Powerful

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

One of the well made film ever. if you want a funny as F movie, here this is.

Having arranged a meeting at their New York apartment, a married couple, whose son was smacked in the face with a stick by another boy in the park, attempts to clarify the situation with the other child's parents, who initially agree their son was at fault but soon begin to argue the point--all relevant (and irrelevant) points, in fact. Director Roman Polanski co-adapted this 'savage comedy' from Yasmina Reza's French play "Le Dieu du carnage" (God of Carnage), yet the material does not lend itself easily to the cinema. It's a character piece in much the same way "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was a character piece; however, "Virginia Woolf" (as a play and as a film) had at least two compelling characters to lead us through the dramatic wreckage. "Carnage" is about four adults acting like the very same 11-year-olds they're squabbling about, and there's nothing terribly interesting in grown ups engaging in immature mudslinging. Jodie Foster's Penelope, passive-aggressive in her jabs and asides, is probably the least convincing character of the group, with Kate Winslet's put-upon Nancy rating a close second. The two men, John C. Reilly as Michael and Christoph Waltz as Alan, fare a bit better than the ladies; however, once we get Polanski's point--that each one of the characters will, in turn, attempt to devour the others--it's just a matter of time before Michael and Alan become equally ridiculous in their petty arguments. An unpleasant film, but for cinephiles a definite curiosity item because of Polanski's involvement with this talented group. Still, it's no star vehicle; nobody comes out of "Carnage" looking good. **1/2 from ****

I chose this film off of blue ridge on demand knowing nothing about it. It caught my eye because I saw John C. Reilly in the description as one of the leading actors, being I'm not even a big fan of Reilly, I have no idea why it compelled me to view it but I'm glad I did.To put it shortly, the film is about two couples having a meet due to their children getting into a physical fight with each other.All the characters were believable, even the ridiculous character played by Jodie Foster, because I happen to know someone just like that personally. The movie was pretty predictable but it did not take away from the brilliance. The wives turning on the husbands and vise versa, everyone one person is against every other character at some point or another and all their points of view are able to be related to. Everyone of them has so much character and emotion which is ripped away and put out for every one to see at an alarming rate, especially with the help of a few drinks. I won't go into a lot of detail but kudos to the entire cast for playing difficult characters. What I mean by difficult is, well I had a hunch and come to find out that it was true that the entire movie was shot in real time without any breaks or pauses, and that must be something difficult to do. Any person can go through several emotions in a few hours from every day life experiences but these people bear everything from generally hospitable and laughter down to point of marriage breaking arguments and saying they don't even care about the situation involving their children period. The cast pulls it off amazingly, it comes across realistic, exciting, and authentic. To think, the movie begins with the two couples already together with one of the pairs heading out the door right from the start and an entire cleverly put together film takes place before they make their way out. Actually I do believe the flick ends even before the couple leaves which would probably be its only real downfall to the general public, the completely abrupt ending, even though I personally thought that it fit the moment justly.

I have never seen a film that looked so much like a play. Of course, it was originally a play written by the French Yasmina Reza but, even as a play, it is a story limited in time and space. Essentially the narrative is in real time (80 minutes) and, except for the opening and closing credits, all the action is set in a New York apartment (although all the shooting was in France under the direction of Polish Roman Polanski). And they are only four characters: two American couples played by John C Reilly & Jodie Foster and (Austrian) Christoph Waltz and (British) Kate Winslet. So, if you only like action movies, this is not for you.But where the film scores is with the cracking script, the fine acting and the shifting alliances: at first, the two couples trying to be co-operative in discussing a fight between their sons; then the couples taking sides in support of their respective off- spring; next each husband and wife in conflict with one another; eventually the men and women forming gender coalitions. More and more, we are reminded that the veneer of civility is so thin that it can be torn open by an argument, a word, a gesture. As one character puts it: "I believe in the god of carnage. The god whose rule's been unchallenged since time immemorial."