Director:Â Paul Dano
Cast:Â Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould, Bill Camp, Zoe Margaret Colletti, Cate Jones
Rating: 12A
Running time: 105 mins
Release date:Â 09/11/2018
It’s been a big year for actors to turn their attention behind the camera. Bradley Cooper is riding the wave of critical and commercial success basking in his hit remake of A STAR IS BORN and Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan are also doing their bit as well with their period drama WILDLIFE. Dano, who appeared opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, directs and co-adapts the screenplay (from the novel of the same name by Richard Ford) with real-life partner and actress Zoe Kazan (THE BIG SICK)
It is 1960 and husband and wife Jerry and Jeannette Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan) with son Joe (Ed Oxenbould) in tow move to the rural plains of Great Falls, Montana, where Jerry works as a pro at a local golf club. Jeanette is a home-maker and their son is doing his level best to get through high school.
However, things begin to unravel when Jerry loses his job at the golf club. He is offered the job due to an oversight by his employers, but decides instead to take a job fighting fires in the local mountain terrain.
To try and help things along, Jeannette becomes a local swimming instructor and begins to thrive in her role, whilst Jerry spends time away with his new-found vocation. However, Jeanette needs more than a job and professional satisfaction – and it is clear that there are other forces at work that threaten to split the dynamic of this family down the middle….
WILDLIFE premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is clearly one of those much-needed female driven affairs that are emerging in the shadow of the #MeToo scandal to highlight more strong female characters. Carey Mulligan assures her place as one of the most versatile British actresses working in Hollywood today. She is firmly in command of her role and commands the screen in every scene she is in. Gyllenhaal is also excellent, though he is in and out of this film as a man who is trying to do everything good for himself and his family, whilst trying to pursue something that he is resolute about.
As Joe, Ed Oxenbould recalls the young Leonardo DiCaprio in his break-out role opposite Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin in THIS BOY’S LIFE and captures the essence of a teenager at odds with both his family and the surrounding environment.
WILDLIFE also showcases Dano’s potential as a director and do not be surprised if he does more increasing work behind the lens.
