Skip to main content

Review: Animal Kingdom


A teenager finds himself thrown into the criminal lifestyle when his mother overdoses and leaves him orphaned. Joshua Cody (James Frecheville) hasn't seen his family for a long time and the more information that comes out about the dealings of the Cody clan, perhaps this was for the best.

His grandmother, affectionately called Smurf (Jacki Weaver), is the matriarch of perhaps the most violent armed-robbery crew in Australia and possesses in her arsenal the most sadistically devoted son in cinema history (Ben Mendelsohn). Mendelsohn's portrayal of Pope makes Norman Bates seem relatively tame in comparison.

After Joshua unwittingly participates in the murder of two police officers, he must make a decision and Sergeant Leckie (Guy Pearce) offers two choices. Testify against his uncles and run the risk of having to hide the rest of his life, or risk incarceration and become King of his Pride.

Director David Michôd has a lot to work to do with a virtual unknown as his lead. Whether it was an intentional choice or not, James Frecheville appears to be in way over his head and it showed. When comparing Frecheville with Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom suffers from a lack of a compelling presence in its protagonist. Edgerton must have used up most of the charisma with his presence, but the Aussie's screentime was virtually nil.

Surprisingly, the Cody most worth watching was Smurf. Jacki Weaver was absolutely devastating as a grandmother who was at times heart-warming and horrifying. There is absolutely nothing she wouldn't consider to secure her lifestyle. Nothing.

Even when the film lags in a few spots, Animal Kingdom redeems itself immediately when the film hits almost unbearably tense spots with the viewer digging their nails into the couch. One such highlight of the film occurs when Joshua and his girlfriend have fallen asleep on a couch and Air Supply’s “I’m All Out of Love” is playing in the background. A moment that could be considered sweet is subverted to a disturbing effect.

As the camera pans slowly through the room Pope is revealed. He’s been watching them sleep for a while now. As the music increases the camera focuses in on the demented glare of the malevolent uncle. It’s a truly terrifying scene and if you didn't tear a hole through your couch’s arm then you must not have a pulse.

Few crime films take such a unique stance in only covering the domestic drama behind a clan of thieves, but Animal Kingdom does it well. This family will eat you alive.

***/****

Popular posts from this blog

The Best of the Decade

Over the last ten years, the cinema has given us a great deal to be thankful for: a rebirth of the Batman franchise, a series of examinations of what it means to live in this particular decade, and a mass of character studies whether they be animated or popcorn thrillers. As much as I have enjoyed the offerings, a list must be culled together for the end of the year. Except this year is different, this year ten films must be selected from hundreds. Below are some of the best of the aughts. Enjoy! 10) There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson's magnum opus, a scathing look at extremism in America and the evils of greed and profiteering from religion. It also features the best performance of the decade with Daniel Day-Lewis as oil-man Daniel Plainview. 9)  Up A beautiful tale that entrances all ages,  Up managed to captivate children and tell a tale that adults cherish as well. 8) The Dark Knight Maybe just a comic book film, but it is the best comic book film

Paprika vs. Inception

Months before Inception hit the theaters forums were alive with rumors that Christopher Nolan either accidentally or intentionally stole some details from another film, the Japanese anime Paprika. The biggest point of comparison for some bloggers and forum runners was the fact that both of the films featured a device that allowed a person, or people, to travel into another’s dreams and delve into their subconscious. Minor points of comparison include scenes in Paprika where the character Paprika breaks through a mirrored wall by holding her hand to it, as well as a scene where a police detective falls his way down a hallway. Claims have been made that Inception abounds with imagery similar to or exactly like the anime movie, but with the recent release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, and with Paprika available for several years now, an examination of the two plots can be made more fully. Let us begin with the primary claim— Inception stole the idea of a dream

Armond White's Top Ten Films on Flickchart

Armond White is film criticism’s most famous contrarian. At one moment he writes  a review declaring  Toy Story 3  to be the most obscene excuse for toy commercials  he has ever watched, and then two weeks later types out  a glowing review of  Resident Evil: Afterlife . He is of split-mind for sure. But what does his Flickchart look like? Read the rest at Flickchart !