Animal Kingdom (2010)

Director: David Michod

Writer: David Michod

Composer: Antony Partos

Starring: Guy Pearce, James Frecheville, Jacki Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Luke Ford, Sullivan Stapleton, Mirrah Foulkes, Laura Wheelwright, Ben Mendelsohn, Susan Prior, Clayton Jacobson, Tim Phillipps, Josh Helman, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Anthony Hayes, Jack Heanly, Dan Wyllie, Andy McPhee, Christina Azucena, Jacqueline Brennan

More info: IMDb

Tagline: A crime story.

Plot: Seventeen year-old J (Josh) as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Nah.

What a great flick!  It's writer/director David Michod's feature debut and it's a beaut.  He's crafted a compelling film with a story that's got a few surprises and solid performances all the way around.  Jacki Weaver as the mother/grandmother, Janine 'Smurf' Cody, is outstanding.  She's a well-written character with a few layers that get peeled back as the film progresses.  She's not a broad you'd want to tangle with.  Guy Pearce is the big name but it's Jacki that really stands out.  If I had to pick another it'd be Ben Mendelsohn as one of her boys and one you wouldn't want to know in real life.  Antony Partos' score broods just under the surface and does a wonderful job maintaining the drama and tension.  It's a rare thing these days but I'd really like to have the soundtrack.  Michod, Pearce, Partos, et al have teamed for his latest picture, THE ROVER (2014), getting good reviews.  It looks great and I'm looking forward to anything else this cat's got down the road.