Sundance Review: 'Captain Fantastic' Starring Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, And Kathryn Hahn

It's so easy to fantasize about Viggo Mortensen as the kindly patriarch of a reclusive survivalist family. He would be a stern but compassionate taskmaster to a gaggle of a half dozen children. They'd train to fight but also learn to think, and the gang would celebrate the birth of Noam Chomsky as they listen to Bach. No "occupying buildings on federal land" silliness for this crew; no weird sex stuff. Their family would be cultured and morally upright in their isolation.

Find this fantasy appealing? Rejoice: "Captain Fantastic" puts that dream on screen. Mortensen stars as Ben, the leader of this cult — sorry, family — of seven. The opening scene features the whole family painted in mud, observing as eldest son Bodevan (George McKay) stalks and kills a deer in a maturity ceremony. So you can see where the word "cult" might come to mind.

The lead role fits Mortensen like a glove, and he's surrounded by a very capable supporting cast....