Carnage

Name: Carnage
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 16, 2011
Duration: 79 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet

2011

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Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 172 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 172 Ratings

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Carnage

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: December 16, 2011 | R

Starring: Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet

Summary: Set in contemporary Brooklyn, New York, Carnage centers on two pairs of parents one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Director: Roman Polanski

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 79 min

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Critic Reviews

Steven Rea

Jan 12, 2012

Think "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," but then think fun. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Sep 30, 2011

Snappy, nasty, deftly acted and perhaps the fastest paced film ever directed by a 78-year-old, this adaptation of Yasmina Reza's award-winning play God of Carnage fully delivers the laughs and savagery of the stage piece. Read full review

Movieline Stephanie Zacharek

Dec 15, 2011

Is it entertainment? Is it satire? Is it art? It's probably a little of all three, and yet ultimately not quite enough of any. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Dec 14, 2011

By the time everyone in Carnage has revealed themselves, we're left not with flawed human beings, but with monsters of banality whose company represents a brutal form of punishment in itself. Read full review

Kerry Lengel

Dec 29, 2011

If anything, Carnage does too little to adapt to the new medium, and the result is a film that makes its audience feel as trapped as its characters. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Jan 12, 2012

The entire point of Carnage is to poke fun at the fragile civility of the upper-middle class - they're all animals inside! - but how much more fun would this material have been if the story hadn't been about polite white people? Read full review

Richard Corliss

Dec 15, 2011

At 78, Polanski has earned the right to pursue his career-long demons of confinement and anarchy even in a minor film like this. But Carnage is not the word for what he's perpetrated here. Minor irritation is more like it. Read full review

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User Reviews

adrianvandelzel

Mar 10, 2020

Tal vez la mejor pelicula de las 300 que tengo en la estanteria? Tal vez si. El ritmo es trepidante, tienes la sensación de ver a una orquestra que va en cresccendo continuado hasta una explosión final espectacular. Risas aseguradas con unas interpretaciones y un guión fascinante que dejanTal vez la mejor pelicula de las 300 que tengo en la estanteria? Tal vez si. El ritmo es trepidante, tienes la sensación de ver a una orquestra que va en cresccendo continuado hasta una explosión final espectacular. Risas aseguradas con unas interpretaciones y un guión fascinante que dejan en muy buen lugar a la obra de teatro en la que esta basada. La verdad es que no entiendo la nota baja que tiene, esta es la tipica pelicula que pongo a la gente que viene a mi casa y todo el mundo queda más que satisfecho.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tazmania32

Jan 7, 2012

This film was just hilarious. The only gripe I had was that it was too short. Each character: Foster, Winslet, Waltz, and Reilly were amazing. Yay for a movie that has excellent dialogue and doing more with less.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

carlosgz

Oct 28, 2015

This is definitely not a film for everyone. But it happens to be my type of movie. And I loved it. The level of pasive-agressiveness is crazy. I laughed way too much. All four actors are horribly magnificent (if you do watch the film, you'll understand why I use "horribly"). But Winslet andThis is definitely not a film for everyone. But it happens to be my type of movie. And I loved it. The level of pasive-agressiveness is crazy. I laughed way too much. All four actors are horribly magnificent (if you do watch the film, you'll understand why I use "horribly"). But Winslet and Waltz - I mean - what else can I say?. Roman Polanski did something incredible here. Same set, same four actors, the entire film. Just recently I found out this was based on a play. Now it makes sense. The dialogue really plays out like a play and it works out very well here. At 88 minutes, it manages to not tire. What's more, I didn't wanted it to end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

A_Northerner

Mar 27, 2012

Quirky French play transferred to the big screen by Roman Polanksi and starring a strong cast of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly and Christopher Waltz. Two sets of parents meet up to discuss the recent behaviour of their children with amicable intentions. The meeting quicklyQuirky French play transferred to the big screen by Roman Polanksi and starring a strong cast of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly and Christopher Waltz. Two sets of parents meet up to discuss the recent behaviour of their children with amicable intentions. The meeting quickly descends into a humourous farce as the four bicker and offend each other. All four characters take up allegiance with each other character at some point to verbally spar with the alternative pair. The script is witty and clever and all four actors give strong performances. Christoph Waltz's rude ignorant businessman father is the stand-out of the four, routinely answering his work phone in front of the couples until Foster reaches breaking point. All in all, an amusing and clever film showing that with the right material four actors and one set can be used to great effect.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Myffubs

Jun 26, 2012

Roman Polanski's Carnage is a well-made film adaptation of a stage play. The story involves two couples who agree to meet following a violent interaction between their children. Before long both couples devolve into bickering monsters who are arguably worse than the kids. Jodie Foster andRoman Polanski's Carnage is a well-made film adaptation of a stage play. The story involves two couples who agree to meet following a violent interaction between their children. Before long both couples devolve into bickering monsters who are arguably worse than the kids. Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly star as Penelope and Michael Longstreet, and Kate Winslet and Christopher Waltz fill the roles of Nancy and Alan Cowan. In short the Cowan child hit the Longstreet child with a stick and broke two of his teeth, though the general consensus is that either couple could be in the other's position. Penelope is introduced as a do-gooder type, while Michael seems ill-fit for the formality of the occasion; Nancy wants to end the matters quickly, and Alan is content to condescend when not being interrupted by his cell. The film proceeds as a comedy of manners and lack thereof, and its success is dependent on the performances. Both Foster and Reilly are adequate, but Winslet and Waltz steal the show. There is nothing in Carnage to suggest that it has been altered or improved for cinematic treatment; indeed it could be a filmed play, which may turn off many a viewer. That said it was rather enjoyable for its documentation of seemingly decent people indulging in indecency. It provides its capable cast with some great scenes. Its humor is brittle and caustic, and its characters are recognizably human. Chances are experienced moviegoers will know whether or not they want to see Carnage; those who want to see it will likely enjoy it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

lahaine

Dec 23, 2011

I'm surprised this didn't get better reviews from critics, as it was very entertaining. Carnage is a small movie that runs in real time, and only consists of four characters in an new york apartment. All this works well, thanks to its fresh and witty screenplay, and primal performances fromI'm surprised this didn't get better reviews from critics, as it was very entertaining. Carnage is a small movie that runs in real time, and only consists of four characters in an new york apartment. All this works well, thanks to its fresh and witty screenplay, and primal performances from our four principles: Winslet, Foster, Riley and Waltz. Christoph Waltz was probably the finest of the bunch, maintaining a chilly, aloof demeanor while the others slip into disarray. Jodie Foster gave a slightly exaggerated performance, but overall they were all fun. The abrupt ending did some serious damage to the overall movie, but its epilogue saved it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

FlippySuper

Oct 9, 2012

Hoooooooly **** this movie was crazy. the characters are **** INSANE, its all just by a minor problem, you start to think that the director was drunk when he had this idea,and the ending **** IT ALL!!

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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