BEAU IS AFRAID (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Ari Aster Cinematography: Pawel Pogorzelski Editor: Lucian Johnston

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Richard Kind, Patti Lupone, Parker Posey, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zoe Lister Jones, Kylie Rogers, Denis Menochet, Hayley Squires, Bill Hader

Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odyssey back home.

This review isn’t a total explanation, as there is no such thing, but what at least as an audience member I came away with. 

The film and the director Ari Aster, Take a swing at the fences in subtle ways. In the same style as most of his previous films. Though here it is more in your have. Yet still shocking as it is taking place in surroundings you wouldn’t necessarily expect. 

Though the film does have a voice. It’s tough to determine if the audience speaks Its language fully. Though after a while it does become blunt with only a thin layer hiding the weapon. 

Though it feels like a film made more for the director to enjoy and decided to share with an audience. And becomes a Film That others believed in and a film that could only be made when one has the power to write their own check. Their big swing at a dream project almost. 

The first 40 minutes stay fascinating that it could be its own adventure. After that, it seems to become a little more maddening. As it moves along it stays unpredictable and becomes a road movie.

Whenever it gets to the next setup In this odyssey. It’s just as off the wall but feels more weird domestically than anything though it never quite feels as dangerous instead it just feels creepy.

As in the beginning, the character is on a journey physically unexpected just as he ends up on. emotionally. The tone becomes Unflinching, Surreal and ends up becoming the Ultimate guilt trip. While exploring Intimacy and lack of it. While being Terrorized by Anxiety and exaggeration. As All That he sees is danger.

No one can ever truly be trusted. Even those nice to him never feel comfortable exactly. So that he and the film stay obscure and unhinged. 

It explores how we all can be easily dismissive. Not to mention Generational trauma, Mental illness as a kind of entertainment.

The film becomes Episodically violent at times. That is A punishment or torture. That seems preferable to the emotional violence that the main character goes through. As well as supporting characters. 

It seems mundane and skewed but keeps raising the stakes and then when it seems to calm down it becomes random Again and manages to shock. So it keeps building though for some in the audience it might feel like it is either showing off or they get used to the wackiness and shock and it’s hard to reach a level within again as it seems par for the course. It might have its reasons to back it up, but for some, it might still make little to no sense. 

Can see why some might not like the film as it can be a chore or a challenge to sit through. Some might see it as brilliant others might actively hate it or some might appreciate it yet not think it was all that. This is one of those films where many will feel different and take it differently. Though it will keep them talking. 

As this is a film billed as a comedy that is easy to come back to and try to dismantle, explore and examine. 

Through his travels to his apartment and to the store across the street. Have some of the most creative action sequences on such a small scale.

SPOILER ALERT

How I saw it is that his Big balls represented pent-up animosity and feelings. Showing his father as a penis monster in the attic meaning that to his mother his Father was insignificant and just a dick. Him always being defensive to a degree is how Defense was the last shred of his self-esteem and self-respect. That his Mother's issues and has filled him with fear of the outside world. As he has this fear he constantly doesn’t 

Know what was real or not. Was it a fantasy of projection or was it as it was presented and experienced?

Some might say that the ending is Warped and that he did die during sex and everything after are fantasies or illusions of his dying mind. Kind of like people who have their theories about the ending of TAXI DRIVER.

Though it does in some weird way come off as a more disturbing version of DEFENDING YOUR LIFE mixed a bit with THE GAME. 

Grade: B-