Animals

The blurry whirlwind of alcoholdriven nights can be fun but what about if that’s how you get by constantly? 'Animals'is such a film to explore the riotous behaviour of two friends and it's an expressive piece.

Laura (Holliday Grainger) cannot finish a novel whilstleadinga life of drink and tomfoolery with long-time pal Tyler (Alia Shawkat). Together they traverse the ups and downs of female friendship as Laura becomes enamoured by pianist Jim (Fra Fee); who happens to exist in a much more mannered world.

Sophie Hyde directs the words and wisdom of screenwriter Emma Jane Unsworth; who authoredthe book that this film is based on. Through the script and direction, the streets of Dublin come alive as the shenanigans of Laura and Tyler take hold. What works, isn't just the believable haze of their alcohol-fuelled partnership but the fall outs and coming together; their past and present being an unspoken bond through thick and thin.

Tyler and Laura are a tenacious twosome, they're incredible examples of fun but also self-destructive personalities. They stalk the Irish pavements like twilightanimals and it'd be fair to say they can often be viewed as a mess but gladly the film isn't. The movie has us thrown into their antics and see-sawing relationship and the idea of late 20's/early 30's striving to life every day as it could be your last is most definitely felt throughout the story.

The film may not be for everyone but if you're of similar age to the women in this feature then the fear of missing out and the desire to live it up and not let life pass you by is a notion that hits home. The pressurising way that Tyler holds on to Laura is where the conflict rises and it's as the latter possibly finds a way into normal adulthood with Jim,that the film becomes compelling.
Grainger is a dreamy choice as the writer facing a brick wall. She positively crackles as a fiery woman rooted to the ideals of youthful abandon yet pressed for a more normal life. Shawkat has plenty of quips and brings comic touches but you'd be hard-pressed to root for her because she's so much of a party animal and enclosing grip on Laura's life, that you're practically screaming out for Laura to get away.
The main weakness this vivid moviehas,is that it could have done with being trimmed slightly, the onset of feeling the run-time does occur but thanks to the charged performance of Shawkat and the mesmerising turn from Grainger, 'Animals'is a wild ride.
6.5/10