CARNAGE

This movie was produced by Roman Polanski adapted from a play which was just put on by the Arizona Repertory Company. Very good movie though its appeal would just be to adults of a parenting age.

The plot is simple; one 11 year old boy hits a playmate and school chum and knocks some teeth loose and the parents of the hitter get together with the parents of the hittee to 'work things out'. and from there the bitter, scathingly funny, intoxicated, ragefilled, poignant, sad, accusatory, insightful and nauseating dialogue starts flying.

The movie takes place in the apartment of the hittee's parents or in the hallway. The acting is superb with John C. Reilly, i think, having the most complex role since his outer persona is that of the reasonable and deliberate and rational and fairly laid back man but as the afternoon progresses, other layers of his personality get revealed but he always stays the most likeable.

The ending is perfect on 3 levels. and of course the most predictable finish as any parent of school age children knows or remembers is that without any outside interference the 2 boys work things out themselves and are back playing in the park.

We rated it a 9.