There’ve been a few goodies added to Netflix in Aotearoa New Zealand in the last week. I notice that lots of people are taking the opportunity to watch the documentary about Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister, which is a shrewd ‘get’ as well as a ‘must see’.
I was pleased that they also added this Aussie thriller from 2010 which allows me to cut and paste my Capital Times review from September of that year:
When the Film Festival screening of Animal Kingdom finished, my companion and I turned to each other and realised that neither of us had breathed for the last five minutes. The tension that had been slowly building throughout the film had become almost unbearable and director David Michôd’s Shakespearean climax was no less than the rest of the film deserved.
Seventeen-year-old “J” (extraordinary newcomer James Frecheville) goes to live with his Gran and his Uncles when his Mum overdoses. The family are more than petty criminals but less than gangland royalty – bank robbers and thugs rather than black economy businessmen. Gran (Jacki Weaver) seems like a nice enough sort, though, and the family pulls together despite the constant pressure from the local fuzz.
But when the alpha male gets shot by rogue cops in a shopping mall carpark, there’s a vacancy at the head of the family and the only candidates are ill-equipped for leadership. Note that I haven’t told you which actors are which in this scenario. Animal Kingdom has about seven genuine “I didn’t see that coming” moments, which is about seven more than most films, and I don’t want to spoil any of them.
That’s not to say that the cast doesn’t deserve mention. Joel Edgerton wasn’t able to demonstrate his gifts in the Kiwi fizzer Separation City last year but is real movie star material here and the great Ben Mendelsohn is absolutely electric throughout. Weaver is a revelation and Guy Pearce (as the good cop) proves once again what a selfless character actor he can be now he isn’t trying to be a movie star.
Before this year’s Film Festival I cracked-wise in these pages that if anything in it turned out to be better than Toy Story 3 I’d be very surprised. I’m pleased to report that Animal Kingdom made me eat my words. I’m not saying that it is the best film of the year but it is in the top one.
Has any reader watched the 2016–2022 American spin-off series (75 episodes!) that David Michôd executive produced. Sailed over my head, I’m afraid but it has a great cast.
Also in that CT review, if you felt like delving in further, Nicolas Cage in Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (“a less winning proposition I haven’t come across in a while”), a lukewarm review of the first film in the Despicable Me juggernaut, Adam Sandler’s self-indulgent Grown Ups, Annette Bening blowing me away in adoption drama Mother and Child and the excellent but now almost forgotten local documentary, Gordonia.
Where to watch Animal Kingdom
Aotearoa: Streaming on Netflix
Australia: Streaming on Netflix or Stan
Canada: Streaming on Crave
Ireland: Digital rental
India: Not currently available online
USA: Streaming on Fubo, AMC+, SundanceNow, Philo or Tubi (free with ads)
UK: Streaming on Studiocanal
What a great recommendation Animal Kingdom was, as you say, an absolute blinder at NZIFF that year – I saw it, gasped, returned with more friends whom I could watch side-eyed as the twists and turns played out – and I did, in fact, give it my Top Film of the year.
James Frecheville hasn’t had an huge career since – Peaky Blinders, obviously, but more recently an unremarkable agent on the tail of the new Running Man. But his Cody was sensational.
Haven’t watched the series either, but maybe I should give it a chance?