Starring: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly
Great comedies are hard to come by. When I do get them though, there's nothing better because I know I'm leaving the theater in a good mood. The last great comedy we had on our hands was Woody Allen's charmingMidnight in Paris, which took a satirical look at some of the great intellectuals of the Roaring Twenties. Now, we haveCarnage, another satire in which Roman Polanski takes a good look at everyday, ordinary Americans.
In the park one day, Zachary Cowan (Elvis Polanski) strikes Ethan Longstreet (Eliot Berger) in the face with a stick. Because of the altercation, Ethan loses two teeth. Afterwards, Michael and Penelope Longstreet (John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster) invite Alan and Nancy Cowan (Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet) over to their home to discuss the situation between their sons in a civilized manner. At first, things go well. The Cowans are apologetic for their son Zachary's behavior, and the Longstreets are empathetic to their situation. The platitudes don't last long however, and all hell breaks loose as the two couples become more truthful with one another. Then, the drinking begins.
A comedy that spins out of control when people start popping bottles is just the right movie for Sobriety Test. Based on the playGod of Carnageby playwright Yasmina Reza,Carnage is a deliciously hilarious satire that tackles what America deems to be civilized and politically correct behavior. Roman Polanski and his cast seem to have quite a bit of fun while tackling this subject.
Jodie Foster's Penelope Longstreet is an ultra-polite, socially conscious woman who would prefer to remain civilized rather than say what she's really thinking. She's perfectly complemented by John C. Reilly's Michael Longstreet, who can be described best as Joe the Plumber on the big screen. He's an ordinary working class American who's satisfied with a life of mediocrity. The pair plays off one another well though Michael makes occasional outbursts that piss Penelope off. Those outbursts had me in tears laughing though.
Kate Winslet's Nancy Cowan is a materialistic, independent woman who wrote the playbook on how to be fictitious. She's paired with Christoph Waltz's insular corporate workhorse Alan Cowan. While Nancy tries to deal with the Longstreets politely, Alan is more concerned with the nonstop calls he gets from his job. I swear that man's phone is programmed to ring at the most inconvenient times because that thing rings every five minutes in the movie. He could really care less about what the Longstreet couple thinks about the altercation.
As the tension escalates between the Longstreets and the Cowans, the film becomes increasingly more hilarious. Everyone's pushed to their limits, and they go wild. With sharp, witty performances from the cast and smart directing from Roman Polanski,Carnage is a tear-jerker. It has definitely earned a sober rating.
