Animal Kingdom is a brutally real look at the life of an organized crime family in Australia. While its thematic elements are dark to say the least, the story is told with such a cinematic eye and clever acting that it becomes an amazing film-going experience. The film opens with one of the most disturbing and matter-of-fact death scenes I think I've ever seen. Right away we learn so much about Josh, this quiet teenage boy, left with no where to go. While the film seems to mimic the narrative style of films like Goodfellas as times, the story is unique and oftentimes much more gritty. There is nothing glamorous about the lives this family leads.
The cast is stellar, but Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver truly steal the show. Pearce plays a detective tracking the family and set on protecting Josh in what ever way he can. Weaver plays the matriarch, the mother with a constant smile on her face as her family descends deeper and deeper into darkness. Her role is complex and so riveting to watch, and while she may be considered a villain at times, she also has moments of pure heroism.
There are several things working against this film in terms of awards potential, mainly its status as an independent film from Australia. While Weaver may be the film's best shot at an Oscar nom, that doesn't stop it from being one of the most finely-crafted films of the year.
(Awards potential: Best Supporting Actress (Weaver), Best Original Screenplay)
No comments:
Post a Comment