"Wildlife" Paul Dano's Directorial Debut Stars Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal

The exquisitely shot film "Wildlife" marks actor Paul Dano's directorial debut.  Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan wrote the screenplay based on Pulitzer Prize winning author William Ford's novel.  Carey Mulligan stars as the beleaguered wife Jeanette married to quixotic husband Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal).  Their son Joe (Austrian actor Ed Oxenbould) is a good natured & kind hearted teen who becomes an innocent pawn pitted between his fiery mom and fair-weathered dad.  The family has moved countless times as Jerry seems unable to maintain a steady job.  His overblown ego continually causes friction with his employers.  "Wildlife" is a coming of age film set in a small MT town.  Fires are raging out of control in the surrounding woodlands.  Jerry gets fired yet again from his new job at the local country club for crossing inappropriate lines between guest & employee protocol,  Jerry asks his son "What's a man entitled."  The coming of age tale forces Joe to contend with his parent's adult problems that shouldn't be shouldered onto him.  When Jerry is offered his job back, he won't  relinquish his foolish pride & return to work despite the much needed income.  Instead, Jerry signs on as a fire fighter against his wife's vehement protestations that it's far too dangerous.  Joe's angelic face is the blank backdrop that registers all the emotions seething within.  Joe is consumed by his mother's outlandish & shameful behavior, his father's foolhardiness and his loving devotion to both.  Jerry's volatile rage drags Joe into a combustible confrontation that might have proven lethal.  Throughout all the hazardous, inappropriate & venomous situations in which Joe's unhinged parents put him through, he maintains an admirable grace & inner strength.  Sophie Darlington's cinematography is breathtaking and feeds into the story.  Oxenbould's performance captures the loss of innocence.  Mulligan offers up a fiery portrayal.  Dano's directorial debut is impressive.  But for all the sparkling elements the movie falls short of igniting charred moments of profound intensity.  The film sputters with several explosive scenes but mostly it smolders along at a slowly contained pace.