movie Saltburn | Homoerotic thriller starring Jacob Elordi & Barry Keoghan | November 24

[May]

watched this last night, me and the bf were literally the only ones in the screening apart from 1 other couple

 

the film is a HIT in my heart though, i was glued to the screen from start to finish  everything about it was amazing

[Ampersand13]

Just watched this and am a little... surprised, I guess? I knew it wasn't going to be what I thought it would be after perusing some comments online, but I was still a bit perplexed by some of the narrative choices. I did like it! I want to make that very clear, I definitely enjoyed some of the humor, cinematography, and editing, but found it very uneven.

 

This film has all the pieces, all of them, and I genuinely think if the script had just one more pass it could have reached its full potential. What I found myself craving most was a stronger character study, really understanding the why behind certain actions beyond surface level envy, possession, and greed. This character accomplishes a lot but I didn't find his motivations or methods very compelling, nor did I find him an interesting vessel for satire.

 

I also craved better use of the location. I kept wanting Saltburn (the estate) to become its own character or have a stronger presence but ultimately felt that it was underutilized. They could have told this story at any estate, mansion, or lavish property, so naming it Saltburn and placing so little emphasis on what makes this place idiosyncratic was odd. Even the homage to The Shining made me think they were moving in a certain direction that never materialized.

 

The other two aspects I found confounding was the lack of tension in the third act and the numerous one-note characters. Rosamund Pike gave the most dynamic performance in this film weaving ignorance, sorrow, confusion, and a plethora of other emotions together. Which isn't to say the surrounding cast wasn't great, they all were, but they all played more or less the same note throughout the entire film, Barry being a slight exception. I thought his performance would be a bit more layered, especially after how much nuance he brought to Banshees. He was still great, I think my expectations were just a touch too high. 

 

Enjoyed the film, but I think critics got it right with this one. A cut above similar psychological thrillers, but not as well constructed as genre defining films. 

[James_Dean]

2 hours ago, Ampersand13 said:

I also craved better use of the location. I kept wanting Saltburn (the estate) to become its own character or have a stronger presence but ultimately felt that it was underutilized.

I agree with this. Especially with all the Saltburn will eat you alive type talk.

They missed the opportunity to make something very sinister about it 

[havewemet]

I agree his motivations were a little unclear. And the complete lack of repercussions left the ending a little hollow for me. I do want to see it again…there was a lot to appreciate and enjoy. It’s a very visceral film and seeing it in a relatively full theatre was a lot of fun -

people were either disgusted or aroused for a lot of it. I was both hahaha. The amount of bodily functions and fluids LOL.

[Likingstars]

Visually stunning, the final scene is absolutely gorgeous I feel like its a homage to another movie but i cannot recall which one

[JonnyCat]

Spoiler

A screener low-key leaked, but read it's being released on the 19th 22nd anyway.

Edited December 13, 2023 by JonnyCat

[genetic fail]

It's giving Ryan Murphy with the amount of scenes just for pure shock value. I wish the story was a little more layered and the final act more poetic. But goddamn it's such a visually stunning film (all thanks to Elordi)

[Beyonnaise]

On 11/27/2023 at 5:49 PM, Ampersand13 said:

Just watched this and am a little... surprised, I guess? I knew it wasn't going to be what I thought it would be after perusing some comments online, but I was still a bit perplexed by some of the narrative choices. I did like it! I want to make that very clear, I definitely enjoyed some of the humor, cinematography, and editing, but found it very uneven.

 

This film has all the pieces, all of them, and I genuinely think if the script had just one more pass it could have reached its full potential. What I found myself craving most was a stronger character study, really understanding the why behind certain actions beyond surface level envy, possession, and greed. This character accomplishes a lot but I didn't find his motivations or methods very compelling, nor did I find him an interesting vessel for satire.

 

I also craved better use of the location. I kept wanting Saltburn (the estate) to become its own character or have a stronger presence but ultimately felt that it was underutilized. They could have told this story at any estate, mansion, or lavish property, so naming it Saltburn and placing so little emphasis on what makes this place idiosyncratic was odd. Even the homage to The Shining made me think they were moving in a certain direction that never materialized.

 

The other two aspects I found confounding was the lack of tension in the third act and the numerous one-note characters. Rosamund Pike gave the most dynamic performance in this film weaving ignorance, sorrow, confusion, and a plethora of other emotions together. Which isn't to say the surrounding cast wasn't great, they all were, but they all played more or less the same note throughout the entire film, Barry being a slight exception. I thought his performance would be a bit more layered, especially after how much nuance he brought to Banshees. He was still great, I think my expectations were just a touch too high. 

 

Enjoyed the film, but I think critics got it right with this one. A cut above similar psychological thrillers, but not as well constructed as genre defining films. 

You totally nailed it. I agree with every word. I had a fun time watching it but I couldn’t help feeling like there was so much that could’ve been done better, maybe with another writer helping out. There was the potential for a really great and interesting film here that I think just wasn’t fully captured.

 

Rosamund was sensational. Jacob is very charming and beautiful to look at but I didn’t think he was able to really sink his teeth into the role. Felix’s actions were… not that compelling? Which is a shame because in my opinion Jacob is the only young heartthrob actor today with any sense of mystery to him who can really pull off a darker role in a way the Timothees and Toms can’t.

 

 

When the sister said Oliver was “just another one of Felix’s toys” I was like… ok but show us that? He just kissed him on the forehead and invited him to stay the summer. They hardly even talked once they arrived at Saltburn. There was so much more Felix could have done — like teasing him sexually, emotionally manipulating him etc — that would have made Oliver’s obsession make more sense. I was laughing at the graveyard f**king scene because it just felt like it was for shock value and stupid when that could have been an interesting conclusion to their arc had their dynamic been more fleshed out. And Oliver just killing the whole family and getting the estate would have felt like a satisfying payoff if there were real stakes to the situation, it was absurdly easy and just kind of hollow.

 

 

I saw it at Alamo Drafthouse and before the film it played an interview with Emerald talking about the films that inspired it, I found it very revealing when she mentioned Parasite and Cruel Intentions. I feel like it tried to do things both of those movies did but fumbled the landing in both aspects. I almost never say this because I’m tired of limited series that feel overly long, but I think Saltburn could have fleshed out what it was trying to do better in a four or five episode HBO miniseries, maybe with a couple other characters in the mix.

Edited December 17, 2023 by Beyonnaise

[1DES]

Just watched this. The bath tub scene that is talked more is more tamed than that cemetery scene. 

[Sexyzinger]

On 12/10/2023 at 10:45 PM, Likingstars said:

Visually stunning, the final scene is absolutely gorgeous I feel like its a homage to another movie but i cannot recall which one

The final scene reminded me of this.

 

 

[flower moon]

visually this was so good. agree with a poster above about how this could been so much better as a mini series. there was just a bit of depth lacking to make some of the events that took place in the last third have any real impact.

[Khal]

What was the thought process behind Carey Mulligan’s wig and makeup, I need an explanation! 

[The Witch]

Watching this rn 

 

Jacob Elordi, the MAN that you are 

 

@Reverse Warholian @Leptine

[Reverse Warholian]

3 hours ago, The Witch said:

Watching this rn 

 

Jacob Elordi, the MAN that you are 

 

@Reverse Warholian @Leptine

The bathtub and graveyard scenes 

[The Witch]

10 minutes ago, Reverse Warholian said:

The bathtub and graveyard scenes 

I-   the graveyard scene was too much  

Now, the bathtub scene, i understand him 

It was excellent tbh 

 

Spoiler

We deserved a jacob-barry sex scene 

@Leptine

[Joyride]

is this gonna be on streaming?

[livelikemusic]

5 minutes ago, Joyride said:

is this gonna be on streaming?

It is as of this morning. Prime Video.

[Joyride]

1 minute ago, livelikemusic said:

It is as of this morning. Prime Video.

oop! let me get that free triala or rental.

[Pendulum]

Watching this right now and the bathtub scene was literally so uneventful? Where's the shock everybody was talking about? I would do the same for Jacob Elordi.

Toilet even, after he does the number two.

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by Pendulum

[Pendulum]

girl what the **** 

[Leptine]

6 hours ago, The Witch said:

Watching this rn 

 

Jacob Elordi, the MAN that you are 

 

@Reverse Warholian @Leptine

I'm going to watch it asap

[Chemist]

What a ****** weird movie  it was so no what i was expecting lmao.

 

I agree with the users here that there was no real character development, like why was Oliver acting like a ******* maniac? Nice plot twists but it never reached its potential. Great performances by barry and jacob though

[Jack!]

Seeing that final scene in HD today was such a lovely early Christmas present. Thank you Emerald.  

[Chemist]

2 hours ago, Pendulum said:

Watching this right now and the bathtub scene was literally so uneventful? Where's the shock everybody was talking about? I would do the same for Jacob Elordi.

Toilet even, after he does the number two.

 

the menstruation scene was way worse. I almost have to throw up

[James_Dean]