Carnage

Based on a play by Yasmina Reza, Carnage details the turmoil that ensues as two couples, Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael (John C. Reilly), and Nancy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz), get together to discuss an altercation between their respective sons – with the encounter inevitably progressing from blandly polite to brutally honest as the afternoon wears on (and as alcohol is introduced to the equation). The inherent staginess of the movie’s premise is, at the outset, not as problematic as one might’ve feared, as Polanski, working from a script cowritten with Reza, does a superb job of initially drawing the viewer into the deliberately-paced proceedings – with the watchable vibe perpetuated by both the stellar performances and the fluid visuals. Even in its early stages, however, Carnage suffers from a decidedly uneven feel that effectively prevents it from wholeheartedly overcoming its theatrical origins – with the almost equal number of engaging and underwhelming stretches becoming more and more problematic as time progresses. The consequent lack of momentum does make it rather difficult to work up any real interest in or enthusiasm for the characters’ ongoing (and increasingly mean-spirited) exploits, which ultimately ensures that Carnage‘s second half, for the most part, boasts the feel of an especially handsome showcase for the stars’ uniformly strong performances. The frustratingly abrupt ending ultimately cements the movie’s place as a criminally undercooked piece of work, with the refreshingly brisk running time unable to compensate for the film’s paucity of plot.

** out of ****