Carnage - international trailer review Directed by: Roman Polanski Starring: Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: December 16, 2011
TRAILER SCORE: 9/10
Thoughts by TSR: There’s reason for excitement any time a film from a personal favorite filmmaker is coming out. When that film boasts a cast of four Oscar nominees, and that filmmaker is Roman Polanski (Repulsion is one of my favorite films), it’s cause for celebration. After a phenomenal poster released not long ago, the excellent marketing continues with this international trailer for Carnage.
Even with the amazing wealth of talent in front of the camera, the first thing that strikes me about this trailer is the tone. It looks hilarious. The characters start off cordial enough, but once the drinks start coming the prim and proper sheen of the quartet quickly vanishes. Based on the source material and dialogue in this trailer, I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite screenplays of the year. There are a number of great moments featured in these 105 seconds alone, especially a particular line from a drunken Kate Winslet.
In a cast comprised of acclaimed thespians, Winslet stands out the most. That is partly because she is given the showiest moments in the trailer, but I love seeing her behaving badly. Her husband in the film, played by Christoph Waltz, is great as well. He’s proved with Inglourious Basterds he can handle a tricky tone like this, and I’m looking forward to his performance. The other couple, played by Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly, is slightly less impressive, but still good in their own right. Foster is the one member of the cast I was most unsure about based on the tone, but she appears to be more than capable. Reilly makes the least impression of the four, but he’s an actor I like and his presence is always welcome.
Films set mostly in single locations can be tricky, but Roman Polanski looks to have taken its stage roots and nailed the transition to the screen. The only disappointing thing so far is the shortening of the title from “God of Carnage” (the name of Yasmina Reza’s play, and a line from Waltz) to Carnage. Unfortunate title change aside, Roman Polanski’s Carnage is without a doubt one of the must-see films of December.