Mothers’ Instinct: This movie stars Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. Two A-list actors who have a real following. Chastain has won the Best Actress Oscar, for her work as Tammy Faye Bakker, but I have been disappointed in some of her choices of movies in the recent past. This movie just adds to it. Some of those include Ava, IT Chapter 2, and The Forgiven, which for the most part she is also acting as Producer with her production company. These just haven’t been very strong. They seem to be more independent, smaller budget films which in itself is not an issue but the stories haven’t been very compelling. I have liked Chastain ever since I saw her work in the Mallick film Tree of Life back in 2011. This is a story about two housewives in suburban America in the 60s or so given the attire. Chastain playing Alice, and Hathaway playing her best friend Celine are having a party for Celine. There are husbands and kids and friends gathering at the party. The two are genuinely connected and support one another. Then tragedy strikes.

There is blame and suspicion between the women and a level of discomfort and strain between the two that wasn’t there before. Based on a book by Belgian writer Barbara Abel, unread by me. There are then a series of incidents which creates more drama, suspicion and paranoia. But is it justified? Is there really something sinister going on, and if so then who is telling the truth? Would you believe a spouse who after a tragic event is then telling fantastical stories that seem so out of character. The men are really there for window dressing and don’t add much to the story. I will not delve further into it, but I was mediocre and predictable even when it tries very hard not to be. It’s almost as if there was a desire to take it to a wild extreme that seems implausible. Yes it is Hollywood. But still if there is a full exploration of the bond between these women and what could make it unravel this deals with it superficially. I cannot recommend.

Captain Fantastic: One would be forgiven in thinking that by the title, this movie from 2016 (not sure how it slipped through the cracks for me) was a superhero movie. It isn’t. It is on Netflix and I caught it this past weekend. Starring Viggo Mortensen, who garnered an Oscar nomination for his role, which was definitely merited. He plays Ben Cash, a father of six children who has made the choice with his wife Leslie to get off the grid with the children and live in the remote areas of Washington State, but it just as easily be Alaska. As we open the story, Ben has the children to himself is he is hunting a deer with them. They all have wilderness skills, and he ensures that they are all reading and thinking critically. There are some informative exchanges between the father and children showing the nature of their relationship and their bond. The set up of this tight family informs when something happens which from his face we see that Ben was half expecting it. There are choices to make with the family and he struggles mightily with the dilemma. Ben is torn between his commitment to his wife and her wishes, and the security of his life in the wilderness with his children. Add into that some formidable drama with his Wife’s family.

I feel a lot of the same energy and writing with this story as with the Oscar Winner CODA from 2021. There are real debates on what is in the best interests of the children, and how, if at all, they should be eventually integrating into society. The children run from the eldest son of an age to be applying for College to the very young who are in early primary school. Ben needs to think through his priorities and what is truly important for him and his children. He has a paradox of always telling the truth, and treating each of his children as growing people capable of doing of knowing more than most adults give them credit for, while at the same time with limited means financially a trip to the grocery store becomes an operation involving all of the children. For a man who believes deeply that people are to be judged by their actions it has him re-examine the direction of his life and the leadership of these children. The children are each with their own strengths and attitudes, not just window dressing. They imapct on their father. I found this an engaging and emotional journey with a family who I care about. The one daughter’s explanation of the book Lolita that she is reading was great insight to the father and his family. I felt that interaction showed so much of this teachings. There really hasn’t been a lot of quality films out this year, but this one if you are like me missed it the first time, I think you should check out. By the way, Casey Affleck won the Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea (which I refer to a Misery by the Ocean) and for me I would rather Mortensen had won the award. I am glad that I got to know the Cash family, and I am hopeful that they will do well. I will admit that I was puzzled about where the funds came from for the proposed ending, but I was happy to go with it.