Wildlife Review

Wildlife Review

            Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife features Jerry Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Jeanette Brinson (Carey Mulligan) a married couple that just moved to Montana with their son Joe (Ed Oxenbould). This film, based on the novel by the same name, follows this seemingly happy family through trials and hardships that push their familial bond to the breaking point. Set in 1960, Dano truly captures the time period through the unique cinematography and fitting set design. These features along with his impeccable casting result in this spectacular debut film.

            Jerry Brinson, a caring yet prideful father, works a lowly job at a golf course but often pushes the boundaries of acceptable employee behavior. Jerry eventually loses his job after breaking the rules one too many times even though he would never admit he did anything wrong. Left unemployed with a family depending on him, Jerry needs to find a new job. However, his pride and possible drinking problem prevent him from actually getting hired. Jeanette tries to help the family by getting a job as a swim instructor at the YMCA, but Jerry ultimately decides to join a group of other men going to fight a huge wildfire. Jeanette strongly despises the idea of Jerry leaving his family behind and resents him from the second he leaves. This serves as the catalyst for her unfaithful behavior while Jerry is away. Meanwhile, Joe silently watches as his parents make these questionable decisions and always seems to always be caught in the middle.

            One of this film’s major successes is the outstanding casting. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Jerry in the beginning and ending scenes expertly tie together the story of this struggling family. Perhaps more understated than most of his other performances, Gyllenhaal creates a complicated father figure that elicits both anger and pity from the audience. Jerry seems to be unfulfilled with certain aspects of his life, and Gyllenhaal expertly captures the resulting confusion and contempt.

            Carey Mulligan also terrifically captures the desperate spirit of Jeanette in one of the more prominent roles in the film. In the beginning Jeanette seems like she tries the hardest to keep the family together and happy after Jerry loses his job, but once he leaves to fight the fire she seems to lose a sense of herself too. Jeanette starts a relationship with Warren Miller (Bill Camp) a rich but older man who seemingly can offer her the life she craves. Mulligan portrays the complexity of Jeanette, who desperately wants to keep her family together but also desires stability that Jerry does not provide. Mulligan also portrays the character with a sort of whimsy, similar to her role as Daisy Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby”, which almost makes you feel sorry for her. 

            Ed Oxenbould’s performance as Joe adds another captivating element to the film that highlights the complicated familial relationships. He seems to constantly deal with the folly of his parents, yet he avoids conflict by either constantly agreeing with them or saying nothing at all. Joe may even be the one trying to keep the family together the most. In one particularly powerful scene, Joe brings all three of them together in the photography studio to take a photo together. This scene perfectly captures the tension and uneasiness felt by their family, but highlights Joe’s want to remain a family. 

            The cinematography by Diego Garcia also reveals the story in a unique way. Certain shots offer very limited camera movements and unique angles that leave the audience watching the family from the outside. This changes throughout the film, such as Dano’s consistent use of close ups on Joe. However, these shots often lack dialogue, which does not give the audience direct access to his inner turmoil. These understated emotional responses highlight the notion that Joe simply wants to keep his family together without conflict. 

            Dano and Garcia’s use of color is also worth noting. The washed out and slightly muted color palette highlight the early 1960’s setting, which also relates to the realistic production design. The set design, from the family’s home to the photography shop, helps transport the audience into 1960. The costuming also contributed to the authentic quality of the film. 

            Paul Dano’s debut film Wildlife tells the story of a seemingly happy family that is actually strained by adversity and unfaithfulness. This compelling story highlighted by exceptional performances and cinematography leaves the audience anxiously waiting for Dano’s next directorial work.

Writer: Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan

Director: Paul Dano

Producer: Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oren Moverman, Ann Ruark, Riva Marker, Alex Saks

Main Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould

Running Time: 104 minutes