Paul Dano has had one of the most successful careers of any actor on the indie movie circuit, so naturally his next step would be behind the camera.
IFC Films released the first trailer for Wildlife, which Dano directed and co-wrote with longtime girlfriend Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick). Based on the 1990 novel by Richard Ford, the movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan as a married couple in 1960 who move to Montana and begin growing apart. Seemingly told through the eyes of their son Joe (Ed Oxenbould), roaming Montana wildfires loom while his mother falls in love with another man (Bill Camp).
Wildlife is coming off of some glowing reviews after being shown at both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festival. Our own Katey Stoetzel praised the movie for its “quiet, contemplative view of the everyday struggles of Americans in the 60s,” while David Ehrlich of IndieWire praised Dano’s direction in creating “an unsparing portrait that’s harsh and humane in equal measure.”
Speaking to Deadline after the film’s showcase at Cannes, Dano talked about how he’d been a fan of the original novel’s story of a “heartbreaking or harrowing family situation, but still with love and compassion and honesty.”
“I really liked looking at our flaws in full depth but still with a sense of love there,” Dano said.
This isn’t Kazan and Dano’s first time working together, as the two collaborated in the 2012 romantic comedy Ruby Sparks, which Kazan wrote.
Wildlife hits theaters on October 19. What do you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stick with The Young Folks for the latest movie news.
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