Creating a unique coming-of-age narrative on film remains a thoroughly difficult affair, as the requisite life-changing events in a young person's life remain overly familiar for anyone watching them. So if breaking the mold means having David Duchovny portraying a scruffy gardener/shaman named Goat Man, then by all means, go for it. At least, that's the thought from director Christopher Neil it seems, and the trailer for his feature debut, “Goats” has hit the web to show exactly what he means.
Boasting a solid cast that also includes Vera Farmiga, Ty Burrell, and Keri Russell, the trailer for “Goats” certainly puts them front and center, and it appears the filmmakers are hoping for this to be another breakout Sundance hit, after it premiered there earlier this year. In the film, a teenager, Ellis (Graham Phillips), leaves his free-spirited mother (Farmiga) to attend an East Coast prep school, and finds himself torn between the values laid down by his mother's live-in gardener, Goat Man, and the chance at reconnecting with his distanced father (Burrell).
Of course, Ellis discovers girls, school, and a newfound independence for himself along the way, but again, there are elements that suggest a different approach to your usual teen fare. Farmiga and Duchovny look to be having an absolute blast with their exaggerated parts, while Burrell plays the straight supporting role dependably well. However, bear in mind our initial optimism wore off somewhat when we saw the film at Sundance, calling it “the kind of entertainment that's familiar and pleasant enough that you easily forget that nothing much is happening on screen.”
On the plus side, we were still keen on the film's performances, so if that provides reason enough to get involved, “Goats” hits theatres on August 10th, and you can check the trailer out below. [Yahoo]
