Königreich des Verbrechens (2010)

Königreich des Verbrechens: Directed by David Michôd. With James Frecheville, Bryce Lindemann, Paul Smits, Jacki Weaver. A seventeen-year-old navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.

“I donu0026#39;t know what it is about Australian cinema and filmmakers these past 15 years, but they are just getting better and better. OK, so we here in the Northern Hemisphere donu0026#39;t necessarily get to see the dross. Granted. But what we do see shows that thereu0026#39;s talent galore down under. There are, of course, talented actors, writers, cinematographers and directors around the world, but at the moment Australia seems to have found its own voice, its own style which is not just unique, but interesting, accomplished and gripping.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUnlike so much high-energy Hollywood dreck, Animal Kingdom relies on a good script, a gripping story, good acting, solid characterisation and great directing. There is no gratuitous flashiness to cover up bald patches. This particular filmu0026#39;s style is minimalist, the camera hand-held (as far as I can see) throughout. But that doesnu0026#39;t lead to tricksy artiness.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt allows the actors to act – itu0026#39;s what they do best after all – with none of them falling back onto the schtick they are always hired for – Bruce Willis being Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise, you get the picture. All I can say is if you get the chance to catch this, catch it. Oh, and keep making them, Australia.”