Review of Captain Fantastic

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (2016) **** Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks, Charlie Shotwell, Trin Miller, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahan, Elijah Stevenson, Teddy Van Ee, Erin Moriarty, Missi Pyle, Frank Langella, Ann Dowd. Mortensen gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the paterfamilias of a decidedly dysfunctional family he has raised with '60s hippie values that comes to the head when his wife dies and sends the brood into a major turnaround with some life lessons along the way proving blood is thicker than water in this well-conceived drama. Written and directed by actor Matt Ross the film falls on the capable shoulders of Mortensen whose deeply soulful and effective low-key performance anchors the story with gravitas, heart and solidity with a remarkable cast of newcomers as his children facing off his estranged father-in-law (Langella who thankfully shades his character as an all-too-easy-to label a villain). Funny, poignant and one of the best films of the year; a must see.