'Leave No Trace, one of the best movies of the year, opens today in Omaha | GO – Arts & Entertainment



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It took eight years, but we finally have another feature from Debra Granik (director / co-writer of "Winter & # 39; s Bone"). It's like "Winter's Bone", the new Granik film takes place mainly on the outside, follows people on the margins of society and presents a performance of a young actress destined to great things.

In "Leave No Trace", the future star is Thomasin McKenzie.

She is 13-year-old Tom, who lives in an urban park outside Portland, Oregon, with her father, Will (Ben Foster).

Will is a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, unable to reintegrate into society. But father and daughter are doing pretty well alone. They have food and a makeshift shelter. Instead of phone, television or the Internet, they read books and play chess. Will's night terrors aside, their situation seems more idyllic than hopeless.

But Tom makes a mistake and both are arrested for living on public lands. They are quickly separated and beaten through a system of forms and tests and assessments of their intelligence and psychological well-being.

Their future remains in question. They can not return to their camp. But maybe there are other options?

Tom is excited about the prospect of integration, making new friends. But Will is not sure he can get it back on the grid.

Getting a job, paying rent, sleeping indoors, going to church every Sunday. These are not things that Will can do.

Adapting a Peter Rock novel, Granik and his co-author, Anne Rosellini, have written a simple but powerful story that revolves around a heartbreaking conflict: Two people deeply love each other, but can not more live in the same world.

Details are given sparingly, if at all. For example, where is Tom's mother? This is never determined.

And what happened to Will abroad? A smaller film would give us a fighting flashback or have delivered a long monologue about his horrible experiences. "Leave No Trace" is content to let talk about the haunted expression of Foster

This is a film about the present, about the surprising ways in which a father and a daughter have learned to survive.

In "Winter's Bone," Granik takes a discreet and totally naturalistic approach to filmmaking. "Leave No Trace" does not use music or great speech or quick editing to increase the suspense or sadness of the story. He does not promote any of his police or social workers to the role of villain. They are all just people, trying to do their job, trying to survive.

"Leave No Trace" is based on its strong history, rich atmosphere and two great performances. Every note of this sounds true.

The beautiful cinematography of Michael McDonough helps in the department of the atmosphere. Above all, he just stands back and takes in the beautiful surroundings. But sometimes, he and Granik will plunge into a little symbolism. In a few broad shots, "Leave No Trace" uses huge trees or vast spaces to divide two characters into separate frames, highlighting the cultural or emotional distance between them.

Aside from a memorable support tour of actress Dale Dickey (to make a complete 180 cruel or stupid characters, she starred in "Winter's Bone" and "Breaking Bad"), "Leave No Trace" is a double-hand for Foster and McKenzie.

In the past, Foster has tended to do too much. But there is no trace of anything actor here. His will is calm, inner. He loves his daughter absolutely. But he knows that she needs more than he can give her.

Tom McKenzie is a spirited survivor, with a soft but not angry voice. Her gradual understanding that she wants more from the world is, for her, a source of joy and fear. She wants to be part of a community. (19659003) Tom: "What if children think I'm strange?"

Will: "What is the importance of their judgments?"

Through the continual struggle of Tom and Will, perhaps we can have a more accurate reading of our own competing impulses: to be an accepted member of society, or to leave everything behind – to walk in the woods, not to never hear about it

Will and Tom do not. find a perfect solution, but the film lands on a perfect end, rich in empathy and kindness. It's a great movie. Fortunately, it will not take eight years for Granik to make another one.

Note: Between "Winter's Bone" and "Leave No Trace", Granik has made a very good documentary titled "Stray Dog". which was part of the series "Independent Lens" of PBS

And another thing: Do not take my word for it. "Leave No Trace" has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes Thursday night, with 132 "fresh" (positive) ratings. According to Rotten Tomatoes standards, this makes it the fourth highest rated film ever produced.

1. "Paddington 2" (2018) 199 positive reviews

2. "Toy Story 2" (1999) 163 positive reviews

3. "Man on Wire" (2008) 158 positive reviews

4. "Leave No Trace" 132 positive reviews

5. "Things to Come" (2016) 130 positive reviews

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