[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Saltburn.]
I have a theory about one of the most divisive movies of the year: You're probably not a fan of salty burn Yes, long before the bodies begin to align, you are sure that even the bicycle tire was planned.
It's not that the turn is so obvious (although it must be admitted that it is not a surprise). It's just that you're looking for it in the first place. The black comedy begins with the viewer firmly entrenched in the point of view of Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a seemingly meek and poor college student who finds himself drawn into the orbit of Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). As the story progresses, and Oliver joins Felix on the English country estate, such meekness is revealed to be just one of Oliver's many lies about himself. However, when someone from Felix's family can figure that out… they won't really be able to do anything about it.
anyone who has seen The talented Mr. Ripley or similar projects may be looking for clues about the depth of Oliver's plans, and writer-director Emerald Fennell doesn't work too hard to disguise them. Instead, salty burn It maintains its momentum thanks to the depth of Oliver's hunger: hunger for good things, hunger for attention, hunger for dominance.
Barry Keoghan's fiercely committed performance keeps all that stuff floating near the surface, but presents the family he takes advantage of as a representation of other excesses: the lazy, foolish rich, prone to excess largely as a form to distract them from how banal life can be. Even before he is fully revealed as a wolf, it is clear that the Catton family are sheep, vulnerable to certain types of threats, although they are also capable of thoughtless and thoughtful cruelties, thanks to the comfortable power that comes with money and status. class. .
If, when watching the film, you see the Cattons only as victims and Oliver as a predator, then it is understandable that the film fails for you. (Consequence(Clint Worthington's review is very wise and well reasoned.) However, as someone who practically did a little dance of my own when I left the theater, I will say that salty burn It left me enjoying how delicious it can be to see a coward get away with something.
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