A one-act play, centring on two sets of parents in a Brooklyn apartment discussing a violent episode between their children, sandwiched between a very short, speech-free prologue and epilogue as credits roll. The ostensibly liberal but clearly uptight mother and apparently more conciliatory but hen-pecked father of the victim invite the aggressor's parents (she overtly more community-spirited, he more put out as he manages a work crisis on his mobile) over to talk about the incident, as responsible adults, but the ensuing clash of attitudes prompts a descent into the sort of puerile behaviour that was precisely the intended subject of the conversation.

Well cast, the four players interpret the sharp, witty lines with aplomb, one's sympathies leaping around from character to character as they gradually unravel, but without ever settling anywhere for long as each in turn cedes any moral high ground as quickly as they gained it. There is scorn aplenty (subtle and blatant) as rivalries and alliances are repeatedly struck and dashed. One can forgive the improbability of the meeting surviving several junctures when it would more naturally end because the dialogue continues to give.

I guess you can't go far wrong with such a script in the hands of this director and group of actors and it makes for a very watchable film, although I'm guessing the stage is its real home and I'll look out for it there.

I have seen some great films based on plays set in one location, Sleuth is one of the best examples, and a few one location films work really well also, such as Clerks, Rear Window and 12 Angry Men, so when I heard about this film based on a play I was very interested to watch it, from director Roman Polanski (Repulsion, Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, The Pianist). Basically in the park two grade-school boys got into a fight, and one of the boys hit the other one with a stick in the mouth, and the parents of both children have decided to meet in a Brooklyn apartment to discuss the matter. The parents of the boy who wielded the stick are neurotic investment broker Nancy Cowan (Golden Globe nominated Kate Winslet) and her ignorant high-flying corporate lawyer husband Alan (Christoph Waltz), coming to the home of the parents of the boy who was struck, politically correct campaigner Penelope 'Penny' Longstreet (Golden Globe nominated Jodie Foster) and her goofy wholesaler of sanitary goods husband Michael (John C. Reilly). They intend that the meeting between them will be short, but various circumstances cause them to talk and stay longer as their conversation draws out, it starts with the couples get along fine, but then certain comments are said that have their feelings being hurt, causing the arguments between each other. There is also a point where Nancy is drinking the alcohol and eating the food they have, and she becomes sick and vomits on some books and Alan's trousers, so Penny and Michael have to clean it up and this continues the tension. They are not just about themselves but their responsibilities for the boys and their parenting skills, there is a discussion of Michael killing a pet hamster and he is accused of being a murderer, Penny gets emotional about it and this becomes an argument as well. Nancy gets irritated by Alan constantly answering the phone for his business, eventually grabbing his phone and dropping it in the flower vase with water, which makes the Longstreets laugh, and she gets annoyed by them being impartial. Getting drunk Nancy reveals her true colours on the situation, vulgarly stating that she is glad her and Alan's son hit Penny and Michael's son, they argue more and repeat that they are not getting anywhere, the bickering continues at points they claim to be leaving, and in the end, away from the Longstreets' and Cowans', their sons are seen reconciling their differences between them. With it just being the four actors in one place you wonder whether you will get bored, but you absolutely do not, Winslet is wonderfully fiery when she wants to be, Foster is terrifically aggressive most of the time, Waltz is laughably laid back and uninterested apart from his business, and Reilly is amusingly slow witted at times but stands his ground. The film works because of the stars being so suited to their parts, the script is so slick, cynical and witty, the events in between the arguing are hilarious, the pacing and editing is well put together by director Polanski, a fantastically funny comedy drama. Very good!

Put four excellent actors together with a great script and this will come out. I had no idea this was based on a play, before I watched it, but it does make sense. I'm happy with the guys they chose in the movie, even without knowing how the play did work. I really like Christoph Waltz in this too, because he has something to really get his teeth into and show of his acting muscles.

Polanski created a movie many of his peers will be jealous about. But the witty script works great with the setting and you kinda feel for the characters. They all have reasons to react the way they do. It's also cool, that it doesn't get to cliché about gender problems. People talking can be exciting then ...