CARNAGE

In Carnage, four well-to-do Brooklynites gather to resolve a pressing issue – their sons had a fight, teeth were knocked out. Despite the air of unease, the couples are amicable enough. They even share an apple-pear cobbler in the ‘spirit of reconciliation’… but when ‘blame’ and ‘punishment’ enter the conversation, the veneer of civility rapidly deteriorates amidst backhanded compliments, venomous quips and general childishness. Based on the play God of Carnage by French playwright Yasmina Reza and directed by Roman Polanski (Chinatown, The Pianist), Carnage will entertain viewers with its delicious mix of razor-sharp satire and pitch-black comedy. They’re mostly nasty, nihilistic and egotistical, but the four leads – Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly – deliver side-splitting laughs in rapid-fire succession and with the greatest of ease. Staged almost entirely within a single apartment, Carnage is not only a worthy addition to Polanski’s diverse filmography, but proof that the ageing director is at the top of his game and willing to explore new and interesting dramatic territory. (JH) ****