CARNAGE (2011)
Roman Polanski. Christoph Waltz. Jodie Foster. Kate Winslet. John C. Reilly. Sounds great, right? And then you see the plot. Two sets of parents meet to discuss their two sons who have gotten into a fight. Question mark? It's an eighty minute parent conference. It shouldn't be as much fun as it is. But between the great writing and the stellar acting, it's hard not to look away from what, in any other situation, would be a snooze-fest.
To be honest, since I do love Roman Polanski, I had hoped the script would be a little better than it was. Which isn't to say that it was bad. It was a well done script. But there were bits and pieces--mainly, the fact that it relied too much occasionally on the men vs. women dynamic and a little-too-hard-to-watch vomit scene (there's cringy-but-epic hard to watch, then there's I-need-to-go-home-and-splash-holy-water-on-my-eyes hard to watch. This was the latter). But to be fair, Polanski had a hard act to follow with the likes of similar small-group-of-people-stuck-together movies like Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966), and it's been a while since anyone's been bold enough to take something like that on.
Still, the main draw of this movie was the acting. Hands down. I've always been a big Christoph Waltz fan, and he definitely delivers as the aloof business man who can't get off his cellphone. His wife is played by Kate Winslet and with her quiet intensity, they make a fantastic power couple. Jodie Foster also gives a brilliant, emotional, hysterical performance, and if I have any complaint about her it's that she didn't get enough time playing off Christoph Waltz as they were both the strongest players in the film. John C. Reilly, ever underrated, appears to be something of the "odd man out" at first glance, but he holds his own and gives a solid performance. All in all, it's a great movie simply to watch fantastic actors play off each other, and it's an easy 80 minutes so it never overstays its welcome.
I thought the ending was very weak and disappointing. The whole movie was great, especially Winslet and Foster and Waltz was amazingly funny. Desplat music was very good – that opening scene would miss so much without it. Great review.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said - very weak ending, I was disappointed - the entire movie I thought the tension was rising and then it just dissolved in the end.
DeleteThe fact that I'm having a hard time actually remembering the ending of this film supports both of your outrage at the end. I remember a hamster, that's about it. But I've got to agree about the music, it did give the opening a nice touch.
DeleteI like when a movie can take such limiting resources - few sets, small cast - and produce a solid, entertaining film. This sounds like one I would enjoy - but as a "talking heads" movie one I would wait for home viewing. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! It definitely felt like a play in high definition. Which makes sense considering it was based off one. It certainly doesn't need a theater for you to get the full experience--a good rental. Thanks!
DeleteGreat review. I really liked this one. It was funny, outrageous, a bit scary. Loved Waltz to bits. I'm a huge Polanski fan too and I really appreciate that in an age when everything is about the big CGI stuff, he made a film about 4 normal-ish people in a room.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Waltz forever has a very large place in my heart, and this movie certainly solidified it. I've got to agree with you--whether or not he succeeded in making a good movie (and I think he did for the most part), you've got to give the man a heck of a lot of credit for being courageous enough to go there when it's so much easier to slap a couple CGI effects in your trailer and call it a "must see movie".
DeleteI haven't seen this - and maybe won't. But I love your reviews...
ReplyDeleteThanks, homie! It's a type of movie you've definitely got to be into to see. Luckily, it's only 80 minutes long, so even if you're not a fan it doesn't overstay it's welcome.
DeleteTerrific review. I love these four actors and have been debating about seeing it. I'll have to rent this from the Red Box one night.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's definitely worth a rental. Maybe not theater bucks, but a rental oughta do it.
DeleteCongratulations! You have won the Versatile Blogger Award! Please stop by my blog, Mama Diaries, to pick it up. (I found you through the A-Z Challenge.)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm late in getting to it, but I'll pop by pronto!
DeleteGlad to see the high praise doled out here. I'd like to see this eventually, though I'm most worried by the playlike setting/atmosphere. I like all of the players involved quite a bit, but I could have said the same of Hurlyburly 15 years ago and that sucked ass.
ReplyDeleteOh, and your headlines are fucking awesome. The Chronicle was is my current favorite. :D
I haven't seen Hurlyburly 15 (and it sounds like I'm not missing much), so I can't tell you if this was any better or worse. However, I will say that, because I have such high expectations for movies that try to be plays, it wasn't quite as well written as I'd hoped it would be. So I think your fear is valid. Still, it wasn't slop--it was fun, and the actors sure as hell delivered.
DeleteAnd thanks! High praise! I basically spend half my time thinking up headlines. The review writing is just sprinkles on the cake.