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Greetings again from the darkness. An Australian movie that packs a wallop! Writer/Director David Michod delivers an unsettling look into one family's life of crime and corresponding order of things - the circle of life in the Animal Kingdom. Supposedly based on a true story, this is a tough family that you would not want as neighbors. These aren't Scorcese's smooth operators from "Casino" or "Goodfellas". No, these guys are worse.

The matriarch is played chillingly by Jacki Weaver. She is mother or grandmother to the guys (except for one outsider) in the band of crooks. While she messes with your mind through the story, it's not until the final 15 minutes when she really kicks it up a notch and becomes flat out frightening in her power.

There are only a couple of actors that most people would recognize. Joel Edgerton plays the outsider in the group, and the one trying to go straight by playing the stock market with his "earnings". The other is Guy Pearce, who plays the detective trying to both solve the cases and rescue young Josh, played by newcomer James Frecheville.

Not only is this the type of story that sucks you in, it is a reminder of just how distracting movie stars can be a to film. The lack of stars allows us to really be absorbed into this family, or better, this world of crime, deceit, corruption and paranoia. There is not a single superstar who appears - one who can capitalize on his film history of characters and immediately generate recognition. Here, the viewer must get to know an entire family for who and what they are. This is powerful stuff for a film lover.

The winner for best psychopath is Ben Mendelsohn as Pope. His dead eyes will scare you. His demeanor will scare you. His actions will disgust you. There are two lines in the film that help us make sense of what occurs. Early on, the narrator tells us that "all crooks come undone" at some point. Later, the detective (Pearce) tells us that in the Animal Kingdom, you are either weak or strong. The lines seems pretty clear.

The focus of the film is on Josh (Frecheville) who gets plopped into this family of criminals after his mom dies of an overdose and he calls his grandmother (Weaver). Josh spends the rest of the film trying to blend in while staying clean. Of course, even his stoic mask doesn't save him from the path of destruction created by Pope.

In the end, the film is about survival, adaptation and defining what really defines strong and weak, good and bad. If you enjoy powerful crime thrillers, this one is worth checking out ... and be appreciative for the lack of Hollywood star power. That's part of why it works!

I don't know what it is about Australian cinema and filmmakers these past 15 years, but they are just getting better and better. OK, so we here in the Northern Hemisphere don't necessarily get to see the dross. Granted. But what we do see shows that there's talent galore down under. There are, of course, talented actors, writers, cinematographers and directors around the world, but at the moment Australia seems to have found its own voice, its own style which is not just unique, but interesting, accomplished and gripping.

Unlike so much high-energy Hollywood dreck, Animal Kingdom relies on a good script, a gripping story, good acting, solid characterisation and great directing. There is no gratuitous flashiness to cover up bald patches. This particular film's style is minimalist, the camera hand-held (as far as I can see) throughout. But that doesn't lead to tricksy artiness.

It allows the actors to act - it's what they do best after all - with none of them falling back onto the schtick they are always hired for - Bruce Willis being Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise, you get the picture. All I can say is if you get the chance to catch this, catch it. Oh, and keep making them, Australia.

ANIMAL KINGDOM is another slice of gruelling nastiness that comes to us courtesy of our Australian cousins. It's not quite as downbeat and depressing as SNOWTOWN, although it gets close at times. This elaborate thriller is about a sprawling family of ne'er-do-wells and no-good criminals and what happens when a young and innocent relation is brought into the fold.

It's not really the narrative that's important here, although there are a number of fresh situations and off-hand moments that make it stand out (that opener is a real clincher). It works best when delivering a series of shocks and sudden twists that the viewer certainly doesn't see coming. No, it's the characterisation where ANIMAL KINGDOM really shines; this is a film for actors, showcasing a number of realistic performances from the cast.

Ben Mendelsohn is the one who really stands out in his star-making turn as the thoroughly creepy guy at the top of the chain, while Joel Edgerton and Sullivan Stapleton bring depth to their otherwise thuggish roles. James Frecheville plays it quiet and understated as the lead although the reliable Guy Pearce shines as a cop. Jacki Weaver may play one of the most understated and nasty characters ever. It's a decent film, certainly more compelling than most things Hollywood put out these days.

The backdrop to this movie is Melbourne, Australia in the mid-1980's, which (according to the director) had one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the world. At the time, there were several deaths in Melbourne in which wanted and suspected criminals were killed by the police under suspicious circumstances. These killings in turn supposedly ignited a slew of retaliatory murders perpetrated on police officers (cf. the "Walsh Street" police shootings).

This is a movie about a young man (Josh or "J," played by James Frecheville) whose extended family are all criminals. Using the character of seventeen-year-old J as a sort of catalyst, the movie explores a variety of crime-related issues, from the effects of growing up in a world where criminal activity is the norm, to the escalation of crime that is a natural consequence of vigilantism (especially when the vigilantes are police).

The characters are all played very well, with exceptionally good performances given by Ben Mendelsohn, Jackie Weaver, Sullivan Stapleton and young James Frecheville in his debut as J.

While "Animal Kingdom" starts slowly (perhaps -too- slowly for some), it continually builds in intensity throughout the entire movie, culminating with an ending that is both shocking and yet inevitable. In particular, the movie has a very compelling scene played perfectly by Mendelsohn, with an awesome supporting role played by Luke Ford - I'm sure this scene repulsed many in the audience (it certainly repulsed me). At first, I feared that the scene was added by the director merely as a gratuitous exploitation of the audience's emotions. However, as the movie progresses, the scene's outcome becomes an integral part of the plot development, and is therefore necessary for the completion of the main story.

This movie will not be for everybody - the subject matter and the honest way in which the movie portrays it made the movie somewhat taxing at times to sit through. However, I think those willing to consider the necessity of telling the story of "Animal Kingdom" will find the movie entertaining and thought-provoking - I certainly did.

Animal Kingdom is the extremely impressive debut from director David Michôd. Reminiscent of Andrew Dominik's Chopper (2000) in its authentic portrayal of Australia's underworld the film shows inner city Melbourne in all of its warts and all actuality a place where boredom leads to thrill seeking, drug taking and crime. If you were under the impression that a movie about a doomed crime family is going to be a cliché ridden washout then think again. Meticulous acting, thrilling set pieces and a gripping intelligent script combine to make Animal Kingdom one of the most original and realistic crime films in recent memory.

Animal Kingdom opens with 18 year old Joshua 'Jay' Cody (James Frecheville) sitting in the living room of his suburban Melbourne home watching television. As Jay blankly stares at a game show on TV his mother sits beside him dying of a massive heroin overdose. Given his bizarrely muted response to the situation and the later news that his mother has died it is apparent that the teenager's life has not even closely resembled normality. However, when he gets back in touch with his estranged family Jay's life disintegrates further as he is drawn into their nightmarish world of crime, violence and death. Through all of the adversity he faces the battle to live a normal and peaceful life proves to be the most difficult of all.

Surprisingly for a film which spends a lot of its time showing the relatively mundane suburban streets and houses of Melbourne Animal Kingdom also contains some astonishingly artistic camera-work. As Janine Cody (Jacki Weaver) embraces her newly recaptured grandson the camera draws in on a kitsch brass plate detailing a jungle inhabited by a pride of lions. As the scene transforms into a series of grainy CCTV stills of masked gunman operatic arias pour forth creating a terrifyingly beautiful montage. The overwhelming sense is that of almost immediately being drawn into an atmosphere of pure malevolence. Not since Malcolm McDowell's devilish Alex smirked down the camera lens in Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange has a film opened with such diabolical intent. However, unlike Kubrick's 1971 masterpiece Animal Kingdom is contained within a wholly realistic world and is all the more powerful for it.

From the outside the Codys appear to be like any other working-class family. In one early sequence Craig charges around the house shouting about the family dog whilst Jay's voice-over narrates each of their personality traits and criminal involvement. This scene also uncovers one of film's major themes that evil is inescapable and lurks beneath the surface of almost every facet of life. Never was this truer than in case of the Cody boy's mother and matriarch of the family Janine who defends her sons to the bitter end. Janine's stance links back to the film's title the instinctive law of the jungle or Animal Kingdom where a mother will do all she can to protect her young. Jacki Weaver gives an Oscar nominated performance which keeps us guessing whether she is woefully misguided or ruthlessly evil. Whatever the case may be Janine is terrifying in her certainty. The horrendous decree she makes half way through the film is one of the most shocking cinematic twists you are likely to see this year.

Mention must also be made of Ben Mendelsohn whose portrayal of Andrew "Pope" Cody is one of the most convincing and terrifying psychopaths since Dennis Hopper's Frank Booth. Totally impulsive and thoroughly deranged it is impossible for the audience to take their eyes off Pope as we witness a thousand and one sick thoughts running through his mind.

Guy Pearce, whose career is going from strength to strength coming off his portrayal of a self-indulgent Edward VIII in The King's Speech, is the moral conscious of film as Detective Leckie who attempts to advise Jay. In a world of corrupt police and lawyers no one can be trusted an intense feeling of claustrophobia encircles Jay as he is given the impossible task of having to navigate the legal system whilst trying to escape from his own family.

For all of the immorality on display Animal Kingdom is an intensely moral film. Jay's narration informs us that his uncles were all frightened even if they did not show it and that "crooks always come undone… always." This morality is extremely ambiguous and opens up a number of questions regarding trust and family loyalty. Whilst there is something grand and Shakespearean in this tale of a doomed family the film remains firmed rooted in the reality of 21st Century Melbourne. Animal Kingdom is original, mesmerising and thoroughly deserving of all the lofty praise that has been heaped upon it.

"Animal Kingdom" is a highly respected Australian film that's apparently received a HUGE number of nominations for the Australian Film Awards--as well as an Oscar nomination for Jacki Weaver (as the matriarch of the family--who did a great job playing pure evil). And, I must say that technically speaking, it is a very good film. However, I must also say that it's a thoroughly unpleasant film that really had no payoff by the end. In many ways, it reminds me of "Winter's Bone"--though I think "Winter's Bone" handles similar material in a better and much more satisfying way.

The film centers on Josh (James Frecheville)--a very quiet and introverted young man who comes from an incredibly sick and twisted family. The film begins with his mother overdosing from drugs and he moves in with his grandmother and his uncles--and this new home is MUCH more destructive and sick! The uncles all sell drugs and are very violent men--and eventually the police home in on these sick folks and then things get REALLY crazy. I could say a lot more, but I don't want to ruin the suspense.

While I like films that fight against convention and formula, I had a problem with this film that you perhaps might not. I wanted all this sickness and dysfunction to somehow work out for the good and for there to be SOME sense of meaning. Instead, the ending just reinforced the complete lack of meaning and left me very cold. Well made but VERY depressing and unsatisfying--it's hard to like a movie where you really don't like anyone.

After his mother dies, 17 year old J comes to live with his estranged grandmother and uncles, a family of felons. He enters the animal kingdom of suburban crime and stumbles through a minefield of sociopaths, cops and lawyers, all claiming to protect him. J soon learns though that trust means nothing when people are desperate.

This is a dramatic, well-made film that haunts the mind. Highly cinematic, meticulously crafted, thrilling and poignant in equal measure. The director emphasises realistic dialogue, multi-dimensional characters and underplays violence. Still, the film is palpably tense, there are scenes that will leave you shaking, even where there is no bloody payoff. As the body count builds even a car slowly reversing down a driveway becomes a menacing sight. The ending is satisfying.

The film is very well acted, young Frecheville keeps it natural and holds his own amongst titanic performances from veteran Aussies. Mendelsohn as Uncle Pope is particularly brilliant, dressed at Christmas from Lowes, this dorky suburban thug bullies the weak (including his passive younger brother Darren, unhappily entrenched in a life he cannot escape from), and who's confrontational behaviour springs from a deep well of paranoia. His maladjusted moral compass so skewed he frequently crosses into psychopathic territory. And yet he remains all too human, he's a mundane monster. Weaver too, leaves a memorable impression, where revelations abound in the film's third act.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen a courtroom scene that is left to the imagination, we see corrupt police in action, why not a demonstration of hypocrisy in the justice system too? But this is a minor whinge in the grand scale of this ambitious story.

Animal Kingdom is a film of great promise but it fails to truly satisfy. The film is 20-30 minutes too long, and it lacks a certain energy. The film's central performance by James Frecheville is fantastic, however the character he plays is so morose and uninteresting that towards the end of the 112 minute running time you just don't care what happens to him.

Certain plot machinations towards the end of the film are somewhat incoherent, and situations that could have yielded great moments are cut short or mishandled in favour of long, drawn out periods of exposition or superfluous characters. This said, special mention must be made of Joel Edgerton and Ben Mendelsohn for their first rate performances amongst a already stellar cast.

However it was still a well made film, and there's much to recommend it. It's just it didn't reach it's full potential, and there's no reason why it shouldn't have.

I will be honest, I have always found it hard to get excited about seeing an Aussie movie. I'm of the general opinion that the Oz film industry is normally too wrapped up in being 'true blue' that they forget to make films with a universal theme and subsequently building an output that strays very little. Well hasn't 2010 proved me wrong. First there was the breath of fresh air that was Bran Nue Dae followed by the memorable American-set debut by Sydney director Andrew Lancaster, Accidents Happen, and the moving WWI drama Beneath Hill 60. Then, like the final dose of a patriotic inoculation to my anti-Oz entertainment views of old, comes first-timer David Michod's Sundance winning Animal Kingdom, gaining my first five-star rating for the year.

With nary a flaw to be found, this crime-drama unfolds at a terrifically slow-burning yet somehow exhilarating pace. The intricately detailed tale has been crafted with such care and dedication that every single frame seems to be oozing with importance, whilst the amazing soundtrack significantly adds to the immersive atmosphere. Drawing you in from the very first scene and never letting you go, you can't help but think about what happens long after the final credits roll. The ambitious movie-making and successful result is even more remarkable when you consider that Michod never resorts to gratuitousness (with violence or sex) or over-the-top, colourful personalities – fallback devices for many modern 'gangster' pictures – instead allowing his immaculately constructed story and deeply invested characters, all of whom share a layered relationship with one another, to sweep us away.

Jacki Weaver has received numerous critical plaudits for her unnerving performance as Grandma Smurf – a resourceful, persevering women who'll stop at nothing to protect her boys – and deservedly so; the powerful handle she has on her sons and her willingness to embrace the criminal environment is deeply disturbing and chilling. Also tremendous, and for me the acting highlight of the picture, is Mendelsohn. An eerily quiet felon that can explode into unhinged and desperate violence at any moment, the monstrous Pope commands every bit of our attention. Witnessing his calm exterior when being arrested by the cops for a heinous crime – either because he assumes he'll go free or because going to prison just doesn't faze him – is extraordinary. Elsewhere youngsters Frecheville and Ford do a commendable job holding their own against such an experienced cast; Stapleton is fascinating as the drug-fuelled middle sibling; adding class and impact as always is international star Pearce whilst the immensely talented Edgerton presents a likable and charismatic alternative as Cody family friend Barry.

A triumph of Australian cinema, this could very well be one of our nation's greatest.

5 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)

Movie review by Peter Letso on 9/29/10

When the mother of seventeen-year-old Joshua Cody (James Frecheville) dies of a heroin overdose while sitting beside him on the living room couch, he nonchalantly continues to watch "Deal or No Deal" on TV as paramedics try to revive her then take her from the house.

Perhaps J was relieved. Maybe he saw it coming. Regardless, this glimpse of a troubled life helps us understand how he'll respond to what's next.

The shy, introverted J reaches out for his grandmother, Janine 'Smurf' Cody (Jacki Weaver). J's mom was Grandma Smurf's only daughter. They hadn't spoken for years after a huge, booze-fueled argument over the rules of a card game. Grandma Smurf was not someone to be trifled with.

Smurf takes custody of J, which means he will share a home with Smurf's three sons, a trio of modern-day gangsters. J's uncles are brazen murderers, bank robbers and drug dealers. Smurf embraces her role as a sort of lioness/den mother to her boys, who are clearly the animals in the title. In her eyes, in her kingdom, her boys can do no wrong, and her twisted adoration for them is all too often sealed with a warm hug and a too-long kiss - on the lips.

First-time Director David Michod, who also wrote the screenplay, takes a straightforward approach to conveying his story. Close-up shots of facial expressions are utilized to great effect - the Codys are under constant police surveillance, rendering the film an exercise in suffocating suspense. Low-key lighting augments the shadowy plot. The Cody family is not glorified. Indeed, their fears are palpable. The inevitable, frequent violence is neither excessive nor gratuitous. This is, quite simply, the way the Codys live their life.

A montage of grainy photographs, taken from closed circuit cameras of the Cody's actual bank robberies in progress, closely follows the opening scenes - Michod's very useful way of giving the audience an appetizer of what's to come. Early on, he also uses J as a narrator, as the story is clearly told from his point of view.

Set in Australia in the 1980's and based on actual events, Michod's story of a Melbourne crime family is populated by individuals with very distinct personalities. Uncles Andrew 'Pope' (Ben Mendelsohn), Craig (Sullivan Stapleton), and Darren (Luke Ford) form the close-knit yet disparate trio of outlaw brothers. Pope, the oldest, is a drug dependent bank robber with a hair-trigger temper. Craig, heavily tattooed, usually shirtless, and always wild-eyed, is an obvious cocaine addict and the most belligerent. Darren, the youngest, is most reluctant to follow in the family business. Joel Edgerton (as Barry Brown, a family friend and mentor trying to go straight) helps round out this first-rate Australian cast of ne'er do wells.

Grandma Smurf's extraordinary presence is matched brilliantly by the family's chief nemesis, Homicide Detective Nathan Leckie, played by esteemed actor Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker; Memento; L. A. Confidential). Leckie pulls out all the stops as he attempts to get J to spill the beans on his uncles. Watching the characters portrayed by veteran performers Weaver and Pearce match wits is worth the price of admission.

Composer Antony Partos' original score is haunting, befitting this truly unsettling tale. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw effectively captures the bleakness of the Cody's tacky home and the depressing Melbourne surroundings.

Animal Kingdom won the Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. This is a gritty, edgy, suspenseful crime thriller that is not to be missed by avid moviegoers.

One of those movies that grabs you from the excellent opening credits as the camera pans over security camera stills of a gang of Melbourne thugs robbing banks. The audience, which was rustling noisy junk food through the previews, fell silent very quickly.

Jackie Weaver as the Matriarch of this crime family was amazing.

It felt a little "talkie" until about half way through, but there is tension right from the beginning that carries you through. Every character is connected to every other as if by springs quivering with tension or compression and the movie really delivers holding the resolution to the final frame where everything shifts into a new alignment.

I really enjoyed Animal Kingdom, it does not glamorize the life of these crims the way Underbelly or Sopranos does, and the cops reflect the dirty history of the Melbourne's finest too (Guy Pearce reprising his role in LA Confidential as a rare Mr Clean). Overall I think David Simon (The Wire) would approve of Animal Kingdom.

Anyone who has wondered how murderers can be loved by their Moms (isn't that most everyone?) should see this movie, it isn't a TV experience it really works well on the big screen.

The series (based on the movie) is one of my favorite EVER (it rivals SOA, to me). So I had to give the movie a try. I was not disappointed. The movie is a lot slower, but it has more of a "gritty", ominous feel. And even though the series is more intense, and exciting, the movie has great qualities. The acting, of all characters, is very good, and makes it seem realistic, like this is really a true story. And even though it can drag in places, the suspense is dragging you along as well. Definitely a must see. And if you haven't seen the series, it's a must see as well... but I'd watch the movie first...

This film has been given some good reviews, and I can see why, at times. It's filmed well, and there are some good scenes.

However, this is NOT an exciting film, and anyone comparing this to it's crime counterparts, I don't know what film you were watching. This is boring, very boring, anyone wanting to watch an Australian 'Goodfellas' (I can't believe a previous review compared these two, on NO level are they similar. No level.) Or any of the tens of films along these lines, should not watch this film.

I like a lot of Australian films, and like most, this is well shot, but unlike most, this is very dull. The big sale of this film was 'GUY PIERCE' is in it, well, he is, as a cop, who has about twenty minutes screen time max.

So to be honest, I can't recommend this film, and if you do watch it, after about an hour, like me, you'll be wishing for 'J' to just get shot and for the credits to roll.

Animal Kingdom is an Australian film that focuses on a seventeen year old young man named Josh. Josh's mother has just died and not knowing who he should call he calls his grandmother Janine. Josh explains to Janine the situation and she goes to pick him up and lets him stay with her at her home. What we also learn is that Josh and Janine have not seen each other in years. Janine is Josh's mother's mother and they had a falling out, so because of that they have not seen each other for quite a long time. Usually around Janine's house are her sons and Josh's uncles. We soon see that they are involved in numerous criminal and other illegal behaviour and that the police are on to them. One officer by the name of Leckie, continually questions Josh, and in his own way tries to protect him from his family and as time goes on, Josh, starts to see what he means because whenever Josh, has been questioned his uncles are very uneasy around him and the fear and ultimately violent actions that take place will leave Josh with a tough decision, which is whether to turn his uncles in and betray the only family he has, or to lie to Leckie and continue to live in fear. Animal Kingdom works for several reasons. It is a very intense and disturbing film that is in it's own way is also a very creepy and scary film. The performances and the musical score really elaborate this and at times I was getting uncomfortable in my seat not knowing what would happen in this film and because of the brilliant performances and music the film made me squirm in my seat even more. The film has a gritty and earthy type of look and feel to it, which I found appropriate for the story telling and basically the setting and mood the filmmakers were trying to get across. The story is quite an involving one and as it moved on I started to care for Josh, and hoped that he would make it out of this terrible situation and that in one way, or another he would go on to bigger and better things. Also every time his uncles were on screen they struck a fear and uncomfortable feeling inside of me and basically real genuine fear of these characters. The film is a low budget film, but by using very good actors, music and story it elevates it to become a first grade picture that I think most people would like, if they would only give it a chance and go see it. This is an incredibly powerful and disturbing film and it will leave an impact on you because of how masterfully it was done with it's great cast, crew and story. One of the most suspenseful and powerful films of the year that deserves a look from others because behind all this lies a really good movie and one that should be seen.

David Michôd's Animal Kingdom is an impressive crime-drama that leaves you speechless. Its portrayal of a volatile family entrenched in Melbourne's criminal underbelly is visceral as it comes, exploring the parallelism of moral decay & survival. Here, Michôd's direction deserves praise, conveying tension with the slightest of spectacles. His preference of creeping silence, haunting moments passed as mundane, and a brooding score captures the suffocating bleakness of his characters' ordeal and the desperation that craves for violence. As for the screenwriting, Michôd's inspired work that strips the criminal world bare, showcasing its tragedies even to the innocent, ushers this deeply unsettling & captivating watch.

Coming to the performances, the ensemble was PERFECT, with standouts Ben Mendelsohn & Jacki Weaver, delivering an Oscar-worthy portrayal. Pope was an inconceivable menace, not only because of the wickedness of his character, but because of his unstableness that Mendelsohn conveys vividly. Weaver's Smurf on the other hand, commands her every scene with this eerie matriarch presence, that feels equal parts hypnotic & terrifying.

Where Animal Kingdom stumbles is when AK's aforementioned spectacles, tread along the lines of obscure & bizarre. These moments can throw audiences off, as motivations come devoid of exposition & certain events corrode the genuineness simply to prove Michôd's point.

Overall, hard to believe that David Michôd's directorial debut produced something THIS GOOD. His Animal Kingdom simply captivates, with its magnetic performances and searing depiction of a crime family pushed to the brink. Say Hello to Australian filmmaking, mateys!

Director David Michod should be congratulated for his intelligent, quiet control over this strongly scripted, well-acted, distinctly Australian movie. All the parts came together with originality, which is not an easy task, especially with crime stories; but this one delves into the families & minds of criminals avoiding blatant stereotypes so often thrust upon the viewer. All the actors are perfectly cast and fine actors. Jacki Weaver, you nailed Smurf and Guy Pearce has become this wonderful chameleon & consummate actor who continues to surprise with his range. This is your first feature, David Michod, well I'm certainly looking forward to your second.

This film is about a young man who moves in to live with his grandmother, who is a family of notorious criminals.

"Animal Kingdom" may stand out as cold and brutal, with a focus on family dynamics within a criminal family. It is an interesting take, but I do not quite see why it has attracted so much praise. I find the plot a little confusing at first, as characters are inadequately introduced. I had a hard time following who's who. After I figured out who's who, I found the film a little slow. This is probably deliberate, in order to underline the brutal nature of the crime family using dark themes. If it was more condensed, it would have been more thrilling.

The opening scene of 'Animal Kingdom' is awesome. A young man just on the eve of maturity and an older woman watch a brainless TV competition show. She seems to have fallen asleep on the sofa. Next paramedics from the emergency service enter. We understand the two are mother and son, and the mother fainted after injecting heroin. The paramedics try to resuscitate her. She actually was dead. The son continues to watch TV without any apparent emotion during all the scene, the eyes stuck to the empty content of the TV show.

The scene is symbolic for the empty social and cultural world where the characters of the film move. We may be in the Melbourne of the first years of the 2000s but the story of the family could have taken place in any other time and place, and there are no cultural or moral drives in what the family of gangsters in the center of the story do, there is only the instinct that brings the family together in some kind of spirit of heard of predators, there is greed and there is revenge. In fact the film resembles and is visibly inspired by the Hollywood crime stories and we could easily imagine DeNiro or Pacino taking in the 70s many of the roles. The structure of the crime family is the same as in the traditional Sicilian mafia, with just one twist – the godfather figure is being taken here by the mother of the three bank robbers, but then we already had seen a similar role in Katheen Turner's Serial Mom which I bet the excellent Jacki Weaver had seen at least once. The rebellious sibyl is the mother who died in the opening scene and it is the fate of the son who is at stake in this film – will he go straight or will he end by being part of the family implacable destiny?

The opening scene also is one of the many god moments in a film that never lets you guess it is director's David Michôd first feature film. To be true however to the end I need to say that the pace is sometimes slow and there are also some moments that let the viewers confused, and not only because of the accent the folks down under speak their variant of English which of course does not help. Overall it is however an entertaining story with a few surprises and turns that keep the attention of viewers, with an atmosphere of authenticity, and no moral judgments – cops do not show up in a much better light than criminals, with a group of rogue policemen taking the law in their hands and playing according to the gang rules the war with crime. The ending is one of the possible endings such movies may have and did not let me unsatisfied. Acting is good and as I know too little about Australian cinema I had the advantage of all actor faces being new to me. Besides Weaver that I already mentioned, I liked James Frecheville who does a fine job in his first lead role and Ben Mendelsohn (an experienced actor according to his IMDb record). Animal Kingdom is not a masterpiece, but is a smartly written and well acted film and I am not surprised that it caught the attention of the jury at the Sundance festival and that is enjoys a fair international success.

"Animal Kingdom" is a documentary that tells the tale of the creation of the infamous Disney Park! Not! Actually, the "Animal Kingdom" I am referring to has a far more different theme than the jolly theme park. "Animal Kingdom" is a superior Australian movie about a 17-year-old high school teen named Joshua "J" Cody who suddenly gets captured into a crime-ridden animalistic family filled with bank robbers, drug dealers, and murderers; these predators just happen to be his ferocious uncles and his matriarch, manipulative grandma. Joshua mother's fatal drug overdose results in his moving in with the Killer Cody herd. Writer-Director David Michod's masterpiece (yes, I said the "M" word) is undoubtedly one of the best family crime dramas that I have ever witnessed. Michod does not exploit the movie as a bang-bang shoot-them-up mindless tale, but instead he brilliantly centers the film around J's subjective experiences on being entrapped in this futile crime world which he did not choose to be a part of. Furthermore, Michod provides an authentic look at the mentality of a crime-ridden family which have deep-ridden fears that are masked with their avenging, scheming actions. Hey mates, I think David Michod is the real deal, this is his first film so I can't wait for more cinematic kingdoms to come from young David. The cast of "Animal Kingdom" is divine! James Frecheville's restrained "WTF is going on around me" performance as J was a stellar freshman effort. "The Men From Uncle", in other words the Cody Crime Brothers, were an eclectic and intimidating trio portrayed astoundingly by their Aussie actors. Ben Mendelsohn was profoundly menacing as Pope Cody, the uncle whose gaze and gestures were perfected by Mendelsohn in detailing the ruthlessness of his character. Sullivan Stapleton's fury performance as the "Sonny Corleone-like" Craig Cody staples Sullivan as an Aussie actor on the rise. The younger but more fragile & insecure Cody name Darren was played with exact aptitude by Luke Ford. But the stellar supporting cast ensemble of "Animal Kingdom" was not just about the Uncles. Joel Edgerton shined as Barry Brown, the Cody family confidante who happens to be the cerebral architect of the Cody armed robbery crew. And the veteran Aussie acclaimed actor Guy Pearce once again pierced away on his diversified acting skills with another grand effort in his work as the "J-guide to the good side" Detective Leckie. But it was Jacki Weaver's virtuoso performance as the grandma that I was hoping would get run over by a reindeer or at least a kangaroo, was the one that had the most thespian bite of them all. Weaver's Oscar-nominated performance as the conniving Smurf Cody is what acting dreams are made of! It will be an unjustified supertramp I mean supertrap if this DreamWeaver is not awarded the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award! There is not one mundane or insignificant scene in "Animal Kingdom", it is as luring as it is unpredictable, just like the animal kingdom itself. Go on a scavenger cinematic hunt and set your sights on the "Animal Kingdom". ***** Excellent

This film is basically the story of a boy and his interaction with his criminal family and a policeman who thinks he can save him. He has to cope with the attention that his family receives from the police even when they didn't do anything illegal.

From start to finish this film is a classy Australian crime drama with a distinguished cast of some of Australia's finest actors. It is quite hard hitting in places and seems very realistic, even though it is not a true story. A great Australian story that will be enjoyed by most people especially those who enjoy the current batch of Australian crime shows.

David Michôd's solid crime thriller from Australia lives up to all the hype and critical acclaim already lavished upon it. Not only does Animal Kingdom contain astounding performances, it is also perfectly paced with an engaging plot that isn't overdone and stays true to the gritty realism of the ominous film. It begins with teenager 'J' Cody moving in with his grandmother, 'Smurf' Cody, who coincidentally happens to be the matriarch of a family drenched in crime. Her three sons, 'Pope', Craig and Darren, maintain all sorts of dealings, from armed robbery to drugs, and 'J' is naturally swept along into the 'family business' where dangerous repercussions await the entire Cody family.

I won't dwell much on the plot itself so as to not spoil it for you, but be assured, though it may not be as thought-provoking as Memento, it's got enough twists and turns to bewilder. The real treat here is the first-class acting from the entire cast, and out of the entire cast Ben Mendelsohn stole the entire show for me. His character 'Pope', the eldest Cody son, doesn't make an appearance till about fifteen minutes in, but the moment he steps into the picture he chillingly captivates the audience with his foreboding eyes, facial expressions and vocal tone. I was immediately reminded of Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs; Ben Mendelsohn was just as terrifying and eerie. I couldn't help but watch in dreaded anticipation at his next move. I'm surprised and disappointed at the lack of nominations for any major awards for his performance; one of the best I've seen in a long while.

Other standouts include Jacki Weaver, rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for playing the mother of all mothers, 'Smurf'. Calm, composed and cool are just three words to describe her character. In fact, we don't even know what's going on in her head except the fact that she's an unbelievably tough yet loving grandmother. Who else has so much power over her tattooed three sons who are drug sniffers and murderers? Yet, they can only comply when she asks them to kiss her; they love her to death. Ironically sweet.

You can probably recognise Guy Pearce in his role as Nathan Leckie, the police officer who wants to help 'J' escape from the clutches of his family after they all find themselves involved in a messy situation. You're made aware of the high quality of the cast when they act on par, or even exceed this veteran's performance. And how about newcomer James Frecheville who plays our main, 'J'? For the majority of the film, he understandably struggles to live up to the standard posed by his co-actors and actresses. His attempt at portraying a teen thrust into a highly unnatural style of living with colourful family members is rather stagnant and lacking proper emotional conveyance. Yet his turning point comes three-quarters of the way in, when he proves himself worthy of the role when he breaks apart in a bathroom with an intimate, solitary crying scene.

Animal Kingdom is a powerful film that examines seemingly strong but unstable family ties when caught in a web of deceit and murder. Every character is unique, their strengths and weaknesses coming into play whether it's for better or worse. The performances and story are supported by the brilliant cinematography and soundtrack. You'll be dumbstruck to the very end by one of the best thrillers you'll stumble across that will completely blow your mind.

Tedious look at the Walsh street murders of two policeman, lured to a vandalised car in a quiet street then gunned down in cold blood as retribution in an ongoing crime investigation against a family of career criminals.

Joel Edgerton plays one of the brothers contemplating a future in the stock market as a means of escaping the violent and in his view, unsustainable underworld life that has put both his life and that of his family at risk, while former "Henderson Kid" Mendelsohn continues his dark ride following "Love My Way" as the volatile and unbalanced brother Pope.

There's myriad doco's shown on Australian TV that dissect the events depicted in this film, and each of them would be more entertaining and coherent than this picture. Heavy emphasis on symbolic gestures, aimless analogised dialogue and incessant slow motion sequences overlayed by an Air Supply soundtrack equal a confusing and tawdry account of events that could've and should've made for more entertaining viewing. Pearce seems quite realistic as the principal detective, but the adulation that flows to Jacki Weaver (whose makeup looks Jack Nicholson esque) for her "Ma Baker" like portrayal isn't (in my opinion) entirely warranted. There's nothing especially original about the characterisation, a cruel and manipulative den mother who seems too overtly menacing to be so endeared.

Limited location work and apparent anachronisms in the historical context could be forgiven if it weren't for the irritation of not knowing what's going on - the picture seems to assume that you know the events in such intimate detail that you'll catch-on to the erratic narrative, but that wasn't my experience. Atmospheric at times, the scene in which Pope interrogates Josh's (his nephew) girlfriend is pretty disturbing but the highlights are distant amid the confusion. Loads of potential, but disappointingly fails in the execution.

Animal Kingdom (2010)

*** (out of 4)

Interesting crime-drama from Australia about a 17-year-old boy named J (James Frecheville) who moves in with his grandmother (Jacki Weaver) and uncles after his mother dies from a heroin overdose. It doesn't take long for J to realize why his mom kept him away from the family because they're into some serious crimes and they drag J in with them when they ask him to steal a car and place it in a certain place so that they can murder two cops. The detective (Guy Pierce) working the case believes that J is a good kid who has a chance of going straight so he tries to get him to turn his family in so that he can get away and live a free life. ANIMAL KINGDOM has had a lot of people compare it to WINTER'S BONE, which is probably a good film to compare it to, although it also shares quite a bit in common when Ben Affleck's THE TOWN. I personally didn't find the film to be as great as WINTER'S BONE but it's about on the same level as the Affleck drama that turned out to be a huge hit. The crime genre has been going on for so long that it's often times hard to find something that seems fresh and original. This film certainly doesn't offer anything too new or anything too ground breaking but at the same times there's this strange and sometimes surreal atmosphere that helps keep the thing moving. What I did enjoy about the film is that the screenplay often keeps you off guard about what's happening and how things are going to play out. Being a crime picture you know certain members of the cast are eventually going to get knocked off and they do here but director Michod keeps us off-guard because when the events do happen they happen out of no where and in many ways they don't happen in a way that you'd expect. Weaver picked up an Academy Award nomination and she is quite chilling in the film but I wouldn't go as far as to say she gives one of the year's best performances. The character she plays is a very, very cunning woman who walks up to you with a sweet voice and a smile but will kill you without blinking. I thought she brought that cunning nature to the screen with ease and made the character work. Frecheville is extremely good in his role as the laid back character doesn't say much but you can constantly see him thinking about the situations he's in and thinking of how he can get out of them. Pierce is always good no matter what he does and even though he's not featured too much here he's great when he's on the screen. If there are some weaknesses with the film I think you can aim them at the screenplay as well. I thought the film would have been better served had the viewer been introduced to what all the family was doing before we get to the cop killings. I also think the film could have used a few more scenes to help us connect with J. ANIMAL KINGDOM is a well-made film and the performances are certainly excellent but in the end it still just struck me as a good film and not a great one.