Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Leave No Trace 

This film will move you and dazzle you! This is one of the most beautifully crafted, perfectly acted films I’ve seen of the year. I was drawn to this film just from the cast Ben Foster always showcases great work and dose so here again and he’s the reason why I checked this film out and I’m so glad I did. I got exactly what I expected and so much more it’s a masterful piece of film. What makes this film really a powerful experience is the ability for it to be so grounded and realistic in its telling with fantastic emotionally driven performances that come off as so authentic and genuine. 

First off, this film is a heartbreaking reminder of how bad someone’s living situation can get but also a great reminder of how strong the power of family is and how it can keep you going even in the toughest of times. It’s ability to wove those themes throughout the film was amazingly executed. It was such a simple plot but it delves into such deep territory. And the performances from its two central actors give top notch performances that really have fantastic chemistry and make you really believe that their a father and daughter trying to keep their head above water. Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie deliver powerful performances that will move you and amaze you. 

Lastly, It’s very unfortunate that this film has gotten overlooked because it is a really fantastic gem of a film that delves into very serious themes but deals with them in such a delicate, honest and realistic  depiction onscreen. Provided by tremendous work by its actors Leave No Trace will move you and stay with you long after it’s over I recommend everyone go check this film out. 

This film centres around a father and his daughter that live in a park but when they are untimely caught they must learn to adapt to society’s standards but as the father fights against it his daughter wants to have a home 

Rated PG : for thematic elements throughout 

Ben Foster : Ben showcases a amazing emotionally lead performance! Ben has always been one of those actors that no matter what the film is or the subject is in the film I’ll watch it for him. He always brings his one hundred and ten percent commitment to the screen from films like The Program, The Messenger and Hell Or High Water just to name a few. I find him to be incredibly underrated he’s amazing in all of his work and this film shows another solid piece of work from Foster once again. He plays a father who’s just trying to have a good life with his daughter and provide for her even though his living situation isn’t the best he doesn’t want to give into society’s norms. The way Ben shows that character on the full front onscreen is so well done and incredibly powerful. The way he delivers his fallible to the sheer emotion and look in his eyes he’s so real and made me truly invest in him and believe he was this guy. He’s so damn good in the film i forgot I was watching a film it felt so authentic it felt like a documentary. Their are moments in the film where he’s sitting and all you see is the pain in his eyes and look of sadness in his face and it breaks your heart and he’s able to convey all of it without a word spoken. But also when he speaks he brings a truth to it that he convinces you that he means what he’s saying and it comes across as genuine and so real. He just wraps himself into this character and takes it head on playing this father. He plays it with such honesty and it’s heartbreaking he is able to tap into so many layers of emotions in the film and really show multiple layers of his character with his fantastic emotional and acting range. Theirs a scene towards the end of the film where he’s just standing in the Forrest and cry’s it’s such a simple scene but he executes it in such a powerful moment in the film that makes you the viewer cry because of the amazing acting he’s showcasing. When he cry’s it feels as it’s coming from such a real place and that it doesn’t feel acted he has such a emotional depth that he brings to the character and explores. Ben Foster is outstanding in this film giving a truly magnetic performance that is powerful, emotional and dazzling. 

Thomasin McKenzie : McKenzie delivers a knockout breakout performance! This actress delivers her first onscreen performances with such a powerful emotional punch. This actress will be one I’ll be keeping an eye on as she gives such a gripping performance in this film that will amaze you that it’s her first time  onscreen. She plays the daughter of the father and brings such a loneliness and sadness to the character that she approaches amazingly and brings fantastic emotion too. She shows the struggle of being with her father and really makes you see that it looked as real as possible with such amazing range. She has moments of such warmth and joy with her dad but then can tell her father the Brutal. Truth of how she feels in the situation their in and how she dose not want it anymore and she can break your heart with just a look on her face or a tear stream from her face. She brings her such a passionate and committed performance that she truly shines from resulting in her great execution of this character and you can’t take your eyes off of her. She has such a layered character and really explores that and for her first performance to be this astonishing without any other film or screen work prior to this it’s impressive. She makes you believe that every second their in a bad situation it hits her like a wave of emotion and impacts her massively and expresses it tremendously. She just is mesmerizing and really shares great onscreen chemistry with Ben Foster as well. When she speaks she talks in a way that she just brings the words to life and gives it such weight in such an amazing way she is truly outstanding in this film and I can’t wait to see what she dose next what an amazing performance. 

Debra Granik : Debra gives masterful direction here! This filmmaker I am unfamiliar with and will definitely watch her future projects as she proves here that she is a force to be reckoned with. Debra directs this film with such realism and honesty brought to it that it even felt documentary like at times because it felt so authentic. Her choice to pick a relatively not very known cast expect for Foster was such a great idea. Because then it really felt like real people in these situations and your witnessing it as if it was a big cast with big stars all the way through your seeing those actors and not the role usually. So for her choosing the way of a mostly unknown cast really works here as then it comes off as more real in its execution onscreen. Also her ability to chose a tone and subject matter that is very relevant to today’s situation was so well done as she keeps it simple but explores very deep themes throughout the film but dose it in a way that is very relatable and I loved that. On top of getting fantastic work from the entire cast involved and really capturing the father and daughter dynamic onscreen so well and really making it feel and look as authentic as possible which she dose effortlessly. Overall she captures and delivers a fantastic film due to the approach she brings to it that makes it really stand out. I can’t wait to see what she dose next overall what incredible direction by Debra.