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ANIMAL KINGDOMMovie Reviews
Crime drama set in Australia about a 17 year-old boy who goes to live with his grandmother and her sons, all members of Melbourne's seamy underworld. Cast:Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Luke Ford, Jacki WeaverDirector:David MichodRelease Date:August 13, 2010DVD Release:January 18, 2011From:Sony ClassicsRating:RLength:1 hr. 53 min.
Animal Kingdom played in key cities to outstanding reviews. • Joe Morgenstern wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "A phenomenal debut... fills a large canvas with startling moments and vivid details..." • And Andrew O'Hehir wrote for Salon, "Brilliantly acted and intensely crafted, this movie will alienate some viewers and enthrall others, but it won't soon be forgotten." More Reviews Below...
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Watching this small-time Melbourne crime family unravel under the weight of their overconfidence is riveting... a stripped-down, assured little thriller..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 667 words, 08/12/10
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a dashing Australian crime-and-cops drama... Don't be fooled: In this unpeaceable kingdom, the den mama is also ready to eat her young."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 08/13/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a pulverizing Aussie crime drama that cuts to the dark heart of the killing machine known as family.... David Michôd catches you in a vise and squeezes -- hard."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 99 words, 08/13/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...mostly terrific... The relative absence of gun battles and car chases helps 'Animal Kingdom' build and sustain a mood of deepening dread."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 08/13/10
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "Most crime stories are content to simply exist... But David Michôd's fierce debut takes the genre apart, finding a reason for the madness that propels it."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 154 words, 08/13/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a moody, brooding, modern-day film noir which took the highly competitive world cinema jury prize at Sundance, manages to be both laconic and operatic."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 741 words, 08/13/10
Kyle Smith, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...as a fable of power, vengeance and betrayal it exerts a quiet, increasingly wicked pull, equivalent to that of the wrinkly but ruthless grandma."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 404 words, 08/13/10
John Anderson, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...startling... you're never quite sure about 'Animal Kingdom,' which promotes family values, but only if your name happens to be Manson."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 336 words, 09/03/10
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Michod revamps the familiar cops-and-robbers formulas.... J's coming-of-age saga in a crime family is not the generic rise-and-fall of a crook..."(See all of Bill Stamets's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 08/20/10
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "Michôd's strenuous efforts to accumulate tension are often only just that.... [but] seeing a debut filmmaker swing for the fences is its own kind of satisfaction."(See all of Michael Atkinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 617 words, 08/11/10
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...engaging but inconsistent... Michôd handles high drama and sudden shootouts like a pro, but whenever his plot runs thin, he gives in to tacky grandiosity."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 08/12/10
KEY CITIES (14 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...meticulously unfurls like an apple carefully peeled in one long ribbon to reveal its rotten core... spellbinding... gives new meaning to the phrase family drama."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 440 words, 08/27/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...razor-sharp... Frecheville's performance as the big kid tossed into the fray - his loyalty tested on all sides - is understated and compelling..."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 429 words, 08/27/10
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...combines the shock of sudden plot turns with a slow-burn, inevitable horror that plays up the emotional cost of violence. Certain scenes may stick to you for weeks..."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 564 words, 08/27/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD(cg) "...chilling... a genre picture designed to get under your skin and in your head, a thriller that repulses even as it draws you in."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 448 words, 09/17/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...strong, assured... takes the time to dig into characters who would race past us like blurs in a stock thriller, endowing them with a rare depth and emotional truth."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 472 words, 08/27/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...fantastic film about the struggles of a low-grade crime family in Melbourne.... The naturalistic style Michod employs adds to the sense of dread."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 09/03/10
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a lean, patient crime thriller... There's not a bad performance in 'Animal Kingdom,' and Michôd gives everyone moments to shine."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 499 words, 08/27/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "You probably won't see a better directorial debut this year than David Michôd's 'Animal Kingdom,' the coiled rattlesnake of a family-crime drama..."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 669 words, 08/20/10
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Michôd, in his feature debut, wonderfully creates a tribe where hope is lost and life is about getting what you can get, never mind who's lost along the way."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 376 words, 08/27/10
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...sometimes stilted and flat, but there's a pool of real tension at its core, and the chilling performance of Jacki Weaver as the vicious granny is indelible."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 238 words, 08/27/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "...gripping.... The choicest performance is Weaver's sing-song sinister matriarch... She looks and sounds like a sweet old lady, but believing that can be dangerous."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 259 words, 09/23/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: EXCELLENT(cg) "...dark and mesmerizing... a mean street tour de force... a film in which innocence and honesty don't stand a chance."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 293 words, 09/03/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a menacing, unsparing mood that never wavers.... Michôd trusts the viewer and doesn't waste time with unnecessary back story... twists and turns at brutal speed."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 650 words, 09/10/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "Michôd's strenuous efforts to accumulate tension are often only just that.... [but] seeing a debut filmmaker swing for the fences is its own kind of satisfaction."(See all of Michael Atkinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 617 words, 08/11/10
Noel Murray, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "Sort of like an 'Australian Goodfellas' with less sweep and more grubbiness... Thank goodness 'Animal Kingdom' is so stylish and sharply plotted."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 359 words, 08/12/10
Nick Schager, Slant: WEAK(cg) "...an empty shell that pretends to be a coming-of-age drama while celebrating and sympathizing with characters who warrant little more than contempt."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 08/08/10
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...engaging but inconsistent... Michôd handles high drama and sudden shootouts like a pro, but whenever his plot runs thin, he gives in to tacky grandiosity."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 08/12/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...indicates a resurgence in Australia's independent film scene. Movie fans should keep this gang of tough guys under surveillance."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 09/03/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
Bob Mondello, NPR All Things Considered: EXCELLENT "Welcome to the jungle, suburban style: white picket fences and beasts of prey.... its gangster conventions feel as if they're in the service of a modern-day Greek tragedy."(See all of Bob Mondello's reviews...)(Listen to the full review...) 228 seconds, 08/13/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "A phenomenal debut... generates a steady-state sense of dread for the fate of its teenage hero... it fills a large canvas with startling moments and vivid details..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 369 words, 08/13/10
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...mostly terrific... The relative absence of gun battles and car chases helps 'Animal Kingdom' build and sustain a mood of deepening dread."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 08/13/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a moody, brooding, modern-day film noir which took the highly competitive world cinema jury prize at Sundance, manages to be both laconic and operatic."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 741 words, 08/13/10
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...distinctive, ominous and hypnotic... Brilliantly acted and intensely crafted, this movie will alienate some viewers and enthrall others, but it won't soon be forgotten."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 749 words, 08/13/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a moody, brooding, modern-day film noir which took the highly competitive world cinema jury prize at Sundance, manages to be both laconic and operatic."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 741 words, 08/13/10
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: EXCELLENT(cg) "...taut, engaging, extremely well acted.... Relentlessly grim, 'Animal Kingdom' shows the director's fascination with his milieu and characters, all of which feel realistic."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 12/29/10
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...mostly terrific... The relative absence of gun battles and car chases helps 'Animal Kingdom' build and sustain a mood of deepening dread."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 08/13/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "A phenomenal debut... generates a steady-state sense of dread for the fate of its teenage hero... it fills a large canvas with startling moments and vivid details..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 369 words, 08/13/10
13.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Animal Kingdom's reviews are separated by an average 13.1 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Animal Kingdom (39 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Animal Kingdom's reviews cover 61.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 18,948 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 486 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 42.8 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Animal Kingdom's reviews on average broke 42.8 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Animal Kingdom's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Animal Kingdom (39 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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