Animal Kingdom Review
Sunday, June 27, 2010
, Posted by Should I See It at 7:48 PM
Film: Animal Kingdom
Director: David Michod
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Sullivan Stapleton, Jackie Weaver, Luke Ford and James Frecheville.
Plot: Tells the story of seventeen year-old Josh as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
Animal Kingdom is the latest offering in Aussie Cinema. It comes highly recommended, having won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival this year. There's no doubt that Animal Kingdom is going to sweep the Australian Film Institute Awards at the end of this year, but gven it's Sundance win, I will be very interested to see how it fares in the international circuit.
Gang dramas have never really been of much interest. Yet Animal Kingdom intrigued me. It is not nearly as glossy, far grittier and dare I say better acted that it’s television counterpart, Underbelly. (I have never had much time for the Underbelly ‘Phenomenon’ as it glamorises Australian Underworld and don’t even get me started on the way it objectifies women.)
Animal Kingdom is based on the Walsh Street Police Killings that occurred in Melbourne in the 1980s, however the film never pretends to be a true account of the events or the Cody clan, the family at the centre of Animal Kingdom. The film is clearly fictionalised, made most noticeable by updating the story to the present day. However, that doesn’t make the film any less intriguing.
Animal Kingdom is a dark film. I was wary of how violent the film would be, however most of the violence is implied or occurs off screen. The darkness comes from the characters and their motivations. For example, when one family member is shot by another, no one blinks an eye. Rather it’s accepted as part of ‘the life’ they lead. Similarly, the opening sequence that shows Josh watching Deal or No Deal, calmly waiting for the paramedics to arrive to treat his mother who has overdosed on heroin, tells you everything you need to know about his life and the world he lives in. Frecheville, making his film debut here, is particularly good.
Performances are great all round. Ben Mendelsohn as Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is a particular standout, and Luke Ford is thankfully less embarrasing than he was in The Mummy III.
Jackie Weaver plays the creepiest grandmother you will ever see on screen. I have heard her compared to Lady Macbeth; however, I think she is far more evil. Unlike Lady M, Janine Cody is very maternal. It’s just that her maternal instincts verge on the border of obsession. She insists her sons kiss her on the lips, and is willing to sacrifice the life of her grandson in order to get her sons out of jail. Jackie Weaver’s performance is unashamedly brilliant.
To be honest there are a few issues in the film that could have been addressed: a second lawyer shows up without any introduction, and the scenes featuring Detective Leckie's (Guy Pearce) disabled daughter feel as though they might go somewhere, but never actually do. For the most part though, David Michod directs the feature with a skilled hand. Michod has a clear grip on his characters and does the film justice.
You may need to do something happy after seeing this film; I thoroughly recommend a good dose of chocolate. Though there is an upside to seeing a film like this: After spending two hours with the crazy Cody’s, your family will seem like the Brady Bunch in comparison.
Though, to be completely honest, the most disturbing thing about the movie would have to go to Guy Pearce’s moustache.
Animal Kingdom Official Site here.
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Sullivan Stapleton, Jackie Weaver, Luke Ford and James Frecheville.
Plot: Tells the story of seventeen year-old Josh as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
Animal Kingdom is the latest offering in Aussie Cinema. It comes highly recommended, having won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival this year. There's no doubt that Animal Kingdom is going to sweep the Australian Film Institute Awards at the end of this year, but gven it's Sundance win, I will be very interested to see how it fares in the international circuit.
Gang dramas have never really been of much interest. Yet Animal Kingdom intrigued me. It is not nearly as glossy, far grittier and dare I say better acted that it’s television counterpart, Underbelly. (I have never had much time for the Underbelly ‘Phenomenon’ as it glamorises Australian Underworld and don’t even get me started on the way it objectifies women.)
Animal Kingdom is based on the Walsh Street Police Killings that occurred in Melbourne in the 1980s, however the film never pretends to be a true account of the events or the Cody clan, the family at the centre of Animal Kingdom. The film is clearly fictionalised, made most noticeable by updating the story to the present day. However, that doesn’t make the film any less intriguing.
Animal Kingdom is a dark film. I was wary of how violent the film would be, however most of the violence is implied or occurs off screen. The darkness comes from the characters and their motivations. For example, when one family member is shot by another, no one blinks an eye. Rather it’s accepted as part of ‘the life’ they lead. Similarly, the opening sequence that shows Josh watching Deal or No Deal, calmly waiting for the paramedics to arrive to treat his mother who has overdosed on heroin, tells you everything you need to know about his life and the world he lives in. Frecheville, making his film debut here, is particularly good.
Performances are great all round. Ben Mendelsohn as Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is a particular standout, and Luke Ford is thankfully less embarrasing than he was in The Mummy III.
Jackie Weaver plays the creepiest grandmother you will ever see on screen. I have heard her compared to Lady Macbeth; however, I think she is far more evil. Unlike Lady M, Janine Cody is very maternal. It’s just that her maternal instincts verge on the border of obsession. She insists her sons kiss her on the lips, and is willing to sacrifice the life of her grandson in order to get her sons out of jail. Jackie Weaver’s performance is unashamedly brilliant.
To be honest there are a few issues in the film that could have been addressed: a second lawyer shows up without any introduction, and the scenes featuring Detective Leckie's (Guy Pearce) disabled daughter feel as though they might go somewhere, but never actually do. For the most part though, David Michod directs the feature with a skilled hand. Michod has a clear grip on his characters and does the film justice.
You may need to do something happy after seeing this film; I thoroughly recommend a good dose of chocolate. Though there is an upside to seeing a film like this: After spending two hours with the crazy Cody’s, your family will seem like the Brady Bunch in comparison.
Though, to be completely honest, the most disturbing thing about the movie would have to go to Guy Pearce’s moustache.
Should I See It?
Yes, Absolutely.
Animal Kingdom Official Site here.
