Leave No Trace

The first 30 minutes of this film, I would rate as a 9 or even a 10. We are immersed in the soft, jade glow of the Pacific rainforest, and the quiet intimate life of two people who barely need language to communicate. Their relationship with nature is practical and intuitive rather than sentimental and abstract. When the characters do visit the city, it feels cold and alien, full of possibilities but also dangers.

Both actors are amazing, especially the young girl. For a young actress to express such mixed emotions clearly is very impressive. The movie has a very rooted sense of place. I was at a Q & A with the director and it was clear she made a very thorough effort to choose locations and actors (professional and amateurs) with an eye for realism.

I only knock this story because the arc is fairly predictable. For an American movie there is remarkably little plot and no villain or hero. It was hard to decide between a 7 and an 8.

Although it feels generally slow-moving and takes a while to really get going, 'Leave No Trace' is a thoroughly compelling, realistic drama that expertly explores the father-daughter dynamic. The exposition-less script is refreshing, allowing the audience to actually think for themselves about the lives of the characters and how they got to where they are at the beginning of the film. All of the dialogue feels entirely natural (a testament to both the screenwriters and the actors) and this, combined with the subtle, yet nuanced direction, gives the film an almost documentary type feel, which fully compels the viewers to engage with the lives and central relationship of the protagonists. 7/10.

One of my all-time favorite films, but it might not be yours. This is the first film I've actually reviewed after 10+ years on IMDb. Clearly some people are unimpressed by this film and others think it's amazing; I am in the latter category.

I'm also someone who, when I was a kid, fantasized about what it would be like to live off the land and away from people. This is a truly unique film in that it does not spell it out for you; does not have a position; it does not have villains; It is willing to let you make your own conclusions. Clearly this bothers some people, as does the pace. Speaking for myself, I was never bored. I was riveted from beginning to end. I had never seen the trailer, and I would recommend not seeing the trailer.

A main complaint from those who don't like it seems to be there are enough bad people; I actually found this refreshing. I don't meet many bad, evil people in my every day life; most people are pretty cool, I find. I actually felt the fundamental premise of the movie was realistic and I appreciated that it was willing to skip ahead and not spell out every beat. Or fill in the backstory. A good film can choose the story it wants to tell and does not need to fill in every interstitial space or to mimic the way things would necessarily unfold in the real world. I suppose it could be a realistic criticism that things could never quite happen this way, but it certainly did not bother me. I thought this film portrays people - and I mean all the characters in the film, not just the primary two - that are too rarely portrayed in film, but do exist in our world.

As everyone seems to agree, the cinematography and acting are extraordinary. I also thought the story was unique and refreshing, and for me at least, the pacing was perfect. I believe I benefited from having no idea where it was going to go, so I would recommend skipping the trailer and seeing it for whatever reason compels you. Perhaps just the beautiful, green forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Indie dramas just keep getting better as the years go by. The freedom to be experimental whilst conveying a captivating story makes for a vastly enthralling cinematic experience than the average Hollywood drama. It's no different here, with director Granik perfectly balancing emotional heft with relentless drama. A father and his young daughter live in isolation within a shrouded urban forest, where one mistake leads them into being found by the local authorities. The eloquence and minimalism in Granik's screenplay allows the story to be told visually. The peaceful environment and rural American culture juxtapose the bustling highways of urban society. Yet they complement each other to create an ecosystem for humanity. The same is applied to this relationship. The father, fearful of being discovered and conforming to the aristocracy of modern civilisation, contrasts with his daughter who yearns for environmental stability. After experiencing a glimpse of normality, she envies them. However, it's the bond between them that truly captivated me. They never argue. They never bicker. They understand one another. Mistakes are forgiven, opportunities are seized. It was honestly beautiful to watch. Foster (who is becoming rather commendable with his work) and McKenzie were sensational together, feeding emotions through just their eyes. Granik utilises plenty of horizonal techniques to illustrate these two characters amongst the overwhelmingly luscious foliage. McDonough's cinematography was gorgeous, bountiful of green filters and natural lighting. My only gripe is the lack of backstory, particularly with the mother, which would've elevated the emotional response for the story's conclusion. But what I really appreciate is the unobtrusive approach to what could've been a sensationalistic plot, and the lack of pretentiousness further cements Granik as a mature director who really should be directing more films. A near perfect drama with outstanding performances that deserves your undivided attention.

'Leave No Trace (2018)' is, remarkably, never predictable or on-the-nose. Instead, it soon settles into its own slow rhythm to provide an experience that's refreshing in its ability to show instead of tell. Often, it refrains from saying anything at all, especially during the moments in which it actually speaks volumes. This is a technique - or, rather, way of thinking - it uses to cut to the heart of its scenes and provide some incredibly raw emotional beats. Even in its 'loudest' of moments, it feels marvellously gentle and is brought to life with a steady, self-assured hand. The film is extremely engaging and has an astute ability to render its core relationship with a wonderfully tender realism, examining its father and daughter duo - as well as the former's traumatic background and scarred mental-state - brilliantly and not always blatantly. This, again, plays into its pretty much perfect 'show, don't tell' mentality and allows you to piece together what's going on behind our core players' eyes. It allows for an empathetic and emotive picture that impacts you in essentially every sequence, especially those towards its devastating yet somewhat inevitable end. Overall, the movie is actually highly enjoyable, and affecting, because of this emotional impact. 8/10