Title: Carnage

Starring: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly

Adapting an acclaimed, Tony Award-winning play that perfectly captures the satirizing of the human condition, parenting and marriage into an intriguing, true-to-life film is never an easy task. But director Roman Polanski effortlessly did just that with his new comedy-drama movie ‘Carnage,’ based on Yasmina Reza’s play ‘God of Carnage.’ The filmmaker, who co-wrote the film with the playwright, hired a respectable cast that brilliantly showcased how disengaged people really are from their relationships, and the disdain they hold towards the people who don’t share the same views as they do.

‘Carnage’ follows two diverse Brooklyn couples, Penelope and Michael Longstreet (played by Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly) and Nancy and Alan Cowan (portrayed by Kate Winslet and and Christoph Waltz), as they meet at the former’s apartment to discuss the fight that broke out between their two 11-year-old sons on the playground. The Longstreet’s son is struck in the face with a tree branch by the Cowan’s son. The couples initially act nice towards each other, in an effort to peacefully resolve the situation. But as the meeting progresses, and the four can’t find a common ground, their true, clashing personalities are revealed.

Investment broker Nancy and lawyer Allan feel that their son shouldn’t take all the blame for the attack, as the Longstreet’s son wouldn’t let him join his “gang” of friends. However, liberal writer and campaigner Penelope and wholesaler Michael think the Cowan’s son should learn to take responsibility for his actions, and he’s being coddled by his regularly absent parents.

While all four actors realistically connected to their self-involved characters, Waltz undoubtedly gave the most memorable performance as the career-driven Allan, who has very little involvement in his son’s life. The actor embodied the mind and attitude of many working parents who become disconnected from their home lives, and have no desire to mend their broken relationships with their families. Waltz’s portrayal realistically showcases how society has become so obsessed with their technology that no one knows how to relate to, or communicate with, anyone verbally, face-to-face.

As a lawyer working on an important pharmaceutical case, Allan is the most entertaining character in ‘Carnage.’ He believes it’s more important for him to be speaking with his colleagues than with his wife or the Longstreets. While his ideals routinely clash with the politically correct Penelope, as well as Nancy, who feels guilty not being more involved in their son’s life, he doesn’t feel the need to make their tumultuous relationships work. He half-heatedly engages in a debate with Penelope and Nancy, and then rudely interrupts them to take a work-related call. While important issues, Waltz effortlessly satirizes the complexities of parenthood and marriage with his portrayal of Allan.

Besides giving a memorable performance as Allan, Waltz had a believable, natural chemistry with Foster, Winslet and Reilly. ‘Carnage’ takes place in real time, unfolding in the Longstreets’ apartment over a period of 80 minutes. The shoot required all four actors had to be on-set for every scene, but they never clashed in their acting approaches; they all aimed to make fun of the basic human conditions of work, marriage and parenting. While the comedy-drama is satirical, all of the actors understood the real psychology their characters’ relationships are based on, and how quickly good intentions can unravel when people have clashing opinions.

The actors’ authentic relationship is also in part based on the extensive rehearsal period they had prior to filming. Much like the play, Polanski had the cast learn the entire script before the shoot began. The cast was able to gain a command over how they would all relate to each other before filming began.

The actors’ bonds were also solidified by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker’s decision to create as authentic of an apartment as possible. Since almost the entire plot of ‘Carnage’ takes place in the Longstreet’s apartment, in real time, they had to be able to walk from one room to another without transition cuts, so the set is almost as important of a character as the four leads. The apartment didn’t feel confining or restricting in the characters’ development or arguments with each other; in fact, the Longstreets being in a place of security allowed them to let their guards down, which in essence, permitted the Cowans to show their true personalities as well.

‘Carnage’ is believable in the fact that the characters all have a different outlook on life, and are trying to figure out what the best approach is to mending the relationship between their sons. While they say they want to be good examples for their sons, Penelope, Michael, Nancy and Allan don’t want to take responsibility for their words or actions, or for what their children do. The characters are intriguing because they also don’t want to change their views, or at least consider the opinions of others. They all feel that if everyone felt the way they did, the world would function more smoothly, and be a better place.

The plot of ‘Carnage’ thrives on its unique, multi-layered nature, which tricks viewers into initially believing the Longstreets and Cowans will peacefully resolve the conflict between their sons. It starts off with the characters acting nice towards each other, because they feel they have to, but the fake nature between them quickly dissolves. The comedy-drama amusingly shows what people do when they lose their manners; Penelope lets it be known throughout the course of the plot that she’s appalled by the uptight nature of the people she’s let into her home. At the same time, Nancy loses her composure and no longer cares about being the liaison who will fix the relationship between the two couples.

Polanski effortlessly and skillfully adapted Reza’s acclaimed play into a true-to-life film that perfectly chronicles the downfall of American parenting and marriage. The perfectly cast Waltz, Foster, Winslet and Reilly created diverse, entertaining characters who had no way of connecting with each other, on an emotional or intellectual manner. Unfolding the events of ‘Carnage’ in real time, on one set, helped show that people feel their opinions are the only ones that matter, leaving them to not care about taking responsibility for their actions. Much like the play, ‘Carnage’ perfectly satires the downfall of American society, and the fruitless efforts people take to fix it.

Technical: A

Written by: Karen Benardello