Un dios salvaje

'CARNAGE': Four Stars (Out of Five) Roman Polanski adapts the popular French play 'God of Carnage', by Yasmina Reza, in to this dark comedy about argument. The film tells the story of two sets of parents trying to 'heal' a conflict started by their kids. It stars Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly. The entire film is set in real time in one Brooklyn apartment (although filmed in Paris due to director Polanski being a wanted fugitive in the US). Reza co-wrote the screenplay with Polanski and it's about as clever and witty as any film I've seen this year, while still remaining mostly believable! The film revolves around a fight that breaks out between two eleven year old classmates in Brooklyn Bridge Park when one boy refuses to let the other in his gang and calls him a tattle-tail. One boy is struck by the other with a stick and is hurt badly in the mouth, requiring some dental work. The parents of each boy decide to meet in one couple's Brooklyn apartment in order to discuss the fight and try to resolve the conflict between the two boys. The rest of the film (almost it's entirety) plays out in the apartment with the parents discussing their boys' conflict rather aggressively which results in a much bigger conflict between them. Like the recent Iranian film 'A SEPARATION' this is a beautiful and believable film about argument. Of course this is a much more comedic and somewhat lighthearted look at argument than the award winning foreign language film but it's just as realistic and drives home it's point just as clearly. The acting is all top notch with Foster playing against type as the most unlikeable character of the bunch and Waltz impressing yet again by delivering my favorite performance of the film. The dialogue is very smart and funny and the directing is perfectly subtle. Like I said not as hard-hitting as the Iranian masterpiece but nearly as effective in it's own way. A very relatable and enlightening film; one not to be missed!

I would like to start off my review with a little back story. I was off from work on a beautiful Southern California day and just watched Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery last night so this was a nice complimentary movie.

The basic premise of the movie is the interactions of two sets of parents who are getting together for the sole purpose of an altercation between their children. Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly are the parents of the injured child (Ethan). Kate Winslet and Christopher Waltz are the parents of the boy that hit Ethan (Zachery). The movie starts and ends in the confines of the Longstreet's apartment (Reilly & Foster). What ensues is the breakdown of civility between the two parties.

I really enjoyed the movie, especially as it was the right movie for my mood, but also because the casting was great, dialogue was sharp and as usual the directing was spot on. I went in expecting Reilly to be miscast, but he not only held his own but had some real moments. Foster is easy to hate and the one I think an award nomination is due. Winslet had a great metamorphosis as too chic investment banker. Waltz was maybe not fleshed out as much, but easily the most enjoyable. All things considered it was a Thoroughly enjoyable movie.

There is very little not to like but taken in the essence of an old fashioned ensemble And that it's wrapped up nicely with a bow, not many loose ends, it's a great 80 minute Escape from the HD life we live.

it is not a surprise. the cast is great and the script/play gives many opportunities for demonstrate this fact. image of a crisis, simple and powerful, impressive for the precision of scenes,a play who has chance to has extraordinary actors, it is a splendid exploration of characters and society human types. a special film who seems be almost extravagant.because all is different by common recipes. the transformation of masks in aggressive tools, the fragility of existences and marriages, the force of accusations, the frustrations as axis of a form of survive. a bitter comedy, a deep drama. and one of guide movies who reminds the purpose of real cinema - art as subtle reflection of life.

A one-act play, centring on two sets of parents in a Brooklyn apartment discussing a violent episode between their children, sandwiched between a very short, speech-free prologue and epilogue as credits roll. The ostensibly liberal but clearly uptight mother and apparently more conciliatory but hen-pecked father of the victim invite the aggressor's parents (she overtly more community-spirited, he more put out as he manages a work crisis on his mobile) over to talk about the incident, as responsible adults, but the ensuing clash of attitudes prompts a descent into the sort of puerile behaviour that was precisely the intended subject of the conversation.

Well cast, the four players interpret the sharp, witty lines with aplomb, one's sympathies leaping around from character to character as they gradually unravel, but without ever settling anywhere for long as each in turn cedes any moral high ground as quickly as they gained it. There is scorn aplenty (subtle and blatant) as rivalries and alliances are repeatedly struck and dashed. One can forgive the improbability of the meeting surviving several junctures when it would more naturally end because the dialogue continues to give.

I guess you can't go far wrong with such a script in the hands of this director and group of actors and it makes for a very watchable film, although I'm guessing the stage is its real home and I'll look out for it there.

Despite it's name, which should imply a very violent movie, this one is a wonderful little movie about social structures and the way its built within us to the point of forcing us to behave in certain ways.

The concept for this movie is simplistic to the maximum level. Just 2 couples discussing terms for their kid's fight. What seems to be a nice meeting to solve the problem soon became a carnage fight (of words only, gladly).

The movie allow us to explore the aspects of each of the 4 personalities, that's it, that's the movie, and it's great, superb, no music, no special effects, no induced drama, no additional details to color the movie. Simple, powerful, nicely done.

From all the movies coming from Hollywood these days, this one is a nice gift, top notch actors, great comedy, nicely put together, what more could you ask.

So, go on, see the movie, what are you waiting for!