Review of Animal Kingdom (2010) by Patrick B — 21 Mar 2011

Repulsive, disturbing, intense, and shockingly intriguing. Animal Kingdom is a roller coaster ride of emotions from start to finish that will uncomfortably get under your skin while at the same time making you more and more interested and glued to the screen. The film's protagonist is Josh, played extremely well by James Frecheville, a somewhat relatable quiet, introverted teenage boy who must live with his extended family of criminals after his mother overdosed. The extended family consists of Josh's four uncles and his grandmother, played brilliantly by Jacki Weaver (also received a much deserved academy nomination for best supporting actress). Guy Pearce also shows up in a supporting role here as the detective that is investigating the family for their crimes. At this point I feel that I shouldn't explain anymore about the story with details because what I think made this such a fantastic movie was how shocked and disturbed while also being so fascinated watching this crime story unfold before my eyes.

The writing and directing of this film, both done by David Michôd, are equally brilliant. The story itself is almost Shakespearean like and some of the direction is beautifully done, but at the same time he consistently makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. And he does this right from the very beginning. He opens up with Josh and his mother sitting on a couch, watching a game show on TV. The mother has fallen asleep and Josh is just calmly watching the show. Seconds later, 2 paramedics walk through the front door and ask what happened. Josh unemotionally tells them that he thinks his mother has overdosed and died. No big deal. Michôd is just giving you a taste of what the remaining roller coaster ride is going to be like.

What really makes this film so disturbing and repulsive are the characters themselves. In particular, Josh's grandmother, played by Jacki Weaver, and his uncle, Pope, played eerily well by Ben Mendelsohn. The grandmother or mother to the rest of the family, is very aware of what her sons profession's are (bank robbers for the most part, but mainly just criminals) and has no qualms with it. She just plays the comforting, loving mother and is there to console the boys. She reminds me very much of one of Hitchcock's mothers, a very loving and caring person, yet the most evil of them all. She mainly plays a background character throughout most of the first 2 acts until she rears her very scary and sadistic side towards the end of the film. Then there's Pope, possibly one of the best villains on screen this past year, and one that will absolutely terrify you. Mendelsohn plays him so well, and by well I mean he really brings out this subtle, disturbing, sick side of the character, that will literally make you feel distressed while watching the film. He's one of those characters that you will truly hate by the end of the film, and I mean hate with a passion yet he's probably the one character you want to see more of just to see what he'll do next. Pope is pretty much absent for the first act of the story, but not to worry, he shows up in the beginning of the second and pretty much drives the film from that point.

Animal Kingdom is a must see if you have the opportunity. I take that back, It's a must see and you should go out of your way to see it. However I do warn that this is not your typical crime drama, it's extremely powerful, repulsive, and in your face about it. The direction and writing are superb and the script should have probably gotten a nod from the academy but it was a foreign film technically which put it at a disadvantage off the bat but at least Jacki Weaver got a nomination. At the heart of it, Animal Kingdom is about survival, and like in the hostile surrounding of the jungle, only the strong will survive which means doing things that we never thought we could possibly be capable. Animal Kingdom is one of those special kinds of films where long after the credits have rolled it will stick with you, and in my book that is a damn successful film.