There's no shaking the feeling that this sort of study of all-American repression has been done to death.

| Feb 29, 2020

Few could play a character so ordinary with as much empathy as Oxenbould brings to the role. He's one to watch, here and in the future.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 3, 2019

The jittery physicality of Mulligan's portrayal is frequently surprising.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 17, 2018

It's a story of its time, unfolding pre-women's lib, and Jeanette feels an inner frustration she can't even give voice to. But as "Wildlife" quietly rages, Mulligan lets it be felt.

| Original Score: B+ | Nov 16, 2018

"Wildlife" is the kind of movie whose low-key hush could get lost in all the buzz over the big-name, holiday-season releases. Sometimes, though, it's the quiet ones who make the most noise.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Nov 14, 2018

A quiet film, but it sneaks up on you, gaining in emotional urgency as it goes on.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 13, 2018

Although it is actually quite a talky film, it's not unnecessarily expository.

| Nov 12, 2018

... a portrait of the artist as a young man, [the artist] just doesn't know it yet.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 12, 2018

With the exception of Mulligan, whose sharp-edged performance begins to overpower the otherwise muted, rather mannered film, it feels too neatly mapped as a whole.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 11, 2018

Mulligan trembles like a souffle on the verge of collapse, and her unfortunate son can do little but watch and listen and do his best to grow up much too fast. Truth be told, it's his story - but it's Mulligan's movie.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 9, 2018

[Dano's] restraint and acute grasp of nuance are mirrored by three outstanding central performances.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 9, 2018

Dano is so attuned to his characters and their despair and vulnerabilities that even when they behave hatefully, as they do, or become revoltingly self-absorbed, as they do, you can't just wash your hands of them. You care.

| Nov 8, 2018

The standout performance may be that of young Ed Oxenbould. What are they putting in teenagers' cereal these days?

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 8, 2018

At times thematically heavy-handed, but nevertheless atmospheric, the film's scaffolding is its three expansive central performances, and sensitive Stephen Shore-inspired cinematography.

| Nov 8, 2018

Wildlife is a quiet coming-of-age tale of lost men and women trying to redefine themselves. It may not set the world on fire but a career-best performance from Mulligan makes it worth a look.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 8, 2018

A truly outstanding directorial debut from Paul Dano.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 8, 2018

In a directorial debut of immense promise, [director Paul Dano] never makes the obvious decision, instead trying to get under the skin of his characters.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 8, 2018

It is wide enough to take in good performances, a tersely superlative screenplay and a small-town look that you could take to the bank.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 7, 2018

A slow burn, but when it catches light, it's a wildfire.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 6, 2018

A beautifully observed study of an American family coming apart at the seams, it not only establishes Dano as a director to watch, but features an extraordinary performance by Mulligan.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 5, 2018