Throughout the years Ben Affleck has become a truly great director with films including AIR, The Town, Argo and Gone Baby Gone. His latest film Animals has him pulling triple duty with directing, co-writing and starring Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, and Ray Fisher. Could this kidnapping drama bring the tension, or will it not be worth the ransom?

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Animals follows L.A. Mayoral Candidate Milo Bradford whose son is kidnapped, giving he and his wife a few hours to come up with the ransom payment. With most of their money spent on his political campaign, they have to get their hands dirty and expos a side of their lives they never intended to see the light of day.

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If this premise sounds familiar that is because we have seen these movies numerous times. Affleck himself mentioned in a interview that when he heard about the Highest 2 Lowest film from Spike Lee, he put this project on hold to rework the idea. After numerous casting changes the film is now here and while familiar in its overall tone and idea still manages to be engaging enough to work.

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They give it just enough time to set up all the characters and where we are before getting to the kidnapping itself. While this kidnapping is the focus the film is really about the relationships, the truths and secrets that everyone has and how they affect every aspect of the situation. It keeps things pretty straight forward with even some of the twists not hard to figure out but still works thanks to a strong performance from both Affleck and Washington.

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These two have great chemistry both good and bad throughout the film. As more of the secrets are revealed they are forced to dive more into their own feelings and what they are willing to do to get the kid back. Gillian Anderson steps onto the