Movie Profile: ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010)
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | Animal Kingdom |
| Release Date | June 3, 2010 (Australia) |
| Director & Writer | David Michôd |
| Producers | Liz Watts |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Runtime | 113 minutes |
| Box Office | $6.8 million |
| Distributor | Madman Entertainment / Sony Pictures Classics |
| Lead Cast |
• James Frecheville (Joshua “J” Cody) • Ben Mendelsohn (Andrew “Pope” Cody) • Jacki Weaver (Janine “Smurf” Cody) • Joel Edgerton (Barry “Baz” Brown) • Guy Pearce (Detective Nathan Leckie) • Sullivan Stapleton (Craig Cody) • Luke Ford (Darren Cody) |
| Accolades & Honors |
• Academy Awards (2011): Best Supporting Actress Nomination (Jacki Weaver) • Golden Globes (2011): Best Supporting Actress Nomination (Jacki Weaver) • Sundance Film Festival (2010): World Cinema Jury Prize (Dramatic) • AFI Awards (2010): Won 10 awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Following his mother’s fatal overdose, 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody (James Frecheville) moves in with his estranged grandmother, Janine “Smurf” Cody (Jacki Weaver), in Melbourne. He quickly realizes his grandmother is the manipulative matriarch of a notorious family of armed robbers, including her volatile eldest son “Pope” (Ben Mendelsohn), quick-tempered Craig (Sullivan Stapleton), and younger brother Darren (Luke Ford).
When police tensions escalate into the execution of Pope’s best friend and partner Baz (Joel Edgerton), the brothers retaliate by ambushing and murdering two police officers. Plunged into a world of paranoia, law enforcement pursuit, and violent infighting, J finds himself caught between Detective Nathan Leckie (Guy Pearce), who wants him to testify, and his own ruthless family, who see him as a lethal threat to their survival.
Key Themes & Production Highlights
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Inspired by Real Events: Loosely based on the infamous Pettingill family and the 1988 Walsh Street police shootings in Melbourne, Victoria.
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Breakout Performances: Launched Jacki Weaver into international stardom with her chilling portrayal of “Smurf” (earning her an Oscar nomination), while solidifying Ben Mendelsohn as a world-class villain actor.
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American TV Series Adaptation: The film’s critical success led to TNT adapting it into a popular 6-season American television series starring Ellen Barkin and Shawn Hatosy.