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Title: Leave No Trace (2018)
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Director Debra Granik, Ben Foster, and Thomasin McKenzie dive deeper into Leave No Trace, the father-daughter relationship in the film, and working with animals on set.
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Thomasin McKenzie | ... | Tom (as Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie) | |
| Ben Foster | ... | Will | |
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Jeffery Rifflard | ... | Vet at VA (as Jeff Rifflard) |
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Derek John Drescher | ... | Larry (as Derek Drescher) |
| Michael Draper | ... | Runner | |
| Peter Simpson | ... | Police Officer | |
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Erik McGlothlin | ... | K-9 Officer |
| Dana Millican | ... | Jean | |
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Alyssa McKay | ... | Valerie (as Alyssa Lynn) |
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Ryan Joiner | ... | Tiffany (as Ryan E. Joiner) |
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Michael J. Prosser | ... | James (as Mike Prosser) |
| Jeff Kober | ... | Mr. Walters | |
| Spencer S. Hanley | ... | Pastor | |
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Tamera Westlake | ... | Devotional Dancer |
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Bob Werfelman | ... | Bob |
Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland. The film is directed by Debra Granik from a script adapted by Granik and Anne Rosellini. Written by Bleecker Street
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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.