Animal Kingdom Review
By David Kempler
Ma Barker, Aussie Style
Seems like the Aussies are really getting into film noir and gangster films this year. "Animal Kingdom" is the latest, and it has very fine moments, some so-so moments, and some I ain't-buying-it moments.
The Codys are a family of criminals of varying degrees and of varying sociopathic behaviors. The best of them is Joshua (James Frechville). He is mostly lost, especially after his mother keels over dead. Directionless, and without many options, he moves in with his grandmother, Smurf (Jacki Weaver). Smurf is of small stature, as you might imagine, but she's as ruthless and evil, and without feelings as they come. She supervises her family that routinely commits crimes like murder, drug trafficking, and other lovely things. The worst of the bunch is Pope (Ben Mendelsohn). He is the real deal. He'd slit the throat of his own brother if he thought it might make him a couple of bucks.
Joshua is the "moral" one of the bunch. In other words, he's less likely to kill you. It's often difficult to tell whether he is slow, stupid, passive, depressed, disinterested, or possibly about to explode in his own right. This makes him the one you would be least depressed about if he asked your daughter to marry him. That's about the biggest compliment I can pay him.
Eventually it all comes to a head, and Joshua is forced to choose between his family and his girlfriend and the cops. Smurf is there offering him her "grandmotherly advice", but we learn that one must be careful when dealing with this little demon. By the time the dust, bullets and blood settles, all is clear to both Joshua and the audience, but is it too late for Joshua? If you like your crime violent and sociopathic, this might prove to be a winner for you, and despite some of its unevenness, it still works. Anyway, if you don't see it, Smurf might put a hit out on you.
