Saltburn

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 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.

While not being English, I felt that this film accurately presents the privileged society there well. This movie showed the envy felt by the middle class towards the aristocracy well. It also showed the degree of envy in many people towards others.

The film's historical and cultural context feels authentic. I felt that the era was well depicted and while the plot is predictable, the trajectory keeps you guessing. The script was surprisingly original.

The characters had depth, particularly Oliver, played by Keoghan. Felix, played by Elordi, has been seen many times before, but is a genuine character.

The denoument may not be entirely convincing, but, hey, this is a drama, not a doco. Although I've seen plenty of docos of stranger events.

Fennell's direction has you cringing in certain scenes, but they are all beautifully resolved. Plenty of strange moments, but they fit the characters and their inner motivations.

If you see this movie distracted by others or your surroundings, you probably won't become enthralled by it. However, if you focus, it's a brilliant move with strong characters which will stay with you.

Sometimes I thought Saltburn had more bravura in the "I Want the Ultimate GOTHIC Horror/Mansion Look" direction department going on rather than a legitimately clever script (or that it thinks it has a more clever plot than it does), and at other times I thought the script had incredible lines for these very good actors and maybe the film was over-directed.... like, okay, we get it, Fennell, you want to make the most Bronte thing that the Brontes never could.

It is, visually, mostly boldly realized as a piece of hard-R pop provocation that works more than it doesn't, despite its ending changing some perameters with the leads initial ambitions that are tough to swallow. I don't think it is that deep, whether it was trying to dig into thorny Class stuff (it's a more Personal-Obsessive chronicle than that) when practically everyone is a vampire or not, save, tellingly, for who Oliver actually comes from. Frankly, knowing it was inspired by Talented Mr Ripley going in did no favors by comparison (with a bit of, aside from coincidentally "You" season 4, Teorema oddly enough), like at a festival with nothing to go on this might have got to me a little more.

However, even with the obvious influences and one particularly glaring story problem - or just with logic involving a cell phone (you know, genius manipulator kid, you can block a phone number or just turn it off) - this is a glorious showcase for Barry Keoghan to (again!) be an intensely, leering, uncomfortable and yet always in his way natural creepy little confusingly-big shlonged weirdo; he and (second time this month post Priscilla an alluring) Elordi have excellent chemistry, and I can't stress enough that, with actors, in particular a scene-stealing Allison Oliver as the f'd-up sister, Fennell has as strong a grasp on her caat and like how far to let Pike and Grant go and when to reel them in (that scene with the checkbook is wonderful).

If you want meaty acting, this definitely has that (a new category: Acting Over Substance?), and when it tries to be funny it largely is, and while it doesn't stand out as one of the best of the year it is an entertaining film moment to moment. If you were expecting another round of sociological buckshot in your brain, it doesn't have as much substantive things to say as Promising Young Woman did.

Dare I say it now... whatever you got planned for Joker, Barry: bring it.

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.