FILM REVIEW: Carnage

Carnage is the new film by Roman Polanski, based on the French stage play by Yasmin Reza. Jodie Foster and John C Reilly play Penelope and Michael whose son has been injured in a fight with a boy in the playground. Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet play the bully’s parents- Alan and Nancy, who come round for a civilised chat to settle the situation which turns into anything but. The film takes place in real time in a single New York apartment, but it manages not to feel claustrophobic or drag. Not a lot happens in the usual sense of movie action but the dialogue is sharp and tight and the film examines modern “politeness” in an intelligent and funny way.

The two couples are as similar as they are different. They all attempt diplomacy but the niceties collapse into a storm of anger, drunkenness and violence, and words become weapons (look out for the excellent delivery of the line: “I saw your friend Jane Fonda on TV the other day”). There is a switching of ‘sides’ from minute-to-minute which: wife favours husband, females against males, wife against husband and basically every combination possible. What started out being about the two children ends up examining the couple’s marital issues, passions, social statuses, drinking problems, jobs, and more. Jodie Foster and Christoph Waltz are really, really good in this and most of the laughs come from one of them, or their interactions with one another. The film is beautifully orchestrated and controlled and I enjoyed it a lot.

‘Carnage’ is in cinemas now.

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV