Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on its criticisms and observations about the film “Eddington“:
Overall Impression:
The reviewer finds “Eddington” to be a flawed and uneven film, despite its ambition and the director’s previous successes. While it attempts to tackle complex political and social issues, it ultimately falls short, feeling shallow, messy, and lacking in depth.Key Criticisms and Observations:
joe’s Character:
Motivation: Driven by jealousy of the mayor’s popularity and a perceived scandalous past with Louise.
Coen Brothers-esque: His self-destructive path, characterized by hasty campaign posters with errors and violent fantasies, is compared to the Coen Brothers’ style of “crazy Americans.”
“Clown”: He is consistently described as a clown, highlighting his buffoonery and lack of genuine threat.
Underdeveloped: Unlike the deeply flawed but relatable characters in Aster’s previous films, Joe is seen as “not richly developed or relatively.”
Critique of Anti-Masculine Movement: The film uses Joe as a “fracture point” to explore toxic masculinity and privilege, but this is presented as a “disturbing sketch.”
Sub-plots: Joe’s entanglement with online conspiracy theories and a protest organized by a “White Girl” (amélie Hefferle) are mentioned as sub-plots that are ofen on the verge of tears.
Political Commentary:
Unevenness: The film attempts to speak to both sides of the political divide but is criticized for not being “textured” enough.
Misreading the Audience: The reviewer believes Aster misreads his audience, as the film’s chaotic and gloomy climax is “shocking, guess not exchange.”
Satire: The film satirizes anti-masking, Pizzagate, and “Maga’s attitude,” but the reviewer feels it tries to do so without using “clear buzzwords.”
Mayor Garcia: Portrayed as a “gentle liberal politician lampon,” contrasting with Joe’s stern demeanor.
Ted: Described as determined and listening to Katy Perry, a “gentle quirky political advertisement ribbing.”
Lack of equal Worth: The reviewer suggests that the film’s portrayal of the two political sides might not be equally worthwhile, with one side’s foibles leading to tense moments, while the other could cause “death and disaster.”
Limited Insight: The film doesn’t offer deep or amazing insights into the political divide beyond its inherent danger. Neither side is highly likely to learn much new about themselves or their opponents.
Narrative and Tone:
cynical Dark Comedy: The film is described as a cynical dark comedy rather than the thriller its trailer suggests.
Lack of Depth: Despite being committed to aster’s vision, the film suffers from a “lack of depth.”
predictable Tropes: The reviewer points out that common tropes like a policeman’s thirst for control, a politician’s dark side, and a suppressed woman’s heartache are not surprising.
“Polished Guide” Treatment: These predictable discoveries are treated with a “polished guide” as if they were groundbreaking, leading to a film that feels “passionate, guess is ultimately shallow and messy.”
Hasty Campaign Posters: An example of Joe’s poor judgment and self-sabotage.
Violent Fantasy: Joe’s imagined violent fantasies are a key element of his character.
the reviewer believes “Eddington” is a film with good intentions and a director known for his previous successes, but it ultimately fails to deliver a nuanced or insightful exploration of its chosen themes. The characters, particularly Joe, are not fully realized, and the political commentary is seen as superficial and ultimately unrewarding.
