Roman Polanski’s Carnage, based on the play ‘God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza, is a brilliant, dark satire on human relationships and social etiquette featuring career-best performances from Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster.
Carnage plays out in real time; 80 minutes within the walls of Michael (Reilly) and Penelope’s (Foster) apartment as they meet with Alan (Waltz) and Nancy (Winslet) to discuss a playground fight between their two sons. Soon, awkward small-talk and a clash of egos lead to increasing bickering and full-blown arguments between the two couples as the four adults descend into bitching, insults and, ultimately, carnage.
The cast of four are uniformly excellent; particularly Jodie Foster as the highly-strung liberal writer who clashes with Christoph Waltz’s cynical attorney. Part of the fun of Carnage is watching the four great actors (three Academy Award winners and one Academy Award nominee) square off against each other.
Polanski expertly ratchets up the tension at the beginning between the two couples as middle-class pleasantries begin to crumble due to catty asides and Waltz’s attorney’s phone continuing to interrupt conversations.
The pacing of the film, at 80 minutes, is brilliantly judged as the action naturally flows from one argument to the other and Polanski almost lets Alan and Nancy leave the apartment before drawing them back in and building the social awkwardness and claustrophobia to almost cringe-worthy levels.
The film has many laugh-out-loud one liners and moments; some of the best have to be when alcohol is eventually brought into the mix and the swearing and arguing becomes more irrational and exaggerated (Kate Winslet makes a particularly hilarious drunk).
The screenplay by Polanski and Yasmina Reza from her own play, is cleverly written and witty in how in deconstructs the egos and personalities of the four main characters and the many arguments, asides from being hilarious, raise many questions about how people should behave towards each other in the modern world.
However, the fact that Carnage is based on a stage play leads to one of its main flaws in that it cannot escape its theatrical setting. The scenario and events would have more immediacy and impact live on stage than on the big screen which makes the film somewhat restricted and forgettable.
Be that as it may, Carnage is still a hilarious and clever piece of cinema from such a masterful, old-school director as Polanski. It is a shame that the Academy Awards this year have neglected ‘Carnage’ as it features four Oscar-worthy performances from Winslet, Waltz, Reilly and Foster.
Seek Carnage out if you want an intelligent comedy based on characters and performance rather than the usual gag-a-minute, gross-out laughs of most Hollywood comedies.
8/10