Carnage

Reviewed by Danny the Demented
Updated May 29 2012

We human beings as a species enjoy confrontations, it's a fact. Sure we may not enjoy being in one (because some of us are pussies i.e. yours truly), but we love to observe if one is happening. Have you noticed how whenever there's an argument happening in the street, people tend to stop and watch? It is that fascination of ours that makes this film so enjoyable. We are a cruel species.

Based on a French play called "Le Dieu du carnage", "Carnage" is the story of two pairs of parents meeting to discuss an incident between their sons. Michael and Penelope "Penny" Longstreet's (John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster) son Ethan was struck in the face with a stick by Zack, the son of Alan and Nancy Cowan (Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet). Initially civilized and well-mannered, the Longstreets and the Cowans gradually start to get on each others' nerves and what was originally a polite encounter turned into a battle of verbal (and physical) abuses and no holds barred slanders. The civilized turned barbaric, and the resulting fruit is carnage.

The entire film is shot like a play, which is appropriate given the material it is based on. Besides the opening scene and the last scene, the whole movie takes place in the living room (and bathroom) of the Longstreet's. Without the help of pretty cinematography and CGI effects (MICHAEL BAY), the film's success is solely based on the acting prowess of the four actors and the dialogues of the script , both delivered with pitch-perfect accuracy. Jodie Foster was excellent as the self-righteous writer who thinks her shit don't stink and John C Reilly was perfect for the role of seemingly laid-back mediating husband who secretly has a real temper when provoked. Kate Winslet is great as usual as the polite but protective mother who can't stand her husband's lack of interest in their son's affair, and Christoph Waltz is simply marvelous as the I-can-care-less-about-any-of-this-I-got-bigger-fish-to-fry-somewhere-else lawyer who is constantly on the phone because his career is more important than....well anything else. The pairs of parents started out discussing about their sons' fight and ended up discovering that the mask they put on to act appropriately as civilized members of the society is really, actually, surprisingly, fragile. They ended up fighting each other over things (art books, puke, blackberry, a pharma co's potential lawsuit, and a hamster, kinky eh) that has nothing to do with the children's quarral. The dialogues are finely written and the actors delivered them one after another so effortlessly and seamlessly that you forget all of these are happening in one tiny living room. Good writings trumps CGI effects any day of the week, I will die believing that because it's a fact. 

A pleasure to watch, if you missed it at the theater, be sure to rent it on DVD. Words can be so much more entertaining than images, and in "Carnage", they are. My name is Danny and I endorse this message.