Carnage

Carnage is a film which I was persuaded to watch after a recommendation from a friend. It basically revolves around four characters: two sets of parents who have come together to talk out the issue of their two boys having a fight. One child has hit the other with a stick, and the parents are discussing what the best thing to do is. Throughout the film we see more and more of the character of these individuals, and we see shifting dynamics among the four of them, as well as more and more childish actions.

The highlight of the film for me was Christoph Waltz. I've only recently discovered Waltz's talents, but I think he’s a fantastic actor. He plays the father of the boy who has attacked the other. Throughout the film he is attached to his phone, only communicating with the others through generally sarcastic or snide comments, and providing me with a source of near-constant amusement. His character is devoted to his work, and Waltz does an excellent job of reflecting the kind of father who is too busy to really care what his child does. His response to the ‘destruction’ of his phone perfectly reflects how broken he is without it. Also, when his wife is sick he spends more of his time worrying about the state of his suit and doesn't even ask if she is okay. His character remains vaguely constant throughout the film, providing an amusing antagonistic note to Jodie Foster on many occasions.

Jodie Foster plays the mother of the attacked child, and for me, she is wonderful. Some consider her to be ‘over-the-top’ in this role, but I think she does magnificently. Her character is just the over-concerned, over-protective mother everyone has had experience of at some point. Her concern for her son and her moral beliefs become somewhat accentuated throughout the film, and Foster does an excellent job. She clearly regards the other parents as lesser to her and comes across as a very strong mother initially. However, there are continual signs of weakness, most obviously when the alcohol starts to come out. On occasion she makes very pointed and forked comments about the incident in defence of her son, and her very maternal attitude is in direct contrast to Kate Winslet.

Kate Winslet comes across as the perfect wife for Christoph Waltz. She too is a career-driven woman and considers the talk that these four parents are having to be little more than a distraction from her work. However, in many ways she is the fulcrum of the film. It is her that is sick (hilarious, by the way), producing the first major conflict. It is her that walks out on numerous occasions. It is her who flies off the handle and drops her husband’s phone into the water. She is often the source of many of the conflicts. Her attitude starts out as very reconciliatory but as the film progresses she becomes much more likely her husband. Towards the end of the film she comes across much more of an infant, and her reaction to her bag being thrown reflects much about her as a character. Kate Winslet also shines in this role, and her antagonism of John C. Reilly is almost a direct parallel of her husband’s antagonism of Jodie Foster.

John C. Reilly is an interesting addition to this film. It is quite a change from many of his other films, but he is marvellous in it nonetheless. His character undergoes perhaps the most dramatic change throughout the course of the film. He starts off as a very welcoming and loving father, but there are obvious cracks beneath the surface, and his attitude towards vermin is another source of conflict. However, he soon develops into a thoroughly dislikeable character that shows little consideration for anyone else in his life, with the possible exception of his mother. His character change causes the group dynamic to change, resulting in a gender split to the group.

The whole dynamic of the group is magnificently set up by Roman Polanski, and I think that ‘Carnage’ is one of his better films. The alliance shifts and character developments are a joy to watch and I’m quite surprised that it wasn’t nominated for any Academy Awards. I think it is quite a subtle film but one that is very enjoyable once you get into the nitty-gritty of it. Browsing through some of the films that were nominated for Best Picture in 2011, there are a couple of recognisable films, but none that fly off the screen at me. I think Carnage is good enough to have been nominated, and at least good enough for one of the actors to receive a nomination.

I think Carnage is a good film, and one that I’m glad I was recommended. I can only pass on the recommendation to you reader. I would strongly suggest that you see this film, not because it’s a Hollywood blockbuster, not because it has a deep underlying meaning or anything like that. I think you should watch it because it is enjoyable.