Animal Kingdom (2010)

Director:

David Michôd

Writer:

David Michôd (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 2010 (Australia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A crime story.

Plot:

Tells the story of seventeen year-old J (Josh) as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Armed Robbery | Matriarch | Survival | Death

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 36 wins & 36 nominations

Cast

James Frecheville	...	Joshua 'J' Cody
Bryce Lindemann	...	Paramedic #1
Paul Smits	...	Paramedic #2
Jacki Weaver	...	Janine 'Smurf' Cody
Joel Edgerton	...	Barry 'Baz' Brown
Luke Ford	...	Darren Cody
Sullivan Stapleton	...	Craig Cody
Mirrah Foulkes	...	Catherine Brown
Anthony Ahern	...	Armed Robbery Detective
Justin Rosniak	...	Detective Randall Roache
Michael Vice	...	Hood #1
Chris Weir	...	Hood #2
Laura Wheelwright	...	Nicky Henry
Sarah Nguyen	...	Waitress
Lucia Cai	...	Cashier
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Andrew 'Pope' Cody
Ann Michôd	...	Shopper
Susan Prior	...	Alicia Henry
Clayton Jacobson	...	Gus Emery
Tim Phillipps	...	Const. Daniel Horden
Josh Helman	...	Const. Peter Simmons
Michael Cody	...	Police Radio
Kieran Darcy-Smith	...	John Harrop
Guy Pearce	...	Sgt Nathan Leckie
Anthony Hayes	...	Detective Justin Norris
Jack Heanly	...	Andy Emery
Dan Wyllie	...	Ezra White
Andy McPhee	...	Richard Collis
Christina Azucena	...	Dacinta Collis
Jacqueline Brennan	...	Sarah Leckie
Ben Ouwehand	...	Scott Leckie
Bert Labonte	...	PSG Santo
James Saunders	...	PSG Gary
Dom Phelan	...	PSG Tom
Brenda Palmer	...	Smurf's Neighbour
Anna Lise Phillips	...	Barrister Justine Hopper
Tom Noble	...	Court Warden
Daniel Roche	...	SOG
David Michôd	...	Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luke Doolan	...	Drug Squad Officer
Brendan Bacon	...	Pasty Guy (uncredited)
Stephen Hannah	...	Detective Extra (uncredited)
George Iskander	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Paul Rochford	...	Sog #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
David Michôd

Writing credits
David Michôd		(written by)

Produced by
Libby Sharpe	....	line producer
Vincent Sheehan	....	executive producer
Bec Smith	....	executive producer
Liz Watts	....	producer

Original Music by
Antony Partos

Cinematography by
Adam Arkapaw

Film Editing by
Luke Doolan

Casting by
Kirsty McGregor

Production Design by
Josephine Ford		(as Jo Ford)

Art Direction by
Janie Parker

Costume Design by
Cappi Ireland

Makeup Department
Simone Albert	....	hair stylist
Simone Albert	....	makeup artist
Danni McDowell	....	hair assistant
Danni McDowell	....	makeup assistant
Zeljka Stanin	....	hair stylist (as Zeljkica Stanin)
Kirsten Veysey	....	hair supervisor
Kirsten Veysey	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Helen Lovelock	....	post-production supervisor
Andy Pappas	....	unit manager
Libby Sharpe	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Betty Fotofili	....	second assistant director
Phil Jones	....	first assistant director
Kham Soukseun	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Stephen Carroll	....	pre-vis
Ashley Fraser	....	props buyer
Ashley Fraser	....	set dresser
Anna McEwan	....	props buyer
Anna McEwan	....	set dresser
Jordan Molloy	....	assistant stand-by props
Michael O'Sullivan	....	stand-by props
Vanessa Younger	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Asha Ardill	....	sound facilities manager: Soundfirm Australia
Philippe Decrausaz	....	sound recordist
Bruce Emery	....	sound consultant: Dolby
James Hardy	....	boom operator
Leah Katz	....	dialogue editor
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound mixer
Andrew Neil	....	foley editor
Richard Pain	....	sound effects editor
Sam Petty	....	sound designer
Sam Petty	....	sound mixer
Sam Petty	....	supervising sound editor
Liesl Pieterse	....	mix assistant
Simon Rosenberg	....	adr recordist
Alex Stewart	....	foley recordist
Jenny Sutcliffe	....	boom operator
Brooke Trezise	....	assistant sound editor
Brooke Trezise	....	atmospheres editor
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley walker
Andy Wright	....	adr recordist (as Andrew Wright)

Special Effects by
Michael Plummer	....	special effects technician (as Mick Plummer)
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Simon Alberry	....	i/o supervisor
Amanda Duncan	....	optical effects artist
John Durney	....	optical effects artist
Leo Gomez	....	i/o operator
Matthew T. Griffin	....	optical effects artist (as Matthew Griffin)
May Lo	....	i/o operator
Peter Luczak	....	i/o operator
Peter Polyzoidis	....	optical effects artist
Doug Roberts	....	optical effects artist
Nathan Smith	....	i/0 operations liaison
Robert Stollar	....	optical effects artist
Takahiro Suzuki	....	optical supervisor
Takahiro Suzuki	....	visual effects supervisor
Henry Yekanians	....	senior i/o operator

Stunts
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt driver: Gus
Beau Hurren	....	stunt double: J
Beau Hurren	....	stunts: Detective #1
Graham Jahne	....	stunt double: Pope
Graham Jahne	....	stunts: SOG #1
Paul Rochford	....	stunts: SOG #2
Jesse Rowles	....	stunts: Detective #2
Beau Hurren	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Glenn Arrowsmith	....	key grip
Emily Jade Barr	....	camera attachment
Sky Davies	....	clapper loader
Karl Engeler	....	gaffer
Adrian Goodwin	....	assistant grip
Dale Henderson	....	Steadicam operator
Andrew Jerram	....	focus puller
Tony Mott	....	still photographer
Sascha Obermaier	....	electrics
Jem Rayner	....	first assistant camera
Bronwyn Rennex	....	still photographer
Mark Rogers	....	poster photographer
Narelle Sheean	....	still photographer
John Tsiavis	....	still photographer
Anthony Veith	....	best boy

Casting Department
Angie Fielder	....	extras casting
Jonny Kennerley	....	casting assistant
Stevie Ray	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Davies	....	costume supervisor
Sarah Parr	....	costume attachment
Maria Pattison	....	costume buyer
Carolyn Wells	....	stand-by costume (as Carolyn 'Ruby' Wells)

Editorial Department
Christine Cheung	....	first assistant editor
Brad Dunn	....	digital intermediate conformer
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital intermediate operations
Jamie Hediger	....	digital intermediate colorist
Gordon MacPhail	....	digital intermediate production liaison
Darryl McKee	....	digital intermediate production liaison
Matthew North	....	digital intermediate supervisor (as Matthew Maxfield North)
Basia Ozerski	....	additional assistant editor
Jonathan Taylor	....	first assistant editor
Neil Wood	....	colorist: dailies
Alex Seymour	....	editorial production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Laura Bishop	....	arranger: organ music
Wes Chew	....	music producer
Wes Chew	....	music recordist
Tim Chung	....	musician: counter tenor
Phillip Hartl	....	musician: violin (as Phil Hartl)
Andrew Lancaster	....	musician: guitar
Jono Ma	....	additional programming & producing
Jono Ma	....	musician: treated guitars & synths
David McCormack	....	musician: guitar
Brett McKern	....	musician: organ
Phil McLeod	....	musician: cello (as Philip McLeod)
Antony Partos	....	music arranger
Jim Pennell	....	musician: guitar
Sam Petty	....	composer: additional music
Justin Shave	....	additional programming & producing
Stefan Karrer	....	soundtrack album producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Patrick Bourchier	....	unit driver
Clare Hollins	....	driver
Hamish Macleoud	....	unit driver
Paul Mahoney	....	vehicle wrangler
Steve Mahoney	....	vehicle co-ordinator

Other crew
Lance Anderson	....	safety officer
Tony Arapoglou	....	unit assistant
Jeremy Atcliffe	....	production accountant
Mark Barlow	....	unit assistant
Manuel Caracciolo	....	production runner (as Manny Caraccido)
Daniel F. Cardone	....	production secretary (as Daniel Cardone)
Stephen Carroll	....	assistant: director
Tom Coltraine	....	safety officer
Raymond Devitt	....	script editor
Luke Doolan	....	title designer
Angie Fielder	....	assistant: producer
Keith Fish	....	caterer
Max Fish	....	caterer
John Fox	....	armorer
Michele Freccero	....	script supervisor (as Mimi Freccero)
Serena Gattuso	....	production coordinator
Tony Gibbs	....	insurance: HW Wood
Danielle Karalus	....	epk & begind the scenes
Jo Kennedy	....	drama coach
Adrian Kortus	....	safety officer
Pam Kreuger	....	unit nurse
Sharon Menzies	....	representative: Fulcrum Media Finance
Linda Micsko	....	assistant to producer
Kim Millerick	....	film dailies processing: Deluxe Malbourne
Sara Moroney	....	assistant accountant
Tom Noble	....	script consultant
Drew Rhodes	....	location manager
Jill Ryan	....	post production accountant (as Jill Dures)
Greg Saunders	....	drama coach
Jeremy Saunders	....	title designer
Emile Sherman	....	representative: Fulcrum Media Finance
Surya Slatter	....	caterer
Annette Smith	....	unit publicist
Corrie Soeterboek	....	completion guarantor: First Australian Completion Bond Company
Nina Stevenson	....	legal
Guy Sutherland	....	location assistant
Duncan Thompson	....	script editor
John Thompson	....	location assistant

Thanks
Tony Ayres	....	special thanks
Nick Batzias	....	special thanks
Alice Bell	....	special thanks
Sally Browning	....	special thanks
Jan Chapman	....	special thanks
Michael Cody	....	special thanks
Alexandre de Franceschi	....	thanks
Nash Edgerton	....	special thanks
Mirrah Foulkes	....	special thanks
Glendyn Ivin	....	special thanks
Keri Light	....	thanks
Charlotte Mickie	....	special thanks
Spencer Susser	....	special thanks
Paul Wiegard	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Porchlight Films
• Screen Australia (presents)
• Film Victoria (in association with)
• Screen NSW (in association with)
• Fulcrum Media Finance (in association with)
• Showtime Australia (in association with)

Distributors

• Maximum Films (2010) (worldwide) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2010) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• ARP Sélection (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Mikado Film (2010) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Transformer (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2011) (Greece) (DVD)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Koch Media (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Finland) (all media)
• Seven Films (2011) (Greece) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2011) (Argentina) (all media)

Other Companies

• ABC Melbourne  thanks
• Big Ears Productions  sound facility (as Big Ears)
• Blue-Tongue Films  special thanks
• Clever Types  post-production script
• Digital Pictures  telecine
• EFilm Australia  digital intermediate
• Encore Travel  travel agent
• Events Melbourne  thanks
• First Australian Completion Bond Company (FACB)  completion guaranty
• Food for Film  catering
• HW Wood  insurance
• McGregor Casting  casting
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• National Gallery of Victoria  thanks
• Proudly Productions  developed in association with
• Red Bee Media Australia  captions
• SJM Co-ordination  vehicle coordination
• Soundfirm Australia  sound mix & adr facility
• Spectrum Films  edit facility
• Supersonic  music mixing & producing
• Travbiz  travel agent

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, drug content and pervasive language

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #46054) | Australia:MA (2010) | Ireland:15A | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:16 | UK:18 (DVD rating) | France:-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Japan:PG12 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Porchlight Films

Trivia:

Pope asks J to steal a car, preferably a Holden Commodore. Victor Pierce, the real life gangster responsible for the Walsh Street police shootings favored using Commodores.

Quotes:

[after the death of yet another one of her children]
Janine Cody:[crying] I'm having trouble trying to find my positive spin. I'm usually very good at it. Usually it's right there, and I can just have it. But I'm having trouble finding it now.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pope's Lament

Thy Kingdom Come, so brilliantly done!

"Animal Kingdom" is a documentary that tells the tale of the creation of the infamous Disney Park! Not! Actually, the "Animal Kingdom" I am referring to has a far more different theme than the jolly theme park. "Animal Kingdom" is a superior Australian movie about a 17-year-old high school teen named Joshua "J" Cody who suddenly gets captured into a crime-ridden animalistic family filled with bank robbers, drug dealers, and murderers; these predators just happen to be his ferocious uncles and his matriarch, manipulative grandma. Joshua mother's fatal drug overdose results in his moving in with the Killer Cody herd. Writer-Director David Michod's masterpiece (yes, I said the "M" word) is undoubtedly one of the best family crime dramas that I have ever witnessed. Michod does not exploit the movie as a bang-bang shoot-them-up mindless tale, but instead he brilliantly centers the film around J's subjective experiences on being entrapped in this futile crime world which he did not choose to be a part of. Furthermore, Michod provides an authentic look at the mentality of a crime-ridden family which have deep-ridden fears that are masked with their avenging, scheming actions. Hey mates, I think David Michod is the real deal, this is his first film so I can't wait for more cinematic kingdoms to come from young David. The cast of "Animal Kingdom" is divine! James Frecheville's restrained "WTF is going on around me" performance as J was a stellar freshman effort. "The Men From Uncle", in other words the Cody Crime Brothers, were an eclectic and intimidating trio portrayed astoundingly by their Aussie actors. Ben Mendelsohn was profoundly menacing as Pope Cody, the uncle whose gaze and gestures were perfected by Mendelsohn in detailing the ruthlessness of his character. Sullivan Stapleton's fury performance as the "Sonny Corleone-like" Craig Cody staples Sullivan as an Aussie actor on the rise. The younger but more fragile & insecure Cody name Darren was played with exact aptitude by Luke Ford. But the stellar supporting cast ensemble of "Animal Kingdom" was not just about the Uncles. Joel Edgerton shined as Barry Brown, the Cody family confidante who happens to be the cerebral architect of the Cody armed robbery crew. And the veteran Aussie acclaimed actor Guy Pearce once again pierced away on his diversified acting skills with another grand effort in his work as the "J-guide to the good side" Detective Leckie. But it was Jacki Weaver's virtuoso performance as the grandma that I was hoping would get run over by a reindeer or at least a kangaroo, was the one that had the most thespian bite of them all. Weaver's Oscar-nominated performance as the conniving Smurf Cody is what acting dreams are made of! It will be an unjustified supertramp I mean supertrap if this DreamWeaver is not awarded the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award! There is not one mundane or insignificant scene in "Animal Kingdom", it is as luring as it is unpredictable, just like the animal kingdom itself. Go on a scavenger cinematic hunt and set your sights on the "Animal Kingdom". ***** Excellent