Review of Carnage (2011) by Panta O — 20 Apr 2012

This Polanski black comedy drama, based on the play God of Carnage by French playwrighter Yasmina Reza was delightful movie to watch. Making such a story out of a simple fight of two boys in the park that results in one boy hitting the other in the mouth with a stick, and a meeting of their parents in a Brooklyn apartment to discuss the matter, was a master work! The screenplay develops beautifully as civilised behaviour is pealed like an onion, leaving us with nothing but tears! Their meeting is initially intended to be a short visit but various circumstances made it not just long but an example of a hostile interaction of couples about their inner frustrations and struggles.

Alan and Nancy Cowan (Waltz and Winslet), as well as Michael and Penelope Longstreet (Reilly and Foster), were believable characters from everyday life and casting for those roles was just perfect!

Fast paced, savagely cynical, funny and intelligent - it is a complete study of arrogance and how people presume to know what's best for others, which is able to make us think how we might have behaved in similar circumstances.