Review of Wildlife (2018) by Wayne M — 04 Nov 2018
Wildlife starts simply. A clean cut father throwing a football to his son in the front yard. But there is a lot more going on under the seemingly clean surface. In this excellent and beautifully observed film it's not a dark side, it's a side of muted ambition and deep seated frustration.
Set in 1960 Montana Jerry and Jeanette are a seemingly happy couple with a happy teenage son. But when Jerry loses his job it sets in motion a series of events that turn the family upside down. Jake Gyllenhaal is superb as usual as the aimless father but it is Carey Mulligan who is above and beyond brilliant.
It's a towering performance. She somehow displays a wide and varied spectrum of emotion in every sentence and facial expression. This a film about ordinary people living lives of quiet desperation.
It's about how we can feel restless and trapped and how life isn't always as easy as it should hopefully be. This is a film of small observations. it lingers and stops to let us in. It's supremely acted and written.
It doesn't shout at you, it whispers meaning and intent.
This review of Wildlife (2018) was written by Wayne M on 04 Nov 2018.
Wildlife has generally received positive reviews.
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