CARNAGE

RYAN: I was dying to see this when it was on Broadway, called God of Carnage, and starring James Gandolfini, Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden and Jeff Daniels.

CAROLINE: I saw it, and it was great. They upgraded the cast for the big screen adaptation though, with the likes of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly. And it’s directed by one Roman Polanski.

RYAN: It’s such a powerhouse cast and really very well done. The entire movie takes place in one room but moves so quickly and is so well acted that it literally breezes by.

CAROLINE: That makes sense since it was a play first. Were there any slow moments?

RYAN: No. And it was interesting to see how the script kept moving forward, even though it’s a quite awkward exchange between two couples… at several points they try to end the conversation but then something happens that keeps it going. It’s really a brilliant script.

CAROLINE: I remember it being very well reviewed on Broadway. I wonder how those actors feel about not being able to do the film version.

RYAN: That happens and I love Jodie and Kate in anything they do. The dudes are excellent too. Everything about this works. It’s a real character study and social commentary on age, parenting, maturity, the circle of life… there’s just a load of issues covered in this and it’s the kind of movie that would be good to see with friends and then dissect after.

CAROLINE: I love those movies.

RYAN: There’s a nice contemporary feel to it and the progression of tension builds brilliantly. I watched the whole movie enjoying the simmering drama and then afterward, I looked at the “for your consideration” awards ad which says this is being submitted into the best picture – comedy category. So I watched it again with friends and it actually is quite funny.

CAROLINE: Wow. I can’t believe you didn’t realize it was funny to begin with.

RYAN: It has to do with expectations. I definitely chortled the first time I saw it but I guess I did get the humor a lot more the second time I viewed.

CAROLINE: I hear you.

RYAN: It’s not the best film of the year and as for comedies, it’s no Bridesmaids. But it’s a smart film on so many levels and all of the layers of what’s going on between the couples, within the couples…. it’s incredibly compelling and watchable. I mean, I’ve seen it twice already for heaven’s sake.

— RATING —