I like Terry Pratchet. Fantasy, Disk world. Impossible, but I believe him. In this movie I don't believe anything. I'm not American, and may be I don't understand American way of thinking, but if this is America god help me. May be I don't like the movie because I don't believe it. Or I don't understand it. In both ways the picture is awful for me. I know what I want to say, but my English is poor. I was planning to visit US, but now I am reconsidering this. What if I was wrong and such idiots really exist. P.S. I am Bulgarian.

From the director of Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown & The Pianist, Carnage is a simple, small scale & lighthearted black comedy that stacks four interesting characters inside a single location and, with the help of its sharp wit & committed cast, demonstrates the entire futility of the situation where parents try to settle their children's fight by themselves.The story of Carnage follows two pairs of parents who, following an incident involving their sons, decide to meet each other and discuss the matter in a civilized manner. Friendly & cordial at first, their discussion soon dives into endless snarks, squabbles & disagreements and as the day progresses, the issues of their personal lives eventually make it to the surface.Co-written & directed by Roman Polanski, the film is in perpetual motion throughout its 80 minutes runtime even when it is taking a breather, for the jibes just keep coming from one end or another. It does help to have well-rounded characters that are dysfunctional in their own ways and it certainly makes for one compelling drama when the whole charade comes crashing down.Except for the bookended scenes, the entire plot unfolds inside a single apartment, and this minimal setting compels the viewers to keep their attention on its characters. Its sardonic wit & piercing dialogues never run out of fuel. Camera is employed like a silent observer that's solely focused on the biting conversations between two parties, and Editing provides a tightly-knitted structure to its 80 minutes narrative.Coming to the performances, Carnage features an outstanding cast in Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz & John C. Reilly, and all four of them are absolutely fantastic in their given roles. The tirade between Winslet & Foster, in particular, is a highlight to watch while the two men really try to keep their distance from the pointless argument until dragged into the mess by their respective missus.On an overall scale, Carnage is a delightful, delicious & devilish little comedy that's skilfully crafted & splendidly performed and delivers an extravaganza that's funny, smart & engaging from start to finish. Most may not rank it amongst the best films of Polanski's decades-spanning career but in my opinion, it is an underrated gem that deserves a higher place in his filmography. Wild, hilarious & entertaining, this comedy of no manners is absolutely worth a shot.

Taking a look on BBC iPlayer,I spotted an intriguing title from Roman Polanski. Greatly enjoying his 2010 movie The Ghost Writer,I got set to witness Polanski's screen carnage.The plot:After their kids Zachary Cowan & Ethan Longstreet get in a fight,parents Michael and Penelope Longstreet invite Nancy and Alan Cowan round to clear the matter in their flat. Agreeing to write a letter about what the boys have done, the couples soon begin to reveal their true feelings on the other couple,and of each other.View on the film:Filmed in real time,co-writer/(along with Yasmina Reza and Michael Katims) director Roman Polanski and cinematographer Pawel Edelman display a fine eye for physical Comedy,with Polanski showing a surprising gleefulness in covering the apartment with broken phones and vomit. Based on co-writer Yasmina Reza's one-set play,the writers lock the flat in an absurdist atmosphere,where every attempt the Cowan's make to leave the flat causes the arguments to become more ridiculous.Whilst the peculiar behaviour of the couples is peeled open,the writers never go beyond the bleeding heart Liberal and sharp dressed businessman suffice,that causes the film to run out of steam,due to the characters not being built up well enough to make the jet-black Comedy games fully hit their targets.Cast as a shining Liberal elite, Jodie Foster disappointingly gives an overcooked performance as Penelope,due to Foster's stage-bound manner ruining Penelope's Liberal chic with shrieks that aim for the absurd, but just run cold. Playing the notes that Foster misses, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly give great performances as Michael Longstreet and Alan Cowan,thanks to the guys keeping Cowan's work obsession and Longstreet's off-the-cuff manners intact, even as their conversations get more off-beat,whilst Kate Winslet throws up a wonderfully catty performance as Nancy,as the full carnage starts to kick in.

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 ****