Davis P
Carnage (2011) is a very intersecting study of four characters, two extremely different married couples who's sons got into a physical fight and now they are meeting to discuss what needs to be done about it. This film takes place in one location, Reilly and fosters apartment. The acting is CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT in a movie like this one. And thankfully we have four fine established actors carrying this intelligent film. Jodie foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C Reilly all bring their very best effort to this movie. They each play their respective characters wonderfully, especially foster and winslet, they really did deserve those golden globe nominations they received. Each character is so unique and different and they each react to the situation that brings them together differently. The script allows for extremely raw dialogue to dominate much of the movie, giving the movie a lot depth and meaning. The movie really isn't even about their sons fight, it's about these four clearly damaged characters and seeing them express their deep pain and frustrations in very loud/volcanic ways. The movie is directed marvelously and I really don't have any complaints. It's not a film for everyone, but I highly suggest it if you typically like this sort of film.
morrison-dylan-fan
Taking a look on BBC iPlayer,I spotted an intriguing title from Roman Polanski. Greatly enjoying his 2010 movie The Ghost Writer,I got set to witness Polanski's screen carnage.The plot:After their kids Zachary Cowan & Ethan Longstreet get in a fight,parents Michael and Penelope Longstreet invite Nancy and Alan Cowan round to clear the matter in their flat. Agreeing to write a letter about what the boys have done, the couples soon begin to reveal their true feelings on the other couple,and of each other.View on the film:Filmed in real time,co-writer/(along with Yasmina Reza and Michael Katims) director Roman Polanski and cinematographer Pawel Edelman display a fine eye for physical Comedy,with Polanski showing a surprising gleefulness in covering the apartment with broken phones and vomit. Based on co-writer Yasmina Reza's one-set play,the writers lock the flat in an absurdist atmosphere,where every attempt the Cowan's make to leave the flat causes the arguments to become more ridiculous.Whilst the peculiar behaviour of the couples is peeled open,the writers never go beyond the bleeding heart Liberal and sharp dressed businessman suffice,that causes the film to run out of steam,due to the characters not being built up well enough to make the jet-black Comedy games fully hit their targets.Cast as a shining Liberal elite, Jodie Foster disappointingly gives an overcooked performance as Penelope,due to Foster's stage-bound manner ruining Penelope's Liberal chic with shrieks that aim for the absurd, but just run cold. Playing the notes that Foster misses, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly give great performances as Michael Longstreet and Alan Cowan,thanks to the guys keeping Cowan's work obsession and Longstreet's off-the-cuff manners intact, even as their conversations get more off-beat,whilst Kate Winslet throws up a wonderfully catty performance as Nancy,as the full carnage starts to kick in.
Krisztina Agoston-Vas
People tend to hate this movie. Maybe because of "the lack of action". I highly recommend it. Everything (well, almost everything) happens in a room during a visit. AND IT IS INTERESTING ENOUGH. The cast is amazing (Kate Winslet, Cristoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly) the dialogs, the actions, etc. There's a variety of emotions from hate to "love" and then from "love" to hate. Everything is depicted impeccably with the help of an amazing cast. It's ironic, it's funny and relaxing to watch. Also, it's absurd cause the kids are getting along, they don't "feel the drama". It's all about that specific parental exaggeration which is rarely a movie topic. Well done!
oragex
How bad a movie can be marketed ? Just as bad as in lightening a candle then putting it under a bushel.I mean, you call this movie Carnage and people will expect it to be about true social interactions and not of some amazing Arnold Schwarzenegger full of only bodies left flick ? How about the pink movie poster? Is that off the Helloo Kitty's private top of the castle room? That's how you have the main stream walking away instead of acclaiming your achievement. And I think it's acclamable, because it talks to every single individual of the age of the characters.Flawed it is, the script is both magic and weak. But the magic is such that the weakness is forgiven with indulgence.On the other side, either Jodie Foster was tired/not interested, either this movie did show the limits of her talent. Even the directing is flawed, quite a bit. But who could keep the inertia on a steady go in a script engraved with a perpetual dialog like a theater act.Go see this movie if you haven't yet. It talks about you, your thoughts, your frustrations and those lines that most of the time have never quit the tip of the tongue.
AD
