Animal Kingdom

Hell, I'm sitting here drinking--a little buzz blurring the old Gulliver--and having just finished watching Animal Kingdom, I can't help but talk about it. Of course, talking means typing, and I know it's been a long time since I dropped an entry, but sometimes the right film pushes the right buttons...and then there's the alcohol. I think it has more to do with the alcohol to be honest, as I've seen a lot of films since my last entry, although I don't mean to suggest the film lacks punch, or isn't worthy of a late night drunken ramble. It clearly is, and a recommended film for those of discerning tastes.

Yes, I'm immediately giving the finger to all the jackasses out there who will complain about the slow pace, or the lack of action every 2.4 seconds to fuel the 21st Century phenomenon known as cultural ADD. OK, maybe it's not a known phenomenon...perhaps I just made it up. And no, I'm not poking fun at the real ADD (or ADHD) but commenting on the...forget it, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you might be one of them...or dead! So please stop reading if you suffer from cultural ADD or are in fact, dead. (Side note: if you're dead and reading this, I'm A) excited to know zombies exist, B) surprised the undead are accessing the web, and doubly surprised they're reading this blog, which has been deceased perhaps as long as they have, and C) I'm not home, try the neighbors.

Is anyone at this point questioning the legitimacy of my earlier statement that I've been drinking? Sure, it's pretty damn obvious I'm smiling away to the wonderful effects of a choice Pinot Noir, which sadly tapped out an hour ago. Fear not, I've shifted over to an equally robust and tasty...beer; sure it's an entirely different species, but isn't that the whole point of Animal Kingdom? Somehow I made it back around to the movie I watched, which is probably a good thing for anyone reading this blog.

It's great. Check it out. You'll love it.

Seriously speaking, and without spoiling too much (assuming you haven't clicked on the link and viewed the trailer) this is a crime story set in Melbourne. Some critics have likened it to Goodfellas, probably because they're lazy, or because they assume their readers are. Of course there are similarities, but this isn't an Australian Goodfellas, so don't expect Scorsese-style flash...or the Mafia.

Influenced by true crime stories out of Melbourne in the 1980's, writer and first-time director David Michod crafts an ambitious tale of the decline and fall of a criminal family. The film has a gritty realism, with great performances all around. It manages to avoid a lot of the cliches of the genre, but of course, some manage to seep in no matter how hard one tries. But they certainly don't detract, and for most part Michod crafts a well-paced, tense crime story that will stand the test of time...except that damn Air Supply scene. I understand the influences for the story comes from Melbourne in the 1980's, but Air Supply....really? "I"m all out of love, I'm so lost with--ack, gluck, blechhh! Sorry, that song makes me throw up.

Animal Kingdom

Score: 79%