11/12 ForReel Score | 4.5/5 Stars

According to Paula, the Chief Stew of a luxury yacht experience played by Vicki Berlin, the two most important parts of a guest’s stay is the very first hour and the very last day. She spends their prep meeting ahead of guests arriving motivating the team to keep positive attitudes, maintain an unconditional "yes'' mentality, and remember that a financial reward could be a lucrative payout by the end. Though this segment is only one small piece of the film Triangle of Sadness, Paula is on to something with her instructions, because from the first minute of the film to the last scene, Triangle of Sadness is - to say the least - outrageously entertaining, and the payoff in the end is worthwhile for those willing to lend a figurative "yes" mentality to this movie.

The film’s main focus is on Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) and is broken into three acts - one of many trinity occurrences. Each act portrays increasingly bizarre segments of this couple’s tumultuous relationship while telling tangents and parallel narratives from other characters. Through the course of the film - with many absurd scenarios built in - we watch the elite succumb to not-so-elite circumstances.

Triangle of Sadness is a lengthy one; the 2 hour and 20 minute runtime can feel especially long with so many characters and storylines to juggle. But for those willing to indulge the film - enacting that figurative "yes" mentality I mentioned - the structure of the narrative is something to appreciate and perhaps even admire. Triangle of Sadness plays out as one continuous narrative, but simultaneously also plays as a three part anthology. That is, the story of Carl and Yaya continues in a linear fashion, but each act takes their ongoing story to new settings with a new set of conflicts, all in service of a socially and morally righteous thematic destination.

After all, the film packs a high volume of talking points into this 2 hour and 20 minute runtime. Not-so-subtle messages regarding privilege, class, social norms, power dynamics, and equality are strewn throughout the way these stories play out, making this movie one of the best comedies of the year. It's a film full of memorable comical moments that’ll stick with you. A moment in the third act where a new power dynamic is cleverly established is one that is executed well enough to elicit a wholly natural outburst of laughter and applause from the audience in my screening; it most certainly will linger as one of my favorite moments in a movie this year.

But the recent tragic loss of Charlbi Dean accentuates the “sad” component of the title Triangle of Sadness. Dean offers a stand-out performance as Yaya, and one can only imagine how limitless her career could have been. We are fortunate to have had the chance to witness her talent in a film like this.

It only helps that she is surrounded by a phenomenal cast. Other standouts include Dolly De Leon as Abigale, the character at the center of the scene with the new power dynamic I mentioned, who also serves as the driving force of the events of act three. And Harris Dickinson, playing Yaya’s counterpart Carl, also gives a noteworthy performance, portraying a character who tries to be assertive, but is inherently insecure and submissive. And then, there's Woody Harrelson being very Woody Harrelson: a drunk, belligerent, boisterous character who, as the captain of the luxury liner in act two, facilitates the outright chaotic events that occur.

The characters, the settings, the conflicts, the not-so-subtle thematic messaging makes Triangle of Sadness a lot to take in. But there is also a lot to enjoy and appreciate about the film. It may not be for everyone, but I for one certainly found the film thoroughly worthwhile; Triangle of Sadness is a premium experience where classist themes and riotous drama are served on a silver platter.

TIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "Triangle Of Sadness"; An Outrageous Elitist Reckoning