Animals

Jude (David Dastmalchian) and Bobbie (Kim Shaw) are drug addicts. They steal and pull small cons in order to get the next fix. They drift through the world on their own struggling to get by. They suffer illnesses and get robbed by avenging cops. Sometimes their cons don't go well. Jude gets hospitalized and they must face their impending fates.

This is a simple druggie couple movie without too much flash. Dastmalchian doesn't write big scenes in this and he has the feel of a drug addict. Shaw brings a little vulnerability to her role. It's a well made indie with good solid performances on a well worn story path.

Animals ; a movie with a haunting premise that lingers on in your head..Exposing us to the disturbing reality of addiction.. David had done a good job not only in front of the camera but also in the writing side..Innovate and Brave approach of the entire team to show the disturbing reality is admirable..This is one of the few drug addiction movies after "Requiem for a dream" and "Trainspotting" which is brutal and honest..Eye flickering and mouth closing visuals of gruesome reality of drug addiction and charming romantic scenes are perfectly blended and well placed.. This "INDIE" film is a worth watch and trust me you will live along with "Jude" and 'Bobbie"..Another independent film which will be an inspiration to future aspiring film makers and talents..An unforgettable piece of art : ANIMALS..

A drama about the relationship of a young couple, Jude and Bobbie, who live in their car and support their drug habit in a matter-of- fact way through shoplifting and scams, until their situation turns sufficiently sour for them to re-evaluate. It sounds bleak, but there's enough humanity and compassion shown to carry it through so we don't give up on them.

There are fantastic performances from the leads, writer/producer David Dastmalchian and Kim Shaw, who convince as a couple who care deeply for each other despite the occasional flashes of selfishness that ring true as symptoms of addiction. The supporting cast are all good too, including John Heard in a small but significant role as a security guard.

Director/producer Collin Schiffli and DP Larkin Donley also do great jobs. I loved an early transition from a view out from an apartment window to the reality of the car windshield.

Be warned, there are graphic images of drug use, including injecting into the neck and groin, and a desperate moment on a filthy bathroom floor that made me wince.

It speaks well to filmmaker Collin Schiffli that while this was his first full-length feature (following several shorts), it boasts high production values and discernible polish that can't be said for all debuts. Likewise, it marked David Dastmalchian's first time writing a full-length feature (following a couple shorts), but even here he illustrates keen intelligence that results in a fiercely strong, compelling story. Many are those films that have been made about drug addiction and connected struggles, but not all of them are able to pack as much of a punch as this one does, and that 'Animals' is as rich and impactful as it is says so much about the skills of all involved. In fact, for as tight and hard-hitting as it is, I rather think this stands notably taller than no few similar titles. It's a step or two (or three) too far to say that this is "enjoyable," but it's deeply absorbing and keeps us locked in from start to finish, and is absolutely worth exploring for anyone seeking a solid drama.

The picture is perhaps a smidgen imbalanced just in terms of tone, for while in the first act it's unexpectedly light (stopping just short of comedy-drama territory, to be honest), right around the halfway point we get an enormous shift that could scarcely be more unflinchingly bleak. That harsh dourness sticks around for a fair while until the last small stretch is characterized by a more bittersweet mood. However, chief characters Jude and Bobbie are centered all the while in a fashion that marks this ultimately as a tale more about their relationship than about their addictions - albeit a relationship that's defined primarily BY those addictions - and as such the entirety is able to remain a bit more centered and cohesive than it otherwise would have. Furthermore, it's readily evident that Dastmalchian wrote his script from a very personal place of past experiences, and that intimacy as much as the characters' (if not more so) allows the proceedings to resonate with a vitality that's undeniable. Jude and Bobbie are given meaningful character arcs that only bolster the power of the storytelling, and the scene writing is deftly varied while carrying substantial weight as the runtime elapses. Dreary as the movie is overall, in his writing alone Dastmalchian lends it a commanding magnetic presence, and I could hardly be more pleased with the result.

Moreover, I hope some day the man tries his hand at directing, because he seems to have most other aspects of film-making down pat, and that includes admirable acting skills. I couldn't possibly pick a favorite between Dastmalchian and co-star Kim Shaw, for both illustrate terrific range, nuance, and emotional depth that on the basis of this alone makes me want to find more from each. Though Schiffli's job as director is surely made easier with such a robust screenplay, and such a great cast, his direction is firm and focused, ever maximizing the potency to be derived from all the component parts. He also demonstrates a sharp eye for detail, which is particularly welcome here since there is so much of it to take in. The production design and art direction are superb, not to mention costume design, hair, and makeup: in every capacity we, as viewers, are fully immersed into Jude and Bobbie's sordid world, from the car that they live in, to the dealers they parlay with, to their paraphernalia, and the scams and petty theft they engage in for survival and to feed their addiction. Ian Hultquist's music rather sticks to the background, but subtly lends to the mood as it peeks up; kudos to cinematographer Larkin Donley and editor Amanda C. Griffin, who so capably helped to give shape to the feature. Really, all around 'Animals' is very well done.

I can understand how this won't appeal to everyone, not even taking into account the subject matter. For my part, though, I'm tremendously pleased with how strong this is in every regard, and I'm happy to give it a very high, hearty recommendation. Whether you're a big fan of someone involved or just seeking an engrossing, satisfying drama, as far as I'm concerned 'Animals' is fantastic, and worth much more than the time it takes to watch.

"I eat your tears and I save them right up in my belly. I'm Popeye. Your tears are my spinach. They make me strong. That's not fair. I'm the one who might have cancer. I need spinach."

Are you looking for a movie that'll make you instantly happy or that'll make your heart beat faster because of the tension? Look further, because "Animals" doesn't fulfill these requirements whatsoever. What a tremendously depressing and slow film this is. A sketch of two hopeless cases living on the edge of society and whose desolate life only consists of committing petty crimes in order to provide money for their basic needs : a daily dose of heroin or a line of coke. They drive around all day in a dilapidated car and try to kill their time with useless activities such as their daily visit to the zoo. The only thing you wonder after a while is whether or not their relationship is solely based on their stubborn addiction.

I remember being shocked after watching "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" when I was younger. This was also such a depressing film about the devastating effect of heroin and the certainty that those who used it would eventually die from an overdose. "Animals" didn't leave me unmoved either. Even though it sometimes felt more easy-going and you'll be spared from sickening images of withdrawal symptoms. Jude (David Dastmalchian) and Bobbie (Kim Shaw) have a whole series of scamming tricks they use regularly on innocent people, to get some money. And when they succeed in it, the money is gone in the shortest time. All spent on some precious bags full of white powder. And every time when they've used the drugs, they realize that life can't continue like this. That they should find a way out. This was the last time they used again. Especially when they bump into a couple of corrupt policemen who expropriate their hard-earned money and little bit of drugs. But when the first withdrawal symptoms appear, it's back to the same old routine.

I do like survival films, but not exactly this kind of survival films. Ultimately, this is nothing but a portrait of two people trying to survive. It was terrible to see how far they would go out of despair. They both realize all too well what state they are in. They even wonder how they've ended up in this situation. Two white Americans with a proper education and both reasonably intelligent. In the end they compare it with the stupidity of birds that keep flying into the same window time after time. So it's dismissed as just their own stupidity and that's that. So despite the awareness and sometimes rising urge to quit, the two of them can't make that crucial step towards salvation from this deadly sh*t.

Fortunately I don't have any experience with such drugs. Though other experiences are kind of similar to Jude's and Bobbie's hopeless addiction. The renditions of David Dastmalchian and Kim Shaw seemed to me realistic enough. Superb acting and wonderful to see how they shift between different moods all the time. Even the physical appearances of these two addicts changes in a convincing manner as they exhibit withdrawal symptoms. Jude is an intelligent young guy, but he's also unreliable and selfish. Bobbie usually looks like a real slob, until they are doing the call girl trick and she starts to dress up. At that moment she reincarnates into a wonderful and beautiful looking woman. The supporting roles are of secondary importance as they come and go. The entire film focuses on the two main characters only.

Eventually, the whole film is just a series of fragments about human decay, despair and misery. And this interspersed with brief flashbacks (with drugs always in a leading role) and moments when the duo tries to get money. Until disaster strikes and then it goes straight to the denouement. And that's where this movie moved me. That specific moment proves that there's indeed still a close and intimate bond between those two. An endearing gesture. Perhaps a glimmer of hope for success. "Animals" is a moving film that contains a kind of twisted love story, showing how an animal instinct seizes a human being whose body screams for drugs. What a sublime movie!

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