Review of Animal Kingdom (2010) by Mike K — 06 Aug 2011

In my (admittedly limited) experience with Australian cinema, the one thing they do really well is grit, probably in part because of the country's past. As the metaphor of its title reflects, Animal Kingdom is about being born into an environment of violence and chaos that is ultimately inescapable.

Newcomer James Frecheville gives a subtle, sympathetic performance as J, a teenage boy who is orphaned after his mother overdoses, who is sent to live with his grandmother and uncles, and thus becomes a member of the crime family his mother tried to keep him out of. Jackie Weaver really anchors the film as J's grandmother, Smurf, who is a terrifying presence, a Luceferian monster who can charm with a smile while plotting your death.

Director, David Michod, stages the film with a meticulous, slow-burning pace that serves to create terrific tension that it lets loose at just the right moments. In the vein of the Godfather, this is a crime film that hits nearly every right note, and gets under your skin. Between this and Ben Affleck's The Town, which is also quite good, Animal Kingdom is undoubtedly the superior film.