Film: Saltburn

Yesterday, I flew back to Ireland again, for the weekend.. the flight was, as ever, delayed, and I had time for a glass of wine at the bar at the gate! Much nicer than in the cattle market that is the departure lounge..

Today, went to see Saltburn, the film that's on everyone's lips. Barry Keoghan plays a kind of ingenue in Oxford, who makes a posh friend, who brings him home for the summer to Saltburn, the family estate. Richard E. Grant and Rosamund Pike play the posh guy's parents. Carey Mulligan plays a character credited as "Poor Dear Pamela"! Sounded suitably upper-class vicious, on the part of someone.. Showing at a decent time, happily, in the Omniplex, which is so handy for shopping.

Ah me, what a busy life.. I waited to do something for my mother before I left - then traffic in Limerick was a nightmare! followed by traffic in the Crescent, where the cinema is. Someone in Tesco later, when I was shopping, remarked to a customer that this weekend is very busy - I was cursing it, of course. Found one of the few spaces in the cinema car park and made a dash for it - there was no-one checking tickets, so I just went straight in. As I got in, Barry Keoghan was giving a monologue to camera - I missed most of that, but hopefully nothing significant; I was in my seat by the time the title flashed up.

Funnily enough, when I say everyone is talking about this - not only was there a review of it on the radio as I went in, there was one as I drove back as well! The outgoing review said it was a "cinematic masterpiece" - and at that moment, I had to agree with her! The film starts with Barry Keoghan arriving at Oxford, and Zadok the Priest is playing, for goodness' sake - emphasising that this is the lad's big triumph, having secured a place here! Sadly, of course, things don't work out so well for him - he doesn't fit in, it's very snobbish, and with him being a scholarship student, hardly anyone wants to know him. Not even his tutor! Now, I've never studied here - but I used to know someone like that, who came from the north of England to study there, and had exactly that experience, by his account. So far, so realistic.

Well, as things happen, he does a good turn for this posh guy, and - as I say - gets invited to Saltburn for the summer. Which occupies most of the remainder of the film. And - it is gorgeous. The whole thing is beautifully shot - the location is made to appear epic. The acting throughout is superb - lots of praise for Barry Keoghan on Irish radio, as you'd expect - but I must agree with the reviewer on the return journey, who said that, good as Barry Keoghan is, his pick would be Rosamund Pike. Indeed, she alternates between icy coolness - which you'd expect, as lady of the manor - and brilliant comic timing; as he said, you don't want to laugh, but you do. Richard E. Grant is your typical, batty English aristocrat, Carey Mulligan is unrecognisable in a massive red wig, as the cousin who suffers from addiction, and is clinging onto this estate for security.

It's a brilliant psychological study, as Barry Keoghan, a stranger injected into this rarefied society, drives a coach and horses through it as he first learns the rules, then adapts them to his needs. Now, the film does change tack - quite dramatically - in the second half, which was not to the taste of the second reviewer - but I do think that reviewer is possibly quite conservative. Certainly, if it had continued as it originally promised to do, it would have been a more conventional film - which I think he'd have preferred. Me, I loved the massive twist, and thought it was pulled off quite well. Ultimately, I adored this film - which looks beautiful, is clever, and oh, so dark. Definitely one for your list.. I found it utterly intoxicating.

On Monday, thinking film as well - and what's coming up is Anatomy of a Fall. The trailer for this looks really good - a man's body is found in the snow under his family's ski chalet. His wife comes under suspicion, as they try to decide whether he fell.. or was pushed. And so we get into the complications of their marriage.. Showing at a few times in the Curzon Bloomsbury - this'll be my last free ticket. Not selling out, so I haven't booked yet. We'll see what suits - remembering the last time I went to a Curzon, and missed my showing!

On Tuesday, London International Meetup advertised a trip to see Thank You for the Music!, an ABBA tribute act, at the Adelphi. But then I saw cheaper tickets on CT, so booked there instead (possibly where he got tickets as well).. it'll be funny if we end up sitting together. But then, I think the only person going in that group that I know is the organiser, and last time we met, he didn't remember me.. Not a group I join often.

On Wednesday, Scottish in London are off to a trilogy of Scottish plays at the Finborough, called Knocking on the Wall. Well, I'm not Scottish, so not joining them - but I've booked my own ticket.

On Thursday, London Social Detours is off to a talk about Chanel, at the V&A - and so am I, still being unemployed.

On Friday, back with the Crick Crack Club for storytelling at Rich Mix - this one is The Spanking Goddess, with the inimitable Clare Murphy.

Next Saturday, at The London Horror Film Group's Christmas Social - again, at The Angel on St. Giles High Street. Assuming Ivan can't make that date for a pre-Christmas social - I know another can't, but Ivan can't make the date he can! Herding cats I am again, for Christmas..

And on the 26th, back with Buddies on a Budget (BoB) in London for more Christmas lights - this time, it's a full lights walk, and she's charging, sensibly. A joint event with her London Herstory Walks group.