Rating: 4.25/5

Writer-Director Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary) returns to cinemas with Eddington. Set in May 2020, Eddington entwines the coronavirus pandemic with political extremism, social activism, a cult, and violence. “Sheriff Joe Cross” (Joaquin Phoenix) goes head-to-head with “Mayor Ted Garcia” (Pedro Pascal) over mask mandates and the mayoral election, as his wife “Louise” (Emma Stone) navigates a psychological trauma and the extended stay of her mother, “Dawn” (Deidre O’Connell). Sold as a powder keg of neighbor versus neighbor, the result feels as chaotic as the early days of COVID-19 were.

Joaquin Phoenix is exceptional in his portrayal of a man undone by humanity’s faltering in the rapid rise of social isolationism, chronic streaming, blind hate, and conspiracies.  Logic and reason fail as “Joe Cross” contends with the obscure issues of mental health, social justice, divine power, and freedom. For Phoenix, his character’s instability physically manifests, and a frantic sense of paranoia rises with the loss of control. Chaos and panic consume his life and dearly beloved law and order like wildfire in a drought. Phoenix’s desperation is palpable, notably when “Louise” is involved.

Editor Lucian Johnston adeptly syncs the pacing to “Joe Cross’” fuse. “Cross” proudly wears the badge in this neo-Western and views himself as a good man, motivated by the right reasons. Yet he struggles through his own dying hope, which is tethered to the emotional minefield of “Louise.” At first, this confrontation of the psychological trauma has a sleepy, melancholic pacing, which intensifies following the introduction of influencer “Vernon Jefferson Peak” (Austin Butler) and his brand of false temptation. Like several of Aster’s previous films, the thrill builds to a rational climax and then pushes further, into a space that borders on the absurd.

In this sense, some might argue the first half of Eddington could be condensed – a decision that could imperil the overall statement of the movie, which I took to be a metaphor for the corrosion of society through corporate exploitation, corruption, echo chambers and disinformation, forced identities, and the loss of truth as people cling to their own realities. Eddington is a satirical film sure to be as divisive as COVID-19 or the rise of Artificial Intelligence – but it’s one you won’t forget.

Eddington is in theaters now, runs 2 hours and 28 minutes and is rated R for violence/gore, profanity, and nudity.

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