Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

CARNAGE (France/Germany/Poland/Spain/15A/80mins)

Directed by Roman Polanski. Starring Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz, Elvis Polanski.

THE PLOT: After their son ends up in hospital, the bookish Penelope and bathroom salesman Michael invite over the parents of the boy who struck him – lawyer Alan (Waltz) and his prim and proper wife, Nancy (Winslet). As the two couples attempt to come to some agreement over how their sons should progress, the building tension delivers some awkward home truths, on both sides. When a fine Scotch whiskey is thrown into the mix, those ugly truths come spewing out. Along with quite a bit of Penelope’s homemade cake. It doesn’t help that Alan is constantly on his phone, trying to deal with an impending lawsuit over a dodgy pharmaceutical drug. A dodgy pharmaceutical drug that Michael’s mother just happens to be taking. As the afternoon progresses, sheep becomes wolves and wolves become sheep, and this polite peace negotiation turns into a typical playground spat.

THE VERDICT: Staying true to its stage roots (Le Dieu du carnage, by Yasmina Reza, who co-writes the script too), Polanski here keeps his four actors on the same set for the entire film. All the better to have each of the characters blow their top, of course, as this pressure cooker meeting veers between politeness to vitriol, and back again. Despite the bickering, you just know these four acting powerhouses are having a ball. The wit crackles and cuts. It’s Abigail’s Party on some serious steroids. Or Revolutionary Road, only somehow funnier. And grimmer. RATING: 4

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  1conor

  

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  jony_dols

  

  Polanski has used his considerable writing & directional talents to effortlessly adapt this stage play to the big screen. With a brilliant cast, witty & razor-sharp dialogue & a surprisingly funny premise, this film really does work. Definitely worth the watch.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Onionhead

  

  The only thing worse than watching good actors turn in bad performances is witnessing a good director go with the motions, which is exactly what Polanski does here.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Hadouken65

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  The screenplay develops beautifullyas layerafter layerof civilised behaviour is pared back. Theawkward interactionof parentsabout their boys switches gear to becomea hostile interactionof couplesabout their inner demonsand relationship struggles

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  scollonp

  

  Very funny, but only because of the cast. May not have worked otherwise. Jodie Foster is outstanding, as is Winslet, but Reilly steals the show for me. A short movie, which is good, 'cos it would have gotten boring pretty soon. Go see it for the fine performances from all involved.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  Really hilarious film with outstanding performances from all four performers. Manages to never get dull despit the one setting.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Ellegibbons

  

  I really enjoyed this movie, four great performances, you would think that the movie being based in one location, it wouldnt keep the audience engaged, quite the opposite the plot builds and gets intense [with humour]. Well worth going to see although they do show the best bits in the advertisement, like most movies these days! I still enjoyed it, however if you are more interested in Will Farrell humour this movie is not for you :)

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  filmbuff2011

  

  78-year-old Roman Polanski is on fine, playful form with the hilarious, if somewhat slight Carnage. It's half the running time of the recent The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but there's enough here for an enjoyable trip to the theatre - in the cinema. It's an adaptation of a play, mostly set in one location as two sets of parents argue about their children, thereby exposing their own insecurities and immature adult behaviour. Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz are all clearly having fun with their roles, bouncing off each other like four pinballs in a pinball machine. It's great fun to watch, but it's all very theatrical and not quite as acerbic and satirical as it could be (i.e. it's not Heathers). It's definitely worth a look, but a matinee slot would make it feel more fulfilling.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  nuktu

  

  Went to see this movie last night in cineworld thanks to Irish Times. Overall I think this is a great movie, very good acting with a lot of humor thrown in. Definitely worth it.