Cinematic Point Of View

I watched Eddington yesterday. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. It left me feeling horrible the rest of the day, in a good way. I loved it. I couldn’t stop thinking about all of these flawed, damaged characters. Their struggles to hold on to sanity during terrible times. Some movies really leave a mark.

Eddington felt like recovering memories from the 2 years of Covid lockdown. All the terrible things the country went through. The way people treated each other and, especially, themselves. The rise of social media manipulation. The exposure to all the pain. The confusion and disruption. It’s all perfectly portrayed at a micro level in a small, New Mexico town.

Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant as always. He conveys a remarkable level of authenticity in Sheriff Joe Cross. Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, Matt Gomez Hidaka, Austin Butler and the entire cast fully embody their characters. One minute you’re rooting for them and the next you’re shaking head. Every one of them takes on a rollercoaster of emotions.

I might do a more in-depth review at some point, but not right now. It’s still simmering in my mind. I’m glad I got to see it in the theater. Even if this isn’t my favorite Ari Aster film, it might be his most impactful.

Aster doesn’t really offer any answers or point the finger at any one specific thing. There are lots of moving parts and lots of manipulation happening. It’s all up there. Politics. Marriage. Religion. Racism. Prejudice. Sexual Abuse. Money. Power. Corporations.

Social media and mobile phones are absolutely key motivating factors here. It’s just part of the problem though. Everyone in this film has a unique perspective ,and motivation, and they think they are doing the right thing, in one way or another.

I imagine everyone will have a different experience with Eddington. It’s a lot to unpack. There is a level of power that uses our online ideological battles to manipulate us and accomplish their goals. We don’t even have to go to sinister government levels with this truth. If you’re online, you are flooded with marketing all day, every day. Buy this. Believe that. We make it easy. We carry the window around with us.

People have always profited off of conflict, real or manufactured. Peace doesn’t pay as well, I guess. That’s the overall message I walked away with. It’ll leave you thinking about real world solutions for our problems.

Watching Eddington I felt transported and was fully invested in these people and their outcome. I think Ari Aster is a real auteur. His films always bring something challenging, interesting, and uncomfortable to the table, to say the least. He is the king of taboo subjects and just like life, his films aren’t neat and tidy.

Kinda like these thoughts.

What say you? Have you seen it yet? I’d love you hear your perspective.