Review of Animal Kingdom (2010) by Spencer S — 17 Mar 2011

Much of this confused me as the volume was low and the Australian was fast, but the finer points are crystal clear. The action thriller is a hard genre to crack while maintaining a dramatic edge and intellectual flair.

Instead of the usual romanticized vision of the crime boss shooting up the place, there isn't anyone I would want to root for. The renegade police officers are unmercilessly brutal, killing off the convicted brothers like boxelder bugs.

The only person I felt any pity or regret for was the title character "J", who has to cover for Pope, his uncle, though he murdered his girlfriend using crack cocaine. The tactics with which Smurf manipulates her sons and grandson into doing her bidding and keeping their mouths shut was a tour de force performance for Jackie Weaver.

Guy Pearce makes a stunning performance as the detective on the family's case, but it wasn't riddled with overly indulgent cliches. I was surprised with the family dynamic, and the carelessness of the murders of police officers, family members, and rogue strangers who just got in the way.

A great film for 2010.