Eddington Review
Razor sharp and super funny, if a little long, Eddington is a conspiracy-riddled hot pot of fervent nightmare fuel.
In the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) decides to run for mayor against the incumbent, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). Right and left leaning respectively, the two’s divisive opinions on a range of issues - including the pandemic and Black Lives Matter - not only sparks a feud between the two competitors, but also divides the town of Eddington itself.
Ari Aster’s Eddington is an absolute ride of a film. From gruesome deaths and crazily topical moments, to laugh out loud jokes and enough conspiracy theories to fill the Nile, this is one movie that will have you wincing in chagrin at the memories from 2020 for all of us.
Joaquin Phoenix is an absolute standout as Sheriff Joe Cross. Completely convincing in the role, he’s a tour de force as always. Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and even Micheal Ward and Deirdre O’Connell all have their moments, but they aren’t as present in this expansive story as the marketing might have you believe. No, this is Phoenix’s film through and through - and it’s a blessing, because he is truly compelling every second he’s on the screen.
The film plays as a sort of dark, conspiracy laden humour piece. It doesn’t feel as horror-coded as Aster’s previous work, instead ridiculing both left and right leaning politic through the Pandemic-era in a way that will have you grimacing and laughing in equal measure.
There’s enough here to keep you sustained, but the edge-of-cringe vibes do start to wear after a little bit. In the final act, once the film starts to see some real action - in surprisingly funny, but also surprisingly engaging and brutal, final scenes - you really get engrossed. But the film could have lost 15-30 minutes and maintained a bit more of its momentum.
Ultimately, this is the sort of film that is tough to explain. For followers of US Politics, Aster fans who like his more Beau Is Afraid style work, or those who love a good Phoenix performance, this is a film that is undoubtedly going to appeal. But for those who don’t vibe with that modern commentary perspective, this film could be just as polarising as the subject matter is for its heroes.
