Our take
A cracking cast including Guy Pearce and Joel Edgerton elevate this dark and gripping Australian crime drama, which was received with glowing reviews from critics but was sadly forgotten with time.
Breakout star James Frecheville plays J, a teenager who goes to live with his grandmother, the head of a Melbourne crime organization. As the heat closes in and things go awry, J finds himself caught between his family and a detective who wants to save him.
Jacki Weaver is outstanding as the conniving grandma and the film put Ben Mendelsohn on the road to Hollywood stardom. Animal Kingdom is a superior crime saga with plenty of emotional depth to match the tense drama.
What it won
Oscars
1 nom
Golden Globes
1 nom
Sundance
1 win
Nat. Board of Review
2 wins
NYFCC
1 win
LAFCA
1 win
The story
Joshua “J” is taken in by his extended family after his mother dies of an overdose. The clan, ruled by J’s scheming grandmother, is heavily involved in criminal activities, and J is soon indoctrinated into their way of life. But J is given a chance to take another path when a cop seeks to help him.
Elsewhere
"Utterly thrilling, Animal Kingdom exudes stunning depth and complexity."
— Jason Wood
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Lee Adams is a contributing writer at A Good Movie to Watch, reviewing films and shows across the major streaming services.
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