Wildlife: Compelling Family Drama!

This film received raves at Sundance, and it deserves them.  Right now, it is in my Top 10 for 2018 and I expect it to remain there.  It's a MUST SEE!  This movie is superbly acted, and much of the credit goes to the Director, Paul Dano, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Zoe Kazan. It's 1960 and the Brinson family is living in Montana.  Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) works as a golf pro, while Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) is a homemaker, raising their 14-year-old son, Joe (Ed Oxenbould).  Jerry gets fired, which apparently has happened multiple times before.  Jeanette isn't pleased with Jerry as a provider.  His jobs don't last long and aren't well paying, so they keep having to move.  In response to Jerry's firing, Jeanette decides to get a part-time job.  Jerry doesn't like this idea, although he concedes the issue.  However, he then passive-aggressively takes a low-paying job as a lay fire-fighter, to help get an out-of-control forest fire contained.  (The symbolism is obvious, but who cares.)  This job requires that he live far away for quite a while, essentially abandoning Jeanette and Joe.  Eventually, Jerry returns home, to a much-changed Jeanette. The story is told primarily through Joe's perspective.  Although he doesn't show his emotions, Oxenbould is fantastic at conveying the suppressed, mixed feelings he has about his family unraveling with his gestures, eyes, and facial expressions.  It's quite a remarkable performance.  The movie, however, is Mulligan's, who gives a wide-ranging, multi-faceted, AAW performance.  (I'll be very surprised if she isn't nominated.)  Gyllenhaal is also excellent, but his part is much smaller, and Jerry isn't nearly as complex a character as Jeanette. If you are looking for a wonderfully-acted, intelligent, "scorching" family drama, I'd check this one out!