It's Difficult NOT To Enjoy This Movie

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Blistering performances.

One of the well made film ever. if you want a funny as F movie, here this is.

I chose this film off of blue ridge on demand knowing nothing about it. It caught my eye because I saw John C. Reilly in the description as one of the leading actors, being I'm not even a big fan of Reilly, I have no idea why it compelled me to view it but I'm glad I did.To put it shortly, the film is about two couples having a meet due to their children getting into a physical fight with each other.All the characters were believable, even the ridiculous character played by Jodie Foster, because I happen to know someone just like that personally. The movie was pretty predictable but it did not take away from the brilliance. The wives turning on the husbands and vise versa, everyone one person is against every other character at some point or another and all their points of view are able to be related to. Everyone of them has so much character and emotion which is ripped away and put out for every one to see at an alarming rate, especially with the help of a few drinks. I won't go into a lot of detail but kudos to the entire cast for playing difficult characters. What I mean by difficult is, well I had a hunch and come to find out that it was true that the entire movie was shot in real time without any breaks or pauses, and that must be something difficult to do. Any person can go through several emotions in a few hours from every day life experiences but these people bear everything from generally hospitable and laughter down to point of marriage breaking arguments and saying they don't even care about the situation involving their children period. The cast pulls it off amazingly, it comes across realistic, exciting, and authentic. To think, the movie begins with the two couples already together with one of the pairs heading out the door right from the start and an entire cleverly put together film takes place before they make their way out. Actually I do believe the flick ends even before the couple leaves which would probably be its only real downfall to the general public, the completely abrupt ending, even though I personally thought that it fit the moment justly.

This movie directed by Roman Polankski is really unique, as most of the film was shot in real time, without breaks and, with the exception of the park scenes, in a single location. It reminds me of previous one room stage plays works turn into feature films like Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 'Rope', Sidney Lumet's 1957's 12 Angry Men or 1966's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' by Mike Nichols. I love how the movie is shot in one location. It's does give that small time playwright play feel as if the viewer is an audience member in a silence sitcom watching these events unfold in front of them. The movie tells the story of two boy's parents meeting in Brooklyn apartment to discuss the matter of their children getting into a fight in the park that results in one boy, hitting the other, in the face with a stick. Alan (Christoph Waltz) and Nancy Cowan (Kate Winslet), visit the home of Michael (John C. Reilly) and Penelope Longstreet (Jodie Foster), to talk about the issue, only to find out that their intended short meeting became drawn out longer due to various circumstances. They soon overstay their welcome, and the peaceful conversation turn ugly; as the two sets of families continue to try to get the upper hand over the other family in verbal battle of wits over issues ranging from dead hamsters, cell phone use, to prescribed drugs. Sooner than later both sets of parents find themselves at each other throats. The movie is surgically exposing the true layers of social convention with dry wit mean-spirited humor. While, some people might find this annoying or unlikeable to listen to. I found myself, very interested in what was being said. I also found myself, laughing at times at the smart humor. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea but if you enjoy subtle, refined humor it is well worth your time to give it a watch. Other humor like the vomit gag kinda turn me off from the film. I have to say, the humor is well-rounded. All of the actors did their parts, very well. John C. Reilly really comes across as the well mattered laid back Average Joe whom would simply appreciate an apology from their child and quickly forget about it. Jodie Foster really knows how to act like an arrogance stuck up author with a pushy agenda. She never seems to want to shut her mouth against people, she secretly despise. She has this unpleasantly overbearing preachy attitude that you can help, not hating. Christoph Waltz indeed waltz into the right role as the aloof over busy brutality honest Pharmaceutical spin doctor businessman. It was funny, how often, he had to pick up his cell phone for a call. Kate Winslet is truly amazing as the over emotional bi polar train wreck who find herself, going to extremes in both in mania and her lows. The movie is well written, and very faithful to the Tony Award winning play God of Carnage by French playwright Yasmina Reza. Although set in Brooklyn, New York, the film was shot in Paris, because of Polanski's fugitive status. You really couldn't tell the different, since most of the film was indoors. The opening and closing scenes, ostensibly filmed in Brooklyn Bridge Park, were shot by a second unit. The movie is well shot and shows why Roman Polanski is a good director. A lot of critics might hate this film, due to the fact, that Polanski is a controversial figure. In 1977, after a photo shoot in Los Angeles, Polanski was arrested for the rape of a 13-year-old girl and pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful sex with a minor. To avoid sentencing, Polanski fled to his home in London, eventually settling in France. I have to say, while I'm not a huge fan of Polanski, the person, I do praise his works as director. He has a secret cameo in the film that worth checking out. Overall: I believe in the god of carnage. The god whose rule's been unchallenged since time immemorial. This movie showcase their power and it works as a pretty good comedy. What are you still doing here? Go home and watch the film. It's that good.

The first five minutes of watching this movie really hooked me, the shots, the music, Jodie foster AND Kate Winslet starring beside each other... Its just tells you that you are about to watch a little modern gem, but that's not exactly how it turned out.First of all, the dialogue, I don't care if this was modeled after a play, it was awful. Watching all these irked characters got old and I found myself irked. The ridiculous dialogue just sort of snuck in through the back door, the lines these characters were so blatantly spitting out. I felt like I was witnessing people in a really stupid, unrealistic dream because that's how they talked in this movie and that would have been fine even, IF they just left that friggin apartment and had more of an interesting plot. I don't get it, was the plot outline two sentences? The script as a whole was probably less than 10 pages. About half way through I was like, they are not going to drag this one conversation through the entire movie are they?