Carnage

Directed by Roman Polanski—who shares screenwriting credits with Yasmina Reza in adapting her Tony Award–winning play God of Carnage—this biting NYC-set comedy shot in real time revolves around differences in bourgeois ethics and parenting styles. After a playground incident in which one youngster knocks out another's front teeth, the protective parents of the “victim” invite the chagrined mother and father of the “bully” to their apartment. What begins as a request for an apology and a polite discussion about childrearing soon deteriorates into verbal warfare, with no one escaping the slaughter. Penelope and Michael Longstreet (Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly) are filing an insurance claim against Nancy and Alan Cowan (Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz), which leads to bickering about the document's wording. A stressed-out investment broker, Nancy feels guilty about the time not spent with her son, a sentiment not shared by her amoral, cell phone–addicted lawyer husband. An angry liberal, Penelope finds the Cowans' behavior “disgusting,” while genial Michael, a hardware supply salesman, just wants everyone to get along. Instead, tension escalates not only between the couples but also between the spouses as liquor swiftly dissolves the veil of civility. The main problem with Carnage, which resembles a welterweight version of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, is the miscasting of Foster, who dilutes the ensemble's effectiveness (on stage, Marcia Gay Harden made the same psycho-babbling character less brittle and more vulnerable). A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include “An Evening with John C. Reilly and Christopher Waltz” (38 min.) featuring the costars, “Actors' Notes” interviews with Reilly, Waltz, and costars Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet (11 min.), an “On the Red Carpet” premiere segment (4 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: A solid extras package for a so-so adaptation of the hit stage play.] (S. Granger)