Animal Kingdom Case Study

1. Animal Kingdom
The film is a 2010 Australian crime drama/thriller written and directed by
David Michod.
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn - Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody,
Joel Edgerton - Barry ‘Baz’ Brown,
Guy Pearce - Nathan Leckie
James Frencheville - Joshua ‘J’ Cody,
Luke Ford - Darren Cody,
Jacki Weaver - Janine ‘Smurf’ Cody and
Sullivan Stapleton - Craig Cody.
The script was inspired by a real story in Melbourne, Australia in
1988; when the Pettingill Family witnessed Trevor Pettingill be found
not-guilty of the murder of 2 Victorian Police Officers.
The 17 year-old, Joshua Cody, has to survive in his family who are all
criminals, as well as whether to trust a detective who thinks he can
save him.
The film branched out to an international audience; being sold to the UK,
Italy, France, Canada and Eastern Europe. As well as Sony Pictures
distributing the film to Latin America and the US.

2. Characters
The teenage character of Joshua ‘J’ Cody is
narrator, talking about moving in with his
Grandmother and her criminal sons. There’s a sense
of violence and fear everyday; everyone’s scared of
what they could do, and what will stop them. No one
knowing what’s coming next. The film is all about
survival; proving his masculinity to stay alive, on
an almost primal level. The representation of youth
in drug use crime and love.
Ben Mendelsohn’s role of ‘Pope’ reflects an
absence of morality. How the character is dark
and goes to extremes; making you realise it’s
uncomfortable, not because of what he does, but
what he wouldn’t do in order to seek revenge.
Janine ‘Smurf’ Cody, family leader and J’s
Grandmother. Makes it very clear no-one can
survive in the world if they are who they
truly are. She is in charge of their lawyers,
highlighting the corrupt police force; trying
to defend the family.

3. Soundtrack
The original score for the film was composed by
Antony Partos, additional music was added by Sam
Petty and David McCormack.
The soundtrack released on the 16th of August 2010,
in total the soundtrack is 50 minutes long; the
music complimenting the dramatic action filled
scenes. Adding suspense and tension when necessary.
Lighting
In this particular shot; the Pope - Andrew
Cody - is dimly lit. The use of shadows
creating him to remind the audience of the
classic evil villain; revenge-seeking and will
stop at nothing to achieve it. The ambiguous
character reflecting ‘Harry Limes’ in The
Third Man and even ‘Bill’ in Kill Bill.
In the scene where the Pope is carrying the dead
body of J’s girlfriends, the combined non-diegetic
sound and dim non-ambient is incredibly effective
in making the viewer feel suddenly emotional.
Carrying her from the shadows, her body and the
Pope lit, only dimly, adding to the realism.

4. Intertextuality
Animal Kingdom is a film that refreshed the crime
genre; by being both a shocking and beautiful film.
The 1931 US film, Little Caesar, is all about status
and wealth; directed by Mervyn LeRoy, the film made
Edward Robinson, who’s role was ‘Little Caesar’ made
him a star, kick-starting a long line of his
’gangster’ portrayals. Similar to Animal Kingdom by
its portrayal of drug crime.
The 1983 US crime-drama, directed by Brian De Palma,
where Al Pacino’s ‘Tony Montana’ character - an immigrant
drug lord - says; “When you get the money, you get the
women.” The film also reflecting the drug underworld
black-market. However, Animal Kingdom is more focused J’s
developing his authority in a pragmatic society and
ensuring his survival, in comparison.
The film has been credited “the best Australian film
since Andrew Dominik’s Chopper in 2000” which, as well as
Animal Kingdom, was inspired by real-life events in the
Melbourne underworlds. However, the films take completely
different approaches, something that does untie them is
the style of fear. This is highlighted in Animal Kingdom
at J’s sense of fear and dread at every scene of the
family as activities start to go haywire.