John C. Reilly looks so out of place. The last six or so years of that guy's career have made me forget that he's a good actor in roles that don't require him to be an idiot manchild.

Even sometimes when he is an idiot manchild. I thought his idiot manchild schtick had run its course with the annoying Cyrus, but then I was surprised by how much I liked him in Cedar Rapids. So yeah, I'm with you - I forget how good he can be myself.

Isn't he also in We Need to Talk About Kevin? I guess this is the year where he returns to the sort of roles that made him famous in the first place.

Upon seeing those idiot manchild performances, it was hard for me to believe that he was actually in some P.T. Anderson films! I think he's having something of a return to form. I'm definitely anticipating this film.

He was an idiot manchild in Cyrus? Really? I didn't get that (or the whole annoying thing) at all.

I liked his more comedic perfomances as of late*, but it will be nice seeing him getting into more complicated roles.

*Best humorous thing he ever did was break into "The Night Chicago Died" with Conan during an interview on Late Night from Chicago.

Anyone else see God of Carnage on the stage? I caught the New York production and thought James Gandolfini was doing the best work I've seen from him, so John C. Reilly's casting in that role has definitely been the hardest sell for me. I keep trying to imagine Reilly playing angry that isn't in the key of a child's temper tantrum.

I don't mean to sound too hard on Reilly as a comic performer. His role in Boogie Nights was almost entirely comic relief, and it is infinitely rewatachable.

As for the film, I'm very excited. I've enjoyed the late career Polanski renaissance almost as much as anything from his youth.

Either the Broadway (top) or London (bottom) casts would be fine with me

I was looking forward to this but boy that looks awful

The trailer is cut really badly, but I'm getting the sense that the film isn't like that.

It's just a poorly cut trailer. I'm hope the actual film isn't as cheesy or stilted. Polanski has been long enough to know what constitutes as good editing and acting, so I'm sure it's fine. They just make it look like a quirky comedy because I'm sure it might be tricky to market.

Anyways, has anyone mentioned this is another Polanski film in an apartment?

You just don't understand it! *stands in middle of thread shouting, pulling funny faces and dancing around until domino puts my mobile phone in a jug of water at which point I leave in a huff, throwing a bunch of daffodils at knives on the way out*

(I'm still looking forward to it though! For some reason it makes me think of Abigail's Party - or, more appropriately for Polanski, Death and the Maiden!)

Saw Carnage at a preview - I've only skimmed a few brief reviews, and from what I can tell, there's some debate over whether or not this film is too stagebound. A concern for any adaptation of a single-location play, but Roman Polanski has made a few damn good films that were more-or-less confined to one location.

I thought it was a mixed bag - the visual elements were good, in terms of blocking, editing, framing, Polanski does not disappoint. But nearly everything about the movie (every thought, every little action, every dramatic development) is driven by the screenplay's wall-to-wall dialogue. In retrospect, I think they should've sliced out half the dialogue and just let the facial expressions or the blocking already in place do the work. Even the rhythm of the words felt stagebound, and everything felt like it was being projected out at the audience.

Anyway, the cast was solid, but Reilly could've been better. (I could see James Gandolfini being far more interesting and appropriately more intimidating.) I liked Winslet the best, who wasn't a favorite in years past, but she's really gotten better with age, not to mention more radiant (least IMO).

The trailer I saw in front of my movie tonight removed all mention of Roman Polanski.

When the trailer ended - ACADEMY AWARD WINNING Jodie Foster, ACADEMY AWARD WINNING Kate Winslet, ACADEMY AWARD WINNING Christoph Waltz, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED John C. Reilly it really made him seem like the elephant in the room with his five Oscar nods.

I saw a late run of the play a few years ago in NYC with Jeff Daniels and Lucy Liu and it was fantastic. Had no idea Polanski was making this. I am excited despite the so-so trailer.

I agree, although the film is only 80 minutes long; start cutting lines and you'll end up with a short.

Something that might work on stage but didn't work at all in the film were the attempts by the one couple to leave and the ridiculous reasons they found to stay. At such points I would think, Where's a Spanish surrealist when you need him?

Luis Buñuel would be proud of this breakdown of human decency into a manic, drunken mess. Outside of Jodie Foster's rather embarrassing overacting at certain points, the performances are solid, and the film really does feel like it was shot in 80 minutes: The momentum of the picture is its strongest asset - we're driven through it without any of the winking or showing off that lesser directors might engage in. This is one of the reasons the cinema exists: Would you rather see this play performed by your aunt at the local firehouse, or by this cast under the direction of Roman Polanski? One of the best films of the year by default for sheer mercy and convenience.

I really like this. It's totally minor Polanski but that's a hell of a step above most everyone else working in English.

I actaully LIKED Jodie Foster's drunk scenes. I've always wanted to see her do one. In fact the whole menage a quatre is like a chance for a small group to get whacked and have a lot of fun.

I guess the satirical edge of Americans always seeimg to behave so "sensibly" when they are just itching to behave disgustingly (like everyone) like Reilly muttering about "Sudan Sambos" etc is pretty clear. But with Polanksi that element always takes on a personal note.

FTRecord I though Ghost Writer was masterful.

Oh yes, I don't think Polanski has the care to do a major work again, but as long as he's at least doing these very fun and fascinating throwaways it's hard to complain.