"Morally you're suppose to overcome your impulses, but there are times you don't want to overcome them." Alan
☆☆☆☆☆ Great Performances
Directed by Roman Polanski from a Tony and Olivier Award Winning play by Yasmina Resa called God Of Carnage.
Starring Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and John C. Reilly.
Carnage is a theater play turned into a movie that works, because of the actors performances. Roman directs it skillfully and lets the actors fill in the missing subtext. My only gripe with this film version of a theatrical production is that as an audience member I felt like I was viewing a play in a theater. Yasmina and Roman in wanting to keep the spirit of the theatrical play intact missed an opportunity in the film version to expand on its social themes. Film allows you to take and transport the audience to different places. Roman by keeping the camera so close to the actors made the viewers like me feel like they were watching a play.
Please note I never saw or heard of the play version (God of Carnage) before watching the film version (Carnage). Non acting friends have told me that they also felt like they were watching a theatrical production. It is not easy to transform a theatrical play into a film but it can be done. A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams and brilliantly directed in both its theatrical and film versions by Elia Kazan. Elia understood the differences between what theater and film audiences need to take part in the drama that unfolds before them. In the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire, Elia wisely held the camera back and gave us room to explore the rooms and outside areas. Kazan's directing differences with the camera made audiences feel like they were transported to a film world and not a theater stage world. Roman still does a great job directing Carnage and its energetic cast.
In the scene below Christoph Waltz subtly pulls out his characters subtext using his cell phone. The actors do in each scene do a marvelous sub textual dance that draws you in an as audience member. At times I wanted to do some Carnage myself to these characters. What makes you enjoy Carnage is the actors who themselves are enjoying their respective roles. Christoph seems to enjoy it a little more than the others. Carnage is a fun film that plays like a theater piece. Enjoy!
Trivia - Carnage was shot in real time, in one location with no breaks, as though it was in a theater. Only the park scene's where in a different location.
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