"Animal Kingdom" is an understated crime drama. Although it partially benefits from Michôd's low-key approach, the often lethargic pace doesn't always support a conventional storyline, despite the interesting family dynamics in the center. It does get kind of a pulse towards the ending though, which is mostly satisfying. Acting-wise, the most interesting presence is definitely Jacki Weaver, although I think her Oscar nomination was a bit of a stretch. Overall, solid but unremarkable.

one of the best crime pictures i've seen in a long time. the entire cast is ridiculously good.

While I thought some individual scenes worked at least cinematically, I really didn't enjoy much of this film at all. I never got on board with the introverted teenager. He was often times way too awkward. I thought Guy Pearce did a fine enough job with his part, I couldn't shake that he already played a similar detective type role in LA Confidential that is just leagues above this performance. Everything else felt really pretentious and the twists became annoyingly predictable once initiated.

Detached to the point that I didn't really want to continue watching it. Of course I did but my heart just wasn't in it. Mission accomplished, I guess.

I'm not sure if the blandness of the lead was intentional, but it took away a bit of the film's tension to have him appear to be in a daze the whole film. It does kind of fit the character, though, and the rest of the film is pretty well done and engrossing, with a well executed ending. Not particularly original but still effective.

A perfect antithesis to the romanticized violent bank heists of The Town, Animal Kingdom takes a more realistic look at what comes next after the job is over. Pearce rocks an incredible moustache, while Mendlsohn, and to some extent Weaver, give abjectly terrifying performances. It's easy to say J is an idiot when we the audience always know things he doesn't -- but we watch him go from weak and naive blank slate to the calculating pack leader. Brutally intense film that held me from the start.

Interesting concept ruined by contrived and unreasonable plot twists and/or character interactions.

Excellent. A young boy struggles for survival amongst his criminal family that truly earns the film's title. More at a snake's pace than a speeding train, the film slithers forward building intensity till it explodes in a memorable conclusion. The entire cast here is flawless, the bad people will make your skin crawl and the innocent will make your heart sink. Great direction, excellent execution and pace make this a must watch. Highly Recommended.

From beginning to end, the film created a sense of tension, when bad things did happen they weren't over dramatic they just happened, drawing you in to the thoughts and feelings of the characters. Compelling and convincing.

A crime film with a horror movie aesthetic, Animal Kingdom is brutal, unnerving, and constantly surprising.

I can't believe this pretentious movie had such a success by critics. I don't know what's worse about it, the horrible story, the absurd twists and resolutions, the characters and their behaviour... And I'm not meaning that this kind of people and families aren't real, I'm just talking about this particular family and this particular situations, everything looks artificial in this movie, you can see the gross hand of Michôd in every single word and scene. What's good? Actors, just that.

Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver scared the ever-living crap out of me. Everything else is created and jettisoned just to get us to the end - which is good, but loses its punch in the confusion.

Great potential, but far too slow for my tastes

I have to admit this film has some real weaknesses. It has a good overall story ( gangster family on its decline) but we are faced with some plot leads that appear and disappear in no time wich made me a bit confused. But still one of the best i seen in recent months. Never cared so much for characters, or hated them, in such a short time (edgerton!). Great performances, superb ending and some interesting plot turns. I really was baffled by certain scene's wich left me shocked in my seat. Watch!

Good acting but a shitload of holes.

Yes, it's a well-made film, and I love that it's a gangster drama that never plays action scenes as big action scenes but just as short, violent outbursts that are over before they get started. But the director swathes everything else in mood music and slow motion, as if he himself thinks the movie would be too dull otherwise. Not bad, not great.

Extremely depressing, can i say: "too realistic"? And includes one of the most hated characters ive seen on screen.