Ahead of filming The Banshees of Inisherin, Barry Keoghan caught a flesh-eating disease that kills 20% of those that catch it. Barry Keoghan has been on a serious upswing over the past several years, truly kicking off his current run with a disturbing performance in Killing of a Sacred Deer and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk before … Read more
In “Saltburn,” that false stability can be seen in the very appearance of the family’s country home. With its strong oak interiors, its sturdy stone exteriors, and the vastness of its grounds, Saltburn is a monument to the stasis of Felix’s wealth. You would think Fennell would better connect the symbolism of the home—particularly through … Read more
Emerald Fennell’s sophomore directorial effort is a pitch black comedy and psychological thriller with a stellar lead performance from Barry Keoghan. PLOT: Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton, who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric … Read more
Emerald Fennell’s perverse dark comedy “Saltburn” stars Barry Keoghan as an aspirational young man named Oliver Quick, who befriends the charming and incredibly rich Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) at Oxford University. When Felix invites him to spend the summer at Saltburn, his family’s sprawling country estate, Oliver navigates–and manipulates–his way into the hearts of Felix’s … Read more
An update of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” set in the mid-aughts, “Saltburn” is deliciously, wickedly mean—seductive and often surreal—with lush production values and lacerating performances. As writer and director, Fennell clearly intends to amuse and provoke, and she achieves both of those goals for a long time. But even more so than in “Promising Young Woman,” … Read more
There’s also a fearlessness to Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” but it’s in pursuit of a hollow, misguided venture. With elements of Sofia Coppola and Patricia Highsmith, the latest from the Oscar-winning director of “Promising Young Woman” is a gorgeous misfire, a film that looks stunning but ultimately has nothing to say. It’s a movie that twists … Read more