Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Title: Triangle of Sadness

Year: 2022

Genre: Comedy |  Drama |

Runtime:  147 min

Director: Ruben Östlund

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean

7.4/10

In Ruben Östlund’s wickedly funny Palme d’Or winner, social hierarchy is turned upside down, revealing the tawdry relationship between power and beauty. Celebrity model couple, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) are invited on a luxury cruise for the uber-rich, helmed by an unhinged boat captain (Woody Harrelson). What first appeared instagrammable ends catastrophically, leaving the survivors stranded on a desert island and fighting for survival.                     

The offensive, provocateur Swedish film director Ruben Östlund returns yet again with Triangle of Sadness. A so-called comedy that feels polished, and unearned it’s glorifying and stage-centred filmmaking. How this disaster of a film earned so many Academy Awards is a conundrum for sure.

The character feels like plastic figures, moving with stilted dialogue and re-constructed performances. Woody Harrelson, the main man in this vomit cavalcade, has a limit of screentime. Harris Dickinson does what he can with the script but does not impress that much. Everyone feels like moving dolls in a school play. It’s a shame that there’s Swedish dialogue, distracting from the film’s overall predictable plot.

I can’t say that seeing a bunch of overused, privileged actors squirting liquid, solidifies it like vomiting. It’s supposed to be funny for some reason, but frankly, it’s just stupid and disgusting with all the people throwing up. An uncomfortable viewing that doesn’t take it easy. The mediocre performance and the dull script don’t save this feature film that doesn’t serve any purpose.

Tourist felt at least grounded and nuanced compared to this shit show.  But that is how Östlund is. He likes to offend people for whom they’re and what they do. And this film is not an exception to that rule. But it’s also showcasing how privileged swedes are, how duchebags every Swede actually compared to the rest. One thing that worth appreciated is the clean and sensible cinematography that’s crafted here. It’s predictable, plain with a few satirical moments of entertainment that stay alive after the initial viewing. The senseless effort is remarkable with its drama or comedy, making it even less memorable.