Heartbreaking, Funny and Terrific

Viggo Mortensen is one of those actors who commands attention by his contradictions. He is both hard and surprisingly reasonable, resolved yet doubtful of the rightness of his decisions. Even in his 2007 Oscar-nominated role as a Russian gangster in David Cronenberg’s terrific “Eastern Promises,” he was a man questioning the violence and ruthlessness of his boss’s orders with his eyes and body language.

Now Mortensen has his best role since then in “Captain Fantastic,” Director Matt Ross’ weirdly named — there is no appearance by Elton John — but totally compelling new film. Mortensen is Ben Cash, an intellectual and nonconformist, who has taken his six children to live in the Pacific Northwest wilderness after his wife is hospitalized for severe bipolar disorder. The Cashes literally live off the grid: no internet or TV, no cellphones or junk food. They are homeschooled by Ben to read — it’s a Great Books education —and think and analyze. Their bodies are conditioned by rigorous exercise; their food is what they hunt, forage and grow. Only socialization with other children and the world is missing.

A tragedy forces Ben to emerge from the woods with his children. The youngest daughter thinks many people she sees are ill because they are so fat. When they visit relatives, their cousins are mean and selfish and ignorant. Ben’s children are informed, self-assured, almost radiant.

Ross, who also wrote the film, invites us to look at our contemporary world and culture from a fresh viewpoint. He also asks us to consider child rearing through a series of cleverly crafted situations in which both the strengths and flaws of Ben’s approach are colorfully highlighted. When the oldest son, Bo, meets a girl, he has no idea how to interact. (But he does know he wants to move away from the wilderness: Behind his father’s back, he has applied to Ivy League colleges and been accepted.)

The cast is superb. Mortensen is wonderful; you will want him to make more movies soon. Ben’s children are all excellent, and you can see that they have been cast for their resemblance to each other as well as their talent. (George McKay is especially compelling as Bo.) Ben’s in-laws, Frank Langella and Ann Dowd, think Ben’s stance on parenting is too extreme and try to wrest custody from him. (Langella growls his way through his brief appearance as only he can.)

“Captain Fantastic” is a complicated study of family and what it means to be a parent. It is humorous, it is heartbreaking. Ultimately it ends in compromise, humility and letting go. It is surely the best seriously adult movie of the summer. 

“Captain Fantastic” is playing widely. It is rated R for language and brief graphic nudity.