CARNAGE

With Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Riley, Christoph Waltz

Written by Yasmina Reza & Roman Polanski (based on Reza's play “Le Dieu du carnage”)

Directed by Roman Polanski

Set in real time, this social comedy has a set of parents visiting another family's home to discuss the issue of their son hitting the others' kid, causing dental damage. At first both parties try to act civil and rational in discussing the problem, but things soon deteriorate when tensions flare, and alcohol gets added to the mix. With vastly different views on parenting, the heads butt all over the place.
Based on a play, it does have that one location feel to it, and the actors manage to maintain a continuity in their characters and their deterioration.

I think people with kids could identify with this more, so it didn't really impact as much with me as seeing all four of the protagonists / antagonists as a bunch of hypocritical jerks.

Extra features include the actors talking about their roles, and a rather informal film festival audience chat with Riley and Waltz.

3 / C
- Paul Blom

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B - C

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice