"Animal Kingdom," David Michod's debut feature, is undeniably well-made and compelling, but it's strictly for people who thought "The Departed" was too optimistic. Seventeen-year-old Joshua Cody (James Frecheville), known as J, never had a chance, as "Animal Kingdom" makes plain from the opening shot. Once J's mother dies of a heroin overdose, he has nowhere to go but the home of his "Grandma Smurf" (Jacki Weaver) and uncles, a violent group of career criminals that makes "White Heat" and "Bloody Mama" look like "Mary Poppins." The Codys live in a seedy section of Melbourne in which police and crooks are essentially competing mobs, sometimes cooperating but more often taking hits out on each other. It's a true jungle, just as merciless as the Serengeti and far more corrupt."Animal Kingdom" is essentially the story of how J is sucked inexorably into a life of crime, enhanced by ominous music and portentous slo-mo camera effects. Ben Mendelsohn--playing J's Uncle Andrew, a/k/a The Pope--is absolutely terrifying. So is Weaver as the outwardly cheery but inwardly satanic Grandma Smurf, who will sacrifice anyone and anything to preserve the family business. "Just because you don't want to do something," she remarks at one crucial point, "doesn't mean it can't be done." As for Frecheville, at the beginning he's reminiscent of Forrest Gump if Forrest had been played by the young Rupert Everett. His performance gains in power, however, as his afflictions pile up and his true nature starts to come out.
There are a few things about "Animal Kingdom" that don't fit together; for example, it's a little too convenient that upright Detective Sergeant Leckie (Guy Pearce) should be so ignorant of the corruption in his own police force. Nevertheless, "Animal Kingdom" is a persuasive crime drama and an admirable debut film for Michod. Just don't watch it when you're already depressed.
Joshua "J" Cody (James Frecheville) narrates the film and we first meet this young 17-year-old sitting beside his mother who has just died from an overdose of heroin. In a most detached way he calls his maternal grandmother Smurf (Jacki Weaver) and asks if she remembers him: his mother has been estranged from her family for years. Smurf welcomes his call and complies with his desire to move to her home. And what a home she runs! Smurf's sons are sociopathic criminals on the run from the law (but also involved with the law in the illegal sale of drugs with bad cops). The worst offender is Pope (Ben Mendelsohn) who is the brains behind the crimes the family commits: he is also on medication for his mental challenge. The other two brothers are drug-addled Craig (Sullivan Stapleton) and the strange very young Darren (Luke Ford). Pope's best friend in crime is the rather tender Baz (Joel Edgerton) with whom J can relate. J is thus thrust into the family he has not known and becomes reluctantly involved with the criminal shenanigans and killings of Smurf's boys. Smurf has a bizarre relationship with her 'gang' of sons, seemingly kind and protective but with a surprising evil side of her own. As the story progresses J is caught between the family and the police in the form of Investigator Leckie (Guy Pearce, in another memorable role) and the story deals with how this contrasting set of circumstances molds the young J.
There isn't a weak link in the cast and after viewing the film it is understandable why Jacki Weaver was nominated for an Oscar. This is a different sort of crime drama and the flavor of the Australian setting adds immeasurably to the mood. Grady Harp, March 11A surprisingly understated gem, Australia's "Animal Kingdom" is more adept at showcasing the psychological dissolution of a crime family than being a gung-ho action picture. In his choices, writer/director David Michod has produced a unique film that combines elements of a character study within the structure of a domestic drama. Placing that domestic drama inside a criminal family in flux, in decline and in desperation provides a slow build urgency to the film that causes the suspense to rise exponentially as the film proceeds. Effectively employing a moral ambiguity to his central protagonist, Michod creates a complex family unit that alternately protects its own or, if need be, devours the weakest. I loved the quiet intensity throughout and appreciated the thoughtful characterizations that made the "Animal Kingdom" an effective study of humans pushed to the edge.
The film is centered around James Frecheville, a rather passive seventeen year old that comes to live with his grandmother (Jackie Weaver) when his mother overdoses. Unbeknownst to him, his mother has shielded him from a family that lives outside the limits of the law. Frecheville, however, seems content to play a marginal role within the family enterprise as it garners him acceptance and connectivity. As the police, led by Guy Pearce, start to close in on the various members of the group--a splinter starts to form that will eventually rend everyone apart. The further the film progresses, the larger the body count until everyone left is scrambling in desperation mode for survival. The film is exceedingly well acted. Weaver is cool and cheerful even at her most treacherous. Sullivan Stapleton is terrifically unhinged as Uncle Craig, Joel Edgerton is astutely level headed as Uncle Barry, and Luke Ford is surprisingly sympathetic as the over-his-head Uncle Darren. But aside from Weaver's subversive villainy, it's a manic Ben Mendelsohn that provides real menace throughout "Animal Kingdom."
If anything keeps the film from being perfect, for me, it's the naive and passive Frecheville. He never elicited much sympathy or empathy and pairing him with a girlfriend who was equally foolish didn't help matters. In many ways, you know the young couple is doomed--but it merely seems like they brought it upon themselves with their patent refusal to acknowledge what is going on before their eyes. Still, "Animal Kingdom" packs a powerfully hard edge. The film is thoroughly entertaining and works as an intellectual thriller, not as a shoot-em-up. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of well placed violence in "Animal Kingdom"-the film, however, revels in the choices that people must make in extreme circumstances. And, in the end, it's all about survival instinct. I really loved this movie. About 4 1/2 stars--I'll round up for the distinct and effective characterizations (although I'm tempted to round down for the idiot girlfriend!). KGHarris, 1/11.
Read Best Reviews of Animal Kingdom (2010) Here
This Aussie crime drama rates very high on my list of best crime dramas in the past 15 or 20 years. The screenplay, directing & acting were all superb, rivaling that of Heat & Goodfellas. It also has some similarities to the 80's film At Close Range with Penn & Walken, which was also brilliantly acted. This film was a directorial debut for the director, which makes it all the more impressive. This film is far superior to The Departed, which won best picture a few years back, but I'm sure it will get slighted by OSCAR because it's an Aussie film. The film keeps your attention & is very unpredictable, has many twists & turns & has a brilliant ending. Don't miss this film.Want Animal Kingdom (2010) Discount?
I had not even heard of this movie until learning of Jacki Weaver's Oscar nomination. Liking great performances in interesting looking films, I purchased the dvd and was pleasantly surprised. This is one terrific crime drama with equally terrific peformances. Jacki Weaver not only deserved her Oscar nom but in my opinion should have taken home the Academy Award, she was that good. The rest of the cast was impressive as well, but it was Ben Mendelsohn whom I thought was the real standout. From the moment he appears on screen he catches your attention, and I for one was mesmerized by his performance as "Pope," one of the more intriguing screen criminals in recent memory. There's one particular favorite scene of mine, with an Air Supply music video playing over it, wherein Mendelsohn doesn't utter a word, and barely moves, yet terrifies with his mere presence and stare. He is chilling here and throughout. Aside from the performances I liked the fact that this was a crime drama that focused more upon the criminal family than the deeds they perpetrated which led to their reputation. With one notable exception that sets off a violent chain of events, those deeds are not shown and I think the movie is the better for it. It's a much different take on the subject matter, making for a much more interesting film, although I must admit I would love to see a prequel that shows how the notorious Cody clan got started on their life of crime. Hopefully David Michod (great directorial debut here) will consider it.Save 70% Off
No comments:
Post a Comment