Carnage (*** out of ****)

There is both little and lengthy things that can be said about this film. The plot is simply two couples set to discuss a fight their children had at school. Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz are an upper middle class couple that have the hint of superiority here. It comes down to that Waltz is bored endlessly by this tediousness while Winslet fakes interest which can only last so long. The other couple is played by John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster. Reilly has the job of the one who thinks this is all unnecessary and this meeting is just a bad idea. Foster must play the reasonable one that is looking to regain control of their lives. The film is a short 76 minutes mostly because it's all in real time in a single apartment. As the situation progresses each distinct character  eventually gives into their carnage. They have come to meet as reasonable adults but in not getting what they want have reverted to childish and simple yelling. Allegiances shift, people seek to disarm one another, hilarity and melodrama occur all backed up by great performances (although Foster is a bad too manic near the end). From my understanding the film is weaker than the play. Nearly every time I read something about the film they said the theater play was better. Well since I've never seen it I didn't need to compare the two. So the final product here seems fresh to me and an upscale kind of fun.

*** out of ****