Pop Commentary

The new A24 movie “Eddington” was well made and the acting was great, but I just don’t think I was ready to be thrown back into the issues of 2020 again. A lot of us watch movies to escape from the awfulness of the world, but this one forces you to revisit many of the complex topics from the pandemic, including masking debates, conspiracy theories, and Black Lives Matter protests.

That’s the backdrop for this film that’s about a feud between a sheriff and a mayor that pits neighbor against neighbor in a small town in New Mexico.

It’s kind of giving a similar tension and paranoia as other Ari Aster films like “Midsommar” and “Herditary,” but with some western flare and satirical humor.

My favorite part of “Eddington” was the second half of the film when things truly go off the rails and the plot starts to get interesting. I also thought the performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone made the movie watchable.

My least favorite thing about “Eddington” was that it put a magnifying glass up against this crazy time in our country, but then didn’t offer any wisdom or real moral of the story. You’re just left with a vision of hopelessness.

In the end, this movie just felt like the last thing we need right now. It somehow felt both too late and too soon to be revisiting these themes.

You might enjoy “Eddington” if you’re into Ari Aster films or really like satirical humor, but I feel like a majority of people won’t like it.

If you’ve seen “Eddington,” let me know your thoughts in the comments and follow Pop Commentary so we can kiki about movies and TV together!