Animals (2014 film)
| Animals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Collin Schiffli |
| Written by | David Dastmalchian |
| Produced by | Mary Pat Bentel David Dastmalchian Collin Schiffli Chris Smith |
| Starring | David Dastmalchian Kim Shaw |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Animals is a 2014 English film directed by Collin Schiffli and starring David Dastmalchian and Kim Shaw. The film is produced by Mary Pat Bentel, David Dastmalchian, Collin Schiffli, and Chris Smith.
Premise
A couple (David Dastmalchian, Kim Shaw), who are living in a broken car, scam strangers to support their heroin addiction.
Cast
- David Dastmalchian as Jude
- Kim Shaw as Bobbie
- John Heard as Albert
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 85% based on 26 reviews, and an average rating of 7.03. The website's critical consensus reads, "Animals' drug-fueled storyline is undeniably grim, but its sensitive approach to its difficult themes -- and its talented cast -- make watching it well worth the discomfort."[1] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "Generally favorable reviews".[2]
Joe Leydon of Variety wrote, "Dastmalchian and Shaw are thoroughly convincing both as vividly drawn, emotionally complex individuals, and as a couple inextricably bound by addiction and enabling. Among the well-cast supporting players, John Heard makes the most significant impact by making every second count in his brief role as a sympathetic security guard."[3] Steve Dollar of The Wall Street Journal wrote, "Director Collin Schiffli keeps a tight focus on character, as the couple's plight becomes increasingly dire."[4] Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com wrote, "Such small moments (and there are many in the film) help make what is a typical story memorable and somewhat unique. It's not a particularly interesting relationship because drug addicts tend to be boring, but it is a pleasure to watch both of these actors work."[5]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Virginia Film Festival | Programmer's Choice Award | Won | [6] |
| South by Southwest | Special Jury Award | Won | [7] | |
| SXSW Grand Jury Award | Nominated |
References
- ^ Animals (2015), retrieved 2019-05-17
- ^ Animals, retrieved 2019-05-17
- ^ Leydon, Joe; Leydon, Joe (2014-03-19). "SXSW Film Review: 'Animals'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ Dollar, Steve (2015-05-13). "Argentina's New Wave, Plus Cinematic Selfies". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ O'Malley, Sheila. "Animals Movie Review & Film Summary (2015) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ JennyM. "Virginia Film Festival". virginiafilmfestival.org. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "SXSW Film Festival Winners Announced". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.