Animal Kingdom
Starring:
James
Frecheville, Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton, Jacki Weaver.
Running
time: 113 minutes
Year:
2010
Directed
By: David
Michod
Written
By: David
Michod
I had been told about this film several months ago,
and had been told by this anonymous person that it was their favourite film of
its year. With Inception and The Social Network being released the same
year I was rather dubious as to this person's suggestion. I have to say however
after giving this film a watch I can completely understand where they are
coming from because this film is absolutely brilliant, and I am annoyed at
myself that it has taken me this long to see it.
Set in Australia revolving around a crime family, Animal Kingdom follows the story of J
(Frecheville), who is taken in by his Grandmother after the death of his
Mother. Whilst in the company of his Grandmother and Uncles he realises that
they are involved in some of the hefty crimes that have been taking place in the
community. One of his Uncles; Pope, (Ben Mendelsohn who is absolutely
fantastic) is currently in hiding and the police are after him over a recent
bank robbery. However instead of finding him via looking the police decide to kill
his partner in order to entice him out. The only problem with this though is
Pope then decides to retaliate and he and his brothers kill two policemen in an
act of vengeance. After being broadcast all over the news, the police bring in
Detective Senior Sergeant Leckie (Guy Pearce) to bring the Cody family in, and
their first port of call is J. Once J has been interviewed though his own
family turn against him in the belief that he has turned them in. J then finds
himself on the run from the evil Pope and the cops, and is unsure of which one
to trust.
The film is not like anything we haven't seen before
but it is the way it is told that stands this film above the rest. For starters
the setting being Australia really adds to the tension, especially with it
being set during the time when cops were killing criminals and finding excuses
afterwards. It is also interesting to side with the 'bad' guys, but also
showing how the police can also be just as bad in their own way. We are
actually pulled in to care for this family despite how evil they are. J
especially is someone we side with despite the fact that his character has no
real qualities that we can cling to. We just go with his situation and you ask
yourself what you would do in his position. The film also delivers us a
chilling ending, which is certainly crucial to the outcome, and a highly
powerful scene in the middle that had me frightened for a good ten minutes. The
dark, moody tone of the cinematography really adds to this.
The acting in the film is very good. Mendelsohn is
on top, top form and it is good to see him being rewarded with roles in films
such as The Dark Knight Rises as he
is a top class actor. Jacki Weaver is also really freaky as the Mother of these
evil brothers. She plays the part full of tension and even hints at a sign of
incestual nature between her and her children. It is the performance and the
way she kisses them that highlights this. She also comes out of her shell later
on in the film and she grows even more into the role. These two are the stand
outs of the cast but Edgerton, Pearce, and Sullivan Stapleton are also good.
Frecheville has come into a lot of criticism of his performance by other reviews;
however I feel they are slightly harsh. For a newcomer his performance is good
and I believe it is his character that lacks personality as opposed to the
actor.
Another top area of the film is the music. Even the
music on the DVD menu had me gripped by what I was about to watch. Every time a
piece of music kicked in I was instantly drawn into the scene. Even an image of
three lions on a picture, with the central one standing proud, is racked full
of tension due to the brilliant score.
There isn't much I can point out as wrong with this
film. Maybe it is a shame that a top actor disappears quite early on, but this
also adds more to it. I have to say this film has affected me. I can't get the
creepy music out my head, or some of the powerful scenes that go with it. I haven't
seen any other Australian films that have moved me quite like this, but from
now on I will not be put off by them. David Michod has managed to produce a
script full of believability and character building, and has also directed and
drawn some excellently creepy performances by some actors who are possibly
unheard of on the Hollywood circuit. Thanks to Animal Kingdom however, I think Michod has highlighted his own
name, and his casts names, on the Hollywood 'to get' list.
4.5
/ 5
Next film to review: DRIVE
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