Studio: Imperative Entertainment/ Plattform Produktion
Release Date: 4/25/2023
Rating: R
Film Grade: C+
The Story: The film is told in three distinct acts, starting with a view of the fashion modeling world, as we peek in on a rocky relationship between Carl and Yaya as they find their way through life. The second act takes place onboard a luxury yacht, where the film expands the cast to include the richest of the rich, whose every whim is met, along with the eager and attentive staff. An unfortunate event leads directly to the third act, where everything is turned on its head.
My Take: This film was the 2022 Palme d'Or winner at last year’s Cannes festival and later nominated for an Oscar, so my expectations were high. Writer/director Ruben Östlund has strung together a farcical commentary on society, power, and the roles people fill under different circumstances. It starts almost as a documentary but quickly changes into a more conventional drama, peppered with dark humor and societal observations.
Harris Dickinson (Chase from Where the Crawdads Sing) and Charlbi Dean play the (purposefully) vacuous models. Woody Harrelson is the most recognizable name in the cast, playing the captain of the yacht exactly in the way you would expect him to. Zlatko Buric has the most fun in this movie, exuberantly throwing himself into the role, and holding his own in scenes with Harrelson. It does look like everyone relished their role in this movie.
The plot itself is meandering, plodding, and disjointed. Overly-long at 147 minutes, it has the feel of a writer/director that just couldn’t let go of some of the bloated parts of the story. There is an extended gross-out scene that could have easily been cut to a fraction of what we see on screen, while still getting the point across.
There are things to like about it. I’m quick to be turned off by films that hammer home a simplistic theme at the cost of the story, and there are far too many examples of that these days. This movie does a good job of bringing up issues, presenting both sides, thereby giving the audience something to think about and examine their own ideas instead of telling them what to think. That’s a big difference, and the film succeeds in that respect.
Video: This is a great looking Blu-ray, as one would expect with a Criterion release. Colors pop when needed, sets have a warm glow to them, ocean scenes feel authentic, and there are some gourmet food shots during the dining room scene that present the dishes in all their glory.
Audio: This was a bit of a shocker. Even though the theatrical release had an Atmos mix, we only get a 5.1 DTS-HD MA release on disc (do better, Criterion), but it’s still a really good mix. The sound team did an excellent job with background sounds, with some of the elements taking on a character of their own. In a way, I’m reminded of the sound work that David Lynch does with his films, where even mundane sounds are a vital part of the work. The music ranges from classical to modern, and my subs saw some good action in a few scenes. This was a really good soundtrack for this kind of movie.
Special Features: • An interview with Ruben Östlund and filmmaker and actor Johan Jonason
• Two new programs: one about the film’s special effects and one about a challenging day on set
• Trailer
Final Verdict: My wife summed this up perfectly when we watched this by saying that the movie was all over the place. The overall pacing is off, and the plot just kind of meanders. Östlund has things to say, he just needed a more compelling and tighter script to use as a vehicle.
While there are some amusing and interesting moments, there aren’t enough of them to sustain the long runtime, and one wishes that it would just move on to the next scene.
It’s a mild recommendation as a rental for those looking for something different from normal commercial films. Art film fans may find themselves entertained and satisfied, and I can see some people going back to it and finding even more substance with repeated viewings, but it’s not something I’d want to revisit.
Fun Quote: “Can you relax your triangle of sadness?”
My Review System:JVC DLA-RS420 Reference Series D-Ila Projector with 4K eShift4
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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