Coup!

A friend told me I must see this one, so I rented on a whim, went in with zero expectations. And what a treat this movie was. Somewhere between comedy and thriller, Coup's tone is one I'd call anarchic. You see that tone in the script, the music, and in all the performances (Skarsgard is really strong here). Don't want to spoil anything. So suffice to say, the story had me rooting for one character only to pull the rug out in a way I never saw coming. Thank you Lilly for recommending this to me. And returning the favor, I'm recommending Coup! To anyone reading this. Especially if you're into films like The Menu, you'll love Coup!

Watched this film on TV, Streaming. Cast was ok but nothing sharp or flashy. 1 annoying point is like so many other 2020s films, WAY to dark, sets interiors not lit. Why is this common? Monk was a decent character but not able maintain interest. The WW1 plague plot line & 1918 location looked well crafted but the scenes did not pull me in. I did enjoy some of the acting, comedy scenes for what they offered. Instead of a dark comedy, this movie should of worked as a mystery or maybe a thriller, horror film format. The large estate locale would add a element of tension, suspense, mysteries I would think.

It is 1918 and the world is at war. Floyd Monk (Peter Sarsgaard) is a wannabe revolutionary who complains that the Spanish Flu is killing more people than the war. He argues for a full shutdown which can be seen as treasonous. He becomes a chef in a large estate on an island. The owner Jay Horton (Billy Magnussen) and his wife Julie (Sarah Gadon) have two young children. Jay insists on not killing anything and being vegetarian. Floyd keeps stirring up conflicts as he hides from the authorities.

Sarsgaard is great and playful. This story has a new resonance after COVID. The black humor doesn't always work. The story is a little rambling and a bit disconnected. I would like the servants to be more specific. The wife needs an extra scene or two. This is interesting although it does need something more.

What if the class structures of the early 1900s, which aren't really that much different than they are today, were isolated and broken down bit by bit? The movie Coup! Attempts to do just that, taking its eccentric cast of characters on an adventure through anarchy, madness, and self-discovery. Can it successfully blend this heavy message with its wit and charm?

Whether you enjoy the humor in this film or not, Coup! Is certainly an interesting look at class structure and how that structure can break down, given the right circumstances. It is a film with a lot to say and is able to say it rather well, mostly due to the talent of the cast. Clocking in at a crisp 90 minutes, and assuming you beheaded my warning about the humor and tone, you will not regret spending an hour and a half with these colorful characters.

Weird, dark, and fun is how I'd describe this one. It shows a microcosm of society using a family and their servants holed up during the Spanish Flu. It's satirization of performative activists and limousine liberals feels on point. Peter Sarsgaard makes interesting choices in all of his films, and he does it again playing a charming scumbag of a cook. Billy Magnussen, while not given the same juicy role, does a great job as well playing a writer / aspiring politician, who feels very familiar in the Covid-era where we all had to suffer through the "Imagine" celebs. Overall, it's a fun watch, not a broad comedy, but I did find myself laughing a number of times.