THE PREMISE:

"During the Spanish Flu of 1918, a mischievous cook leads a revolt against his wealthy employer." 

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

With the recent boom of social satires, it’s becoming more apparent they can walk quite a thin line between clever and funny, or just downright annoying and indulgent. Though the high bar to beat is still Parasite, Coup! manages to be a funny, albeit obvious satire with incredible highlight performances from the main two leads. Billy Magnussen plays Jay Horton, a journalist in 1918 Pennsylvania covering a recent outbreak of the Spanish Flu in his city. Just in time for the hire of his new cook, Peter Sarsgaard’s Floyd Monk, the Horton family and their mansion staff lock into quarantine where Monk simmers up tensions among the workers and Horton. 

Magnussen’s Horton offers perhaps his most favorable performance since Game Night. Magnussen portrays a journalist attempting to break into the political realm yet failing to acknowledge his privilege in making up lies, in which he says he’s among the underprivileged. The other side of the coin is Sarsgaard’s cowboy-like chef, Monk who is just a riot; a character hell-bent on making Horton’s life a living hell. The film evolving into a battle of wits within the satire, between a man and his cook that in times may be a bit simple and one note, but it still manages to be a hilarious and gripping story.  

Coup! may appear shallow and monotonous, yet covertly exudes confidence and sophistication. I wish these images were more strikingly obvious. At face value the most striking attribute would technically be the set design of the mansion and the costumes distinguishing Horton’s family and the staff that works for them. Though, there is a desire for the filmmaking to take that extra leap further in making some more daring choices stylistically. Still, it’s a visually attractive film, with excellently put together and satisfying sequences - maybe even some of the best this year.