Animal Kingdom (2010)
Director - David Michod
Starring - James Frecheville, Jacki Weaver & Ben Mendelsohn
3.5 stars
The big Aussie film of 2010, Animal Kingdom cleaned up at the Sundance Film Festival and from then on has really put itself on the map. There seems to be a genuine split from people I’ve spoken to about its success. Half the people are aware of the accolades it has produced and want to see it, the other have never heard of said film and when they hear it is an Australian production their prospects of watching it go down immediately.
It’s always a shame when that happens, and historically I have been a culprit too. Australian films, for some reason, are far less appealing than the big Hollywood budget ones. Why is this the case when, simply speaking, we should find it easier to relate to the cultural experiences in Aussie flicks because we are living them out on a daily basis? And whether moviegoers know it or not, they are attracted to characters and experiences they can relate to. I’m hoping that the Australian film industry continues its steady rise in popularity in the upcoming years and the success of Animal Kingdom will certainly help that cause.
For me, it was very good without being an unforgettable classic. After reading and hearing about a plethora of glowing reviews for it, and finding it impossible not to get caught up in the hype of it all, my expectations were going to take some filling. Still, I try very hard to go into to movies nowadays not expecting a lot (especially after the whole Shutter Island debacle, ugh) and to be honest, Animal Kingdom didn’t seem to jump out at me after hearing the storyline and watching the trailer.
So for those of you who have been living under a rock for the past month or so (and from doing the rounds there seems to be a few of you), Animal Kingdom revolves around a family of crime living in the suburbs. After Josh’s (James Frecheville) mum passes away, he is forced to live with his grandma Janine (Jacki Weaver). Janine’s children, and Josh’s uncles, all have reason to stay away from the cops and are constantly living their lives with one eye open, just in case their past misdemeanours or current plans end badly. Barry (Joel Edgerton), Pope (Ben Mendelsohn), Darren (Luke Ford) and Craig (Sullivan Stapleton) are all being kept a close eye on by the police as they just wait for them to make one slip up. When things get out of hand, and the boys take the law into their own hands, Detective Lecky (Guy Pearce) is adamant to put this case to a close and whether he knows it or not, Josh has become involved in the whole ordeal and has the biggest role to play out of the lot of them.
I’ve given it three and a half stars even though it was a truly enjoyable movie experience but I find it hard to justify what I actually like about it or whether I would bother seeing it again. I definitely do recommend it because not being a big fan of the whole crime genre; I still found the narrative incredibly gripping.
What stood out for me was the incredible direction from David Michod (who also wrote the screenplay). He paced the film very well, introduced each character brilliantly, justified character development and motive and just plain and simply put together a very well compiled narrative. Some of the camera and cinematography was also quite brilliant and memorable and so often the big scenes were shot without dialogue, in slow motion, with large panning sequences which allowed the audience to really sit back and take in the magnitude of the situation. It was an incredible effect and created a stirring atmosphere.
All the actors did a terrific job and although it’s hard to find a stand out, I personally believe that Guy Pearce just slightly flexed his Hollywood muscle to take the chocolates. He highlighted his versatility in the profession playing the understanding but agenda set detective who was also a well-rounded family man. It was a very believable performance that would not have been easy to do. Pearce (regardless of his history in the industry and various acting accolades) helped to make this movie feel like a genuine blockbuster.
Animal Kingdom is a gripping cinematic experience that is extremely well rounded, well acted and well directed. It will no doubt go down in the history books as one of Australia’s best. If you enjoy this sort of genre, you will be sure to eat this one up. Don’t be deterred by its Australianisms and certainly don’t be scared off by the Aussie accent. Although it’s based in Melbourne, it explores universal concerns about family, crime, love and choices as well as introducing us to a number of poignant and relevant characters. A job well done by the entire cast and crew and something for the Australian film industry to hang their hat on.
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