Here’s my “Quick and Dirty Review” of “Triangle of Sadness.”
Nominated for Best Picture, there are so many things in this movie that I wanted to like but just could not. Self-sabotage isn’t a pretty thing to watch, but often, just when this film is about to make a point, the director chooses to HAMMER YOU OVER THE HEAD with his point instead of making it in a subtle fashion.
“Triangle” is not shy when trying to make a point. Hate rich people? Oh, you’re going to love this movies. Hate “influencers” and capitalists and people who take vacations on yachts? Do I have a movie for you!
The plot revolves around Carl, a male model, and his girlfriend, Yaya, an “influencer.” I would say it’s about their relationship and making it work, which is a point belabored at length in the first thirty minutes of the film, but I’m not so sure. At times, it just feels like they’re the pretty, easy to look at couple that lets the filmmaker set up the hijinks to come later. “Watch these pretty people—I’m going to put them through hell because they’re rich and white.”
Great, go for it. They go on a vacation on a yacht and things go badly. That’s all I’ll say about the plot, which is very thin and only serves as the barest skeleton for the real meat of this film - social commentary. Step right up, folks, and listen to these zingers!!! “Rich people bad.” “Communism good.” “Capitalism bad.” Fashion lines treat their customers with disdain.
There are things to like here but the film is not one of the top 10 films of the year. I liked the skewering of “influencers” and their endless narcissistic need for attention. At one point, a man takes a woman’s jewelry off—you’ll get it when you see it. And the flip at the end with Carl is a fun point to make, but it feels like it takes too long and it’s too on the nose. Somehow this movie has too little to say and takes too long saying it.
Also I would be remiss in not mentioning the death of the lead actress, Charlbi Dean, who tragically passed away before the film was released. She was excellent in her role and we have been robbed of an actress with a long career ahead of her. She will be missed.
It meanders and preaches and can’t seem to get to the point. And then, when it does, it subverts it in an interesting way that had me sit up and pay attention. Wait, what? Are they trying to say something in the end about power and how it corrupts everyone, even when a poor person happens to find themselves in an advantageous situation? I understand “rich people bad,” but it also feels like they’re saying “poor people bad,” too? Is that possible? You’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it. And, again, they have one of the endings that is left up to interpretation. It’s supposed to feel mysterious but just feels like a cheat. 4 out of 10, a real disappointment for me.
