Watch Leave No Trace, the best-reviewed movie in Rotten Tomatoes history, before it leaves Netflix
In the aftermath of multiple protracted wars in the Middle East, American cinema has often struggled over the past decade with the lives of veterans returning to a country that has little to offer them. Some films have successfully filtered that idea through the crime thriller genre – Michael Bay’s Ambulance is a striking example in a recent wave of movies about ex-soldiers using their skills to pay their bills by turning to crime. But if you’re looking for something a little lower octane, you can’t do better Leave no tracewhich is leaving Netflix on July 4.
A masterpiece from Oscar-nominated writer-director Debra Granik (Winter flounder), Leave no trace is also the most rated movie with 100% approval on Rotten Tomatoesstrike out Toy story 2. I don’t have much stock in Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s good for the money with this one.
Leave no trace follows Will (Ben Foster), a veteran with PTSD, and his teenage daughter Tom (Thomasin McKenzie). The pair live off the land in a public forest reserve outside of Portland, keeping to themselves and enjoying a peaceful life together. But when a jogger sees them, park rangers and social services step into the picture and turn their lives upside down.
Image: Bleecker Street Media
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24758615/Leave_No_Trace_033.jpg "Watch Leave No Trace, the best-reviewed movie in Rotten Tomatoes history, before it leaves Netflix 1")
Image: Bleecker Street Media
A thoughtful and deeply sensitive story about family, trauma, community and responsibility, Leave no trace focuses the spotlight on people on the margins of society. It’s anchored by fantastic performances that immerse viewers in the central father-daughter relationship – Foster is always dependable for his troubled, quiet intensity, and McKenzie shines as the wise Tom who is past her years. The lush cinematography brings to life the greenery of the Pacific Northwest forests.
Leave no trace is one of my favorite movies of the century, and now it can be one of yours too. Be sure to check it out before it hits Netflix on July 4th. And if you want to meet this recommendation after that time, the movie is also available for free with a library card on Hoopla or Kanopy, and for digital rental or purchase on Amazon, AppleTVand Vudu.