Post by StevePulaski on May 9, 2012 14:23:50 GMT -5
Kate Winslet becomes beyond frustrated in Carnage.
Rating: ★★★★
Here's the first modern film I have elected into the "Required Viewing" vault. Roman Polanski's Carnage is a brilliant piece of work, woefully underrated, impeccably written, and feels like it distributes career-worthy performances around to all four of its actors.
Yes, there are only four actors in the film. They are John C. Reilly, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz. Reilly and Foster play Michael and Penelope Longstreet who invite Alan and Nancy Cowan (Waltz and Winslet) to their luxurious Manhattan condo to discuss the fight that broke out between their children. Apparently, Alan and Nancy's son Zachary hit the Longstreet's kid, Ethan, in the mouth with a stick, resulting in two missing teeth. When inviting the couple over, Michael and Penelope try their best to keep the peace, but the reality is this is a stressful, disheartening situation and it is unclear if it could be worked out with content obedience.
The day races by, numerous glasses of wine are poured, regrettable things are said and done, and things spiral downward from the moment they begin. The entire seventy-nine minute film take places in the apartment, except for the beginning and end sequences, making this comedy sort of self-aware in the sense that it doesn't want to become tedious and dry and bore the audience longer than necessary. The possibilities for what two couples can and will say when confined to a small apartment with people they don't truly know is infinite, and screenwriters Roman Polanski and Yasmina Reza work wonders with the setting.
But the material is truly made compelling by the capable band of actors here, all who have pulled off more than one great role in their life. This is smoothly directed and intriguingly written, making it one of the smartest and more intellectual comedies of the 2011 year.
Why is it "Required Viewing?": Some will feel that this is just another unsung comedy-drama, that garnered a meager box office gross and little-to-no recognition when in theaters. What Carnage shows is that a premise, even when limited geographically, can be made up for physically and still be a wonderful and daring film. The key word is listen, and maybe if you put it in twice, listen again. I have seen Carnage three times now, and with repeated viewings, the material only becomes livelier and the humor more off-beat and hilarious. Not to mention the ending provides social commentary that will hopefully be an eye-opener to parents and may prove Alan and Michael's point they make numerous times in the film. I'll be damned if this isn't one of the funniest dark comedies in a blue moon.
My original four star review of Carnage, stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=perfect&action=display&thread=2888