'Animal Kingdom' is One Anxiety-Provoking Experience Worth Having

Australian crime drama 'Animal Kingdom' lead the dramatic category at Sundance 2010 winning the World Cinema Jury Prize. The film is a darker, modern-day variation on the Lion King theme of the food chain without the "Hakuna Matata" interludes. "We might think that because of the circles we run in, we're the strong ones, but you're not. You're young, and you're weak because you're young," Detective Leckie (Guy Pearce) says to lead Joshua "J" Cody (James Frecheville). 'Animal Kingdom' will simultaneously drain you and keep you up late at night. Even the good guys are bad guys, and the Codys make the Corleones look like the Griswolds.

Newcomer Frecheville (pronounced "fresh-ville," virtual thumb's up), who plays the lead role of 17-year-old Joshua, absolutely kills it. His energy beats so graphically that you'll feel it in your own chest at some point during the film.

Currently playing only in Australia, the Sundance favorite will premiere in select U.S. theaters this Friday, August 13.