up-and-comer George MacKay as Bodevan, the other actors playing the kids are all very strong and believable: Samantha Isler as Kieyler, Annalise Basso as Vespyr, Nicholas Hamilton as Rellian, Shree Crooks as Zaja, and Charlie Shotwell as Nai. Screen vets Frank Langella and Ann Dowd bring presence to the role of their grandparents and provide the greatest contrast to the off-the-grid existence of the kids.

Captain Fantastic mostly focuses on the children. If you need to teach your child about the “birds and bees” take them to this movie. Ben tells the truth. Eight-year-old Nai (Charlie Shotwell) asks what sexual intercourse is, and Ben answers with a mechanistic explanation that leaves Nai wondering why a man would want to do that. Ben explains that it is pleasurable and creates babies. Later, on the family-created holiday, Noam Chomsky Day, Ben gives Nai a copy of “The Joy of Sex” as a little hilarious joke. The real gift is a super-cool 7″ hunting knife.

The Cashes are driven into modern-day America by the suicide of Leslie (in flashbacks, Trin Miller), the children’s mother. Finally receiving treatment in a facility for long-term bipolar disorder, she was unable to fight her mental illness any longer. The arrangements for a Christian funeral by her rich father, Jack, played with smooth stolidness by Frank Langella, enrage Ben, since his Buddhist wife had specifically requested a cremation and toilet-flushing of her ashes in her Last Will and Testament.

Stubbornly, Ben and the kids devises a plan to steal her body and carry out Leslie’s final wishes. The final flush is hilarious.

BTW: do you know who Noam Chomsky is?