I've Seen It

This is the third Australian film I have caught at the cinema this year, not only is it my pick of the three (others being Red Hill and The Last Clinic), but quite possibly my film of the year. A big thanks to Little White Lies and Grolsch that I was able to catch the film this year, the official release date at the moment is February 25th 2011.

Animal Kingdom is the real deal. Winner of Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury prize. It’s a dense, gritty, hard story. Following a criminal family struggling to survive in the face of a changing society. The politics and dynamics within the family unit came across to me as being similar with a family lions out in the wild. This imagery was, I felt, reinforced in a couple of family scenes, the powerful soundtrack and the performances of the cast.

There are excellent performances all round, three in particular are the central character J, a young boy who begins as a reactive participant to events. The creepy paranoid uncle Pope who is the leader of the criminal element of the family. As well as Detective Leckie played by Guy Pierce, who adds a solid backbone to the story. Amongst all these great performances stands one. Head and shoulders above the rest, that of the Grandmother. She really powers through and effectively carries the last 3rd of the film.

The soundtrack adds a real sense of menace which simmers in the background of the film. You get sucked into the world the director has crafted in the first scene and don’t come back up for air until the end.

This a great film, it’s gritty, violent and sad. It packs a punch right from the start and doesn’t let up at all.

Watch this film people!