For the first two thirds, "Triangle of Sadness" is a really strong, funny, but also bitter satire. Director Ruben Östlund targets the world of the rich and beautiful and relies heavily on black humor. The cast is strong across the board. In particular, the long discussions between the main characters Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (the recently deceased Charlbi Dean) were always fascinating. The film is by no means subtle. Bodily fluids play a significant role in a crucial sequence.
What I didn't like was the film's final third, which dragged on far too long. The film is at least 20 minutes too long. The finale was neither surprising nor particularly exciting. Östlund most likely wanted to demonstrate what happens when the previously established hierarchy is turned upside down. That was unnecessary, especially at that length. Overall, I would still give the movie a clear recommendation.
Movies that you can smell
This film is not the bloated body of a drowned rich person washed up on the beach. This movie is not the coroner cutting into the cold, colorless corpse of a wealthy man now destitute in death. Rather, Triangle of Sadness is the sharp scalpel mocking the polished skin it slices into as it peels away wealth of blubber to expose the absurdity that lies rotting beneath.
This satire of the affluent may not be the most accessible or the most subtle takedown of the rich (oligarchs and influencers included), but it is far and away the most skillful and entertaining.
I haven't seen all of the films competing at Cannes in 2022, but I don't need to for me to say this is clearly the winner. (And for those who will complain about the vulgarity of the dinner scene, let me just say, "Exactly!")
Seen this movie a long time ago and it's funny in a goofy way. It sources the majority of its content from Not Another Teen Movie.
