Movie spotlight
14-year-old Joe is the only child of Jeanette and Jerry — a housewife and a golf pro — in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job (and his sense of purpose) he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves.
In 1960, a teenage boy named JoeBriggs watches his parents' marriage unravel over the course of a summer in the Montana countryside. As his mother, Jeanette, becomes increasingly restless and involved in a clandestine affair with a wealthy older man, Joe's father, Jerry, struggles to cope with his own professional setbacks and his wife's emotional distance. Joe finds himself caught in the middle, trying to navigate the complexities of adult relationships and the painful realities of growing up.
Wildlife was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Paul Dano's assured directorial debut, the performances of the main cast, particularly Carey Mulligan and Ed Oxenbould, and the film's sensitive portrayal of a family in crisis. The film was noted for its authentic depiction of the period and its nuanced exploration of marital ennui and adolescent discovery.
Paul Dano's direction is praised for its subtle and mature handling of sensitive themes.
The performances, especially from Carey Mulligan and Ed Oxenbould, are highlighted as a significant strength.
The film captures the quiet desperation and emotional complexity of its characters with authenticity.
Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's emotional depth and strong performances. Reviewers frequently mentioned the film's realistic portrayal of marital struggles and the coming-of-age story of the young protagonist, with many finding it a moving and thought-provoking experience.
The film is based on Richard Ford's 1990 novel of the same name, and Paul Dano co-wrote the screenplay with his partner, Zoe Kazan.
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Ed Axenbould holds this together quite well as the teenage "Joe". His day to day life is thrown into turmoil when his father "Jerry" (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets laid off. Struggling to make ends meet with his wife "Jeanette" (Carey Mulligan) he ...
**Warning: Gyllenhaal is not the lead here** We see a boring family break apart from the perspective of the young boy. End of story. Safe to say there is no story, but there could easily have been one. Clearly the father is the most inte...
**_Old-fashioned filmmaking with a progressive theme_** > _She looked at me and the expression on her face was an expression of dislike, one I hadn't seen before but knew right away. Later I would see it turned toward other people. But t...