Saltburn

Saltburn

Now this was an interesting film. It's a mind game. It's manipulation. And it's nefarious. Be prepared to squirm Be prepared to gasp. Be prepared to say "oh dear God" a few times. The movie follows a very shy and quiet Oxford student on his quest to fit in. After a school year, he is invited to join his new friend at his family's enormous castle where we definitely see him in a fish out of water situation.

Then things... happen. Oh boy do they happen. This is all I'm going to say but be prepared for a wild ride, and don't be squeamish. I enjoyed this, but it really deserves its R rating. It's very adult and highlights the depths human beings can go, regardless of material wealth.

You know I love to find the human experience presented, possibly with a lesson in mental health awareness. Oh God no. Perhaps there is awareness, but there is no lesson.

Rosamund Pike does steal the show. Her one liners are absolutely hilarious.

Enjoy the ride.

Saltburn, directed by Emerald Fennell (who brought us the excellent A Promising Young Woman), is a psychological thriller drama that attempts to navigate the maze-like world of the English aristocracy, but unfortunately, it loses its way. The film stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, a scholarship student at Oxford University, and Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton, a charming aristocrat who invites Oliver to spend a summer at his family's sprawling estate, Saltburn.

Saltburn is set in the mid-2000s, a period marked by some economic and cultural decadence. It attempts to explore the clash of social classes, moral vacuity, and the seductions of wealth. However, the film's historical and cultural context feels superficial, failing to delve more deeply into the societal dynamics of the time. Despite being promising, the plot suffers from predictability and a lack of subtlety. The film tries to play with the idea of these enormous bastions of privilege and power as unique breeding grounds for strangeness, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Forced and repetitive dialogues, which frequently feel artificial and contrived, further weaken the narrative.

Despite having talented actors portraying them, the characters lack depth. Oliver, played by Keoghan, is a hateful, lustful, and envious character, but his portrayal is flat and uncomplicated. Felix, played by Elordi, is a character who comes from a life of blatant privilege, but his flimsy compassion does not seem real.

Although Fennell's direction is bold, it lacks the dexterity required to make this intricate story come to life. The film's pacing is erratic; certain scenes seem rushed, while others drag on needlessly. The movie's soundtrack seems haphazard and does not improve the story. The movie also occasionally goes a bit too far in terms of taste and may have you cringing.

The cinematography and production design are perhaps the film's strongest points. The grandeur of Saltburn, the sprawling estate, is captured beautifully, and the film does a commendable job of creating a lived-in feeling that feels glamorous and filthy at the same time. These artistic components, however, are insufficient to make up for the film's weak narrative.

Saltburn is a film that promises much but delivers little. Despite its grand setting and talented cast, it fails to provide a compelling narrative or engaging characters. It's a film that tries to be a critique of the English aristocracy and a psychological thriller but falls short on both counts. While it may appeal to some viewers for its aesthetic appeal, it's a film that, unfortunately, doesn't live up to its potential. It's not a film I'd recommend.

This is a story that cleverly and darkly portray the class disparity and it's societal mutations. We see household of the working man all shattered with shame. We see the palace loosely knit with wealth. And we see the palace dwelling Cuckoo with madness in his gaze and forethought in his manner. Excellent performances especially by Barry Keoghan. Vivid visuals keeps the audience on the edge. Excellent cinematography that adds the twisted mysteriousness to every frame. Great sound effects to deliver the liveliness of characters. Contrasting background music to remind the SaltBurn is never what you expect till the very end.

Saltburn moves along at a good pace, rather stylish and hip as it creates some anticipation for where it may be going. It develops a bit of mystery but we never understand the motivation for the protagonist character. Not much depth for the various character, so can't get invested in them. Several scenes are designed to depict ridiculous opulence and wealth, so as to contribute to why the main character has disdain for this, yet we don't ever feel this disdain.

As the end approaches it becomes predictable while it quickly and conveniently fills in the holes of whatever mysteries it tried to create. Overall, Saltburn lacks substance and hence I was left feeling with the lack of meaning for whatever message the film is trying to depict.

Saltburn is a bold, unsettling ride that delves deep into the complexities of class, obsession, and moral ambiguity, mixing Greek mythology with contemporary social commentary. The story follows Ollie (played by Barry Keoghan), a shy and awkward Oxford student who's drawn into the luxurious, decadent world of his aristocratic friend, Felix (Jacob Elordi). As the film unravels, it reveals the stark contrast between public personas and private realities, critiquing both societal norms and the shallowness of social media culture.

Winny found the performances absolutely stellar, particularly Barry Keoghan's portrayal of Ollie. He was drawn into the character's obsession and vulnerability, and the dynamics between Ollie and Felix were captivating. Jacob Elordi's portrayal of Felix added a charming yet sinister layer to the film, while Rosamund Pike stole every scene she was in, with her sharp, cutting one-liners and magnetic presence. The trio really made this darkly comedic, disturbing narrative come to life in a way that kept Winny hooked.

Willow, Amy, and Tails had mixed feelings. While Willow acknowledged the strong performances, he felt the pacing and some of the shocking scenes were a bit of a distraction. The film seemed to drag at points, and some of the more intense moments felt jarring rather than adding to the tension. Amy agreed, noting that while the film's exploration of obsession and class was fascinating, some of the more shocking moments-particularly the controversial sex scenes-took away from the overall tone. Tails was also caught off guard by some of the film's twists, which seemed overly melodramatic at times.

Mimikyu, however, found herself genuinely squeamish throughout the film. The brutality of some scenes made her feel uneasy, and she couldn't shake the discomfort they left behind. While she appreciated the dark, twisted elements of the plot, the graphic content was a bit much for her, leaving her feeling more repulsed than intrigued at certain points.

Sweet, on the other hand, appreciated the aesthetic side of Saltburn, praising the cinematography and the production design. The rich, opulent mansion and the meticulous visual storytelling helped to elevate the film's critique of privilege and social media superficiality. He felt that while the film's technical aspects were strong, the narrative and character development were lacking in some areas. Sweet found himself longing for a deeper exploration of the characters' inner lives, especially Ollie's motivations, which were only partially explored.

At the end of the day, Saltburn is an ambitious, darkly comedic film that forces viewers to grapple with uncomfortable truths about societal norms, ambition, and the desire for status. While the performances and production values are outstanding, some of the pacing issues and narrative choices may leave some viewers feeling disconnected. For us, Saltburn lands at a 7/10-it's a film worth watching for its dark humor and provocative themes, but it may not resonate with everyone in the long run.