Wick's Review

Summary - Good 3.0

Charismatic, disorienting and brooding, Animal Kingdom presents the truthy tale of an infamous crime family, including their murder of two Melbourne cops. The brooding gets a bit much by the third reel, weighing down what would otherwise be a great true-crime movie.

The charisma comes from a bumper crop of great Aussie actors. Joel Edgerton and Sullivan Stapleton are future matinee idols; Guy Pearce – in a mere supporting role – a proven global star. Then there’s Jacki Weaver’s inimitable performance as a doppelgänger of criminal matriarch Kath Pettingill. It’s a beaut.

The disorientation comes from writer-director David Michôd’s clever story structure. Finding his mother dead, a teenager gets taken in by his estranged grandmother, who lives with his posse of uncles. Sequentially introduced to their nephew, the uncles turn out to be four of the most wanted men in Australia. They say you can’t pick your family, but yowza, this kid draws four crooked straws.

Fans of crime cinema or Australia or Aussie actors will find Animal Kingdom a near ripper. Give it a burl.

Acting - Great 4.0

Australia is loaded with charismatic actors, many of whom are in this movie.

• Joel Edgerton and Sullivan Stapleton bring Russell Crowe to mind, though these two look more like matinee idols than does the current Aussie superstar. They play their demented mother’s favorite sons, handsome and strong.
• Guy Pearce, in a low key supporting role, doesn’t get an occasion to show off his world class acting chops, yet his star power shines through. I’ll say it again, why isn’t this guy a huge star?
• Luke Ford and James Frecheville show potential as strapping young dudes trying to make their way in a demented world. Frecheville ultimately impresses with his largely internal performance as the teenage grandson who’s suddenly brought into a criminal family.
• Jacki Weaver, as the demented criminal matriarch, creates a chilling portrait of a woman smugly satisfied to reap what she’s sickly sowed.

Film - Good 3.0

David Michôd’s screenplay ends up being stronger than his direction, although both are to blame for the too heavy brooding that afflicts the film.

Edge - Risqué 2.1

In addition to the requisite gun violence, there is some disturbing drug activity, including a young girl being plied with heroin.

Reality - Glib 1.1

Apparently the story of “an infamous Melbourne-based criminal family, headed by matriarch Kath Pettingill. Family members have many convictions for criminal offences including drug trafficking, arms dealing and armed robberies.” (Source: Wikipedia)

They were behind the Walsh Street police shootings.

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