By Natalie Goh.
What happens when four (seemingly) nice, professional New Yorkers are placed in the same room for one afternoon? Carnage!
I am not talking about your average Clash of the Titans style: ‘blood bath’. Instead, Roman Polanski’s rendition of Yasmina Reza’s play is a low key domestic drama revealing what happens when four distressed parents come into conflict over a playground fight involving their sons. The polite, calm and contained adults are soon transformed into anxious, angry individuals.
Marital problems rise to the surface, drunkard moments give rise to (spoiler alert) – VOMITING. A discussion of fruit cobbler and the supposed death of a hamster are only some of the comical subjects which arise. The liberal, Penelope Longstreet (Jodie Foster), is criticised for her hypocrisy, whilst the workaholic, Alan Cowan (Christopher Waltz), is ridiculed by both his wife (Kate Winslet) and the two onlookers. Soon, the skirmish between the couple’s sons is forgotten.
The film is well paced and full of wit. The couple’s attempts to leave the room (and each other’s company) never amount to much. The circular arguments and inability to escape are enhanced by the claustrophobic New York apartment setting. There are strong performances from the four lead actors. However, the characters, sometimes turn into caricatures. The vulgar, vomiting scene, perhaps, does not fit with the more subtle comic moments in the film. But overall, this is a must see. Perhaps, not in the cinema, but definitely on DVD.
Carnage film review: 4/5
The release date for carnage on DVD and Blu-ray was the 18th June 2012, for anyone that missed Carnage on the big screen. The film also stars John C. Reilly as as Michael Longstreet, Penelope’s husband.
