Film Journal 2023: Saltburn
Directed by Emerald Fennell
I could not get on this films wave length, and the end result was a viewing experience that felt more grating than enjoyable or even satisfying. I’m tempted to write that off as simply not my thing, but even still I’m having a difficult time understanding precisely where the draw for this story would come from.
Certainly the performances are good, but the lead is so deeply unlikable that the necessary transformation needed to make this two and half hour exercise in hedonism work is all but absent. Tonally speaking, most of the film stays far too muted and incoherent, and when the highly charged finale finally arrives it feels disconnected and even a bit baffling. I suppose there is a bit of shock and awe that, if it’s your cup of tea could be the hook, but I’m not sure the sexually charged energy of it has anywhere to go either but further and deeper into it’s own assumed sense of artistic vision.
It’s rare that I begrudge a viewing experience to this degree, but in this case I legitimately could not wait for it to be over.
Now I need something to cleanse my palate. Maybe my Wish will be granted.
The Stories of my Life 