Animal Kingdom

Director: Scott Stewart
Cast: Paul Bettany, Charles S. Dutton, Kevin Durand and Dennis Quaid
Releasing in cinemas: 3 June 2010
Rated: MA 15+

What is it with Melbourne and gangsters? After the success of Underbelly on the small screen, writer/director David Michôd takes the city’s mean streets to the big screen in this gripping and occasionally brutal story of a family embroiled in crime culture.

Animal Kingdom scored a major coup at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, taking out the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) in the festival’s World Cinema competition. That international recognition certainly isn’t misplaced, as Michôd creates an engrossing tale about the power of crime to simultaneously seduce and destroy. It’s also a story about a family both drawn together and torn apart by their criminal activities.

The time in which the film is set is indistinct, but it’s certainly not completely contemporary. It alludes to the 1988 Walsh Street shooting of two police officers; as well as to earlier shootings by police (notably the Armed Robbery Squad) of underworld figures. The link to actual events is however somewhat incidental; for this is a story about powerful personalities infected by evil.

Indeed, it’s not going too far to draw some parallels with Shakespeare in the film’s depiction of a family poisoned by hatred and brutality. It even has its very own Lady Macbeth in the form of family matriarch Janine Cody (Jackie Weaver). Like the Shakespearean character, she fails to recognise the damage her actions are causing. She doesn’t even have an “out damn spot” moment of revelation.

Her misguided love for her brood produces some very nasty characters indeed, including brothers Darren (Luke Ford), Barry (Joel Edgerton) and the vicious ‘Pope’ (Ben Mendelsohn). The criminal world inhabited by these men threatens to engulf the newcomer into their world, Joshua (James Frecheville) – known as J – who is their nephew. He enters the house after his mother’s death; and soon finds himself drawn into the swirling vortex that is their lifestyle.

The core of the film is J’s struggle to decide where his loyalties lie. Naturally, the bond of family and the not-inconsiderable lure of ‘easy money’ is strong. On the other hand, Detective Leckie (Guy Pearce) takes a shine to the young man and sees a chance to pull him out of the downward spiral. Of course, his motives aren’t 100% pure either, with the prospect of putting at least some of J’s uncles behind bars high on his agenda.

Those with sensitive dispositions should be warned that this is a tough film. Two scenes in particular stand out for their graphic – although not gratuitous – depiction of violence. There’s also plenty of rough language (as you might expect), so this is definitely not one for kids.

The cast is generally excellent. Guy Pearce is a little more subdued than we’re perhaps used to from him as the straight-down-the-line Leckie. Naturally, he has a tough gig to play the rather dour cop, but manages to be entirely convincing. On the other side of the fence, Ben Mendelsohn is frighteningly good as the possibly psychotic Pope; while Joel Edgerton and Luke Ford offer strong support as his brothers. Newcomer James Frecheville seems a little lost as J; although in fairness that is apposite to the role.

The performance of the film however comes from Jackie Weaver as the disturbing - and arguably disturbed – Janine. The character is as much a monster as Pope, it’s just that she hides it behind hugs and kind words. Weaver’s performance neatly captures both sides of this intriguing but appalling woman.

Animal Kingdom is a slow-burning movie that builds to a shattering climax. This is one of those films that will provoke responses and debate. While it’s tough going at times, it’s also a finely made and intricately detailed film.

David Edwards