User reviews

And not ship wrecked on a tropical island, but stranded on a city island in an ocean of the Spanish flu. Instead of a steadfastly loyal, upstanding butler, we have a roguish, scheming cook, wheedling his way into an upper class family. Of course the comparisons only go so far, Coup is a far darker more sinister affair than the 1957 classic comedy. The social commentary presented here is apparent from the start, there is little in the way of a gentle progression as circumstances worsen.

The master to servant relationship on which the plot is hung is effective enough, but both characters have such unlikeable traits, that it may be hard to whole heartedly root for either in this war of the classes.

It's entertaining enough, but the 98 minutes runtime seemed to drag at times, the ending was well done, and satisfying, depending on your social justice standpoint I guess?

Generally invited in the shadow of the epidemic changing standards and criteria in society, the film did not participate in anything except the concept of imbalance.

So I think the parallelism of the societal imbalance with the imbalance of some events in the film is justified.

There is light comedy and from there it moves to dark drama to remind people of the events of Covid and what happened in the minds while taking into account the time period. This is all that is good.

Cons: The ending isn't perfect. Some of the character motivations and transformation were rushed.

-Slow paced and small world I love this atmosphere.

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.

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.

A sort of new "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". The eternal theme of the confrontation between the Dionysian and Apollonian principles, in which there is no clear good and evil, sides of light and darkness. Here, however, in the Dionysian principle there is less truth than in "The Cuckoo's Nest", and here it is more like a devil who can get to his victims only through their weaknesses and vices. This amazing ambivalence in every moment of the film, like in Merezhkovsky's novels, where good and evil are so mixed up with each other that you begin to understand they are just sides of the same coin. And this depth is right up to the very last frame, literally.

Jaunty class-war drama "Coup" has a decent premise & good performances, but its main characters are all so dislikable that it fails to hold attention. As the 1918 Spanish Flu bites, well-to-do journo Billy Magnussen secretly flees with wife Sarah Gadon & kids to his island country estate, pretending to still be in NY as he lambasts the govt to fuel his own political ambitions... til mysterious new chef Peter Sarsgaard stokes ill-feeling among his staff & family, as the 'plague' starts to grip the island, and the poop hits Magnussen's fan. Co-writers / co-directors Austin Stark & debutant Joseph Schuman offer an interesting analogy... but it just isn't interesting nor engaging enough.

I thought the basic idea for this movie was a satiric exploration of the similarities between the Covid and 'Spanish Flu' pandemics and how people of different backgrounds suffered through later. Boy, that would have been nice. No, instead the movie is very much about a rich hypocrite who seems to be a strawman invented by the present day US right-wing: a vegetarian coastal elite, who writes for the paper as if he was present at certain events, but he was not actually there, he is lying; he demands things he claims are good for the workers, but is clueless about the real world and does not treat his own workers too well. He is wealthy because his father owned a factory. When schools close because of the pandemic, his wife raises the idea the she could educate their children herself; he rejects the idea insisting that his wife should work (write) instead.

Unfortunately, the writing is rarely clever, nuanced, or even consistent.

The plot does not really gel, but it does not have to, the film is merely about the undoing of this hypocrite. I am sure some people will find nuance in the movie, and one could even argue it is a general critique of the upper class, but I don't think it works as such. Despite good performances by all cast members, the film disappoints due to its script.

The film takes advantage of a century-old event to deal with a subject that could not be more relevant today.

This film shows in a casual and clever way the class society and at the same time presents an alternative, which only emerges through a social crisis.

It is structured like a thriller and manages to maintain a constant tension, but includes various aspects of living together as a society, without falling into a black and white thinking.

Instead of showing that the rich can't help exploiting their power and giving them some kind of legitimacy, as in films like "Triangle of Sadness", the film finds a much more clever solution without being cautionary.

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.

After fighting for the government during World War I somemembers of the lower class are not willing to be ignored during the flu epidemic. Others hope to launch a oolitical career from it. Coup is a satirical commentary about how class predetermines our destinies - even during pandemics. Something that is not new to the 21st Century. It was described as a comedy, but it's anything but funny. It was also described as a suspenseful thriller. That fits wth the prevailing sense of doom that pervades the film and the audience knows nothng good is coming. It also delves into the issues of fake news, which apparently is not new. The characters are a unique range of personalities who are all engaging. Peter Sarsgaard plays the roled to perfection.

This film is amazingly well written as it pokes at a lot of relevant issues of today and yet remains a time piece set during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

Centered around a single rich family that holds a secret later revealed through the actions of Peter Sarsgaard character who also holds a secret of his own, this film delivers a dark comedic approach to an ever on going class war.

It's refreshing to see a film with an original story that captivates you in mystery up until the end with twists and even unpleasantries. A real thought provoker through the entire movie that leads you to wonder who the true protagonists is.

This film is a MUST for any lovers of cinema and good writing.

The best way I can describe this film would be if Wes Anderson were to direct Barry Lyndon. This is a period piece with hints of political messaging that manages to keep a playful tone, with a mesmerizing performance by Peter Sarsgaard. I never saw any trailer or advertising for this film, and I'm honestly glad I didn't, so as to go into this one blind. Without spoiling anything, you'll never guess what happens next in the film, and things really begin to spiral out of control in the final act. This is a genuine hidden gem, and I'm beyond ecstatic to have stumbled upon this movie. This is from the producer of Detachment (Austin Stark), which is another underrated masterpiece, and I hope to see more surprising films directed by Stark.

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!