Ari Aster‘s “Eddington” Tackles 2020’s Anxieties with Neo-Noir Western
Filmmaker Ari Aster, known for his unsettling explorations of anxiety in films like “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” is set to release his latest work, “Eddington.” The neo-noir Western, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a gun-toting, libertarian sheriff, directly confronts the societal anxieties of the spring and summer of 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests. The film also features a mysterious A.I. data center being constructed in the sheriff’s county.
Aster described the film as being about “a bunch of peopel who know that something’s wrong. They just-nobody can agree on what that thing is.” He expressed a personal desire for art that grapples with contemporary issues, even if it proves controversial. “Eddington” is described as unapologetically political, with satire that aims to critique both sides of the political spectrum.
“My concern,” Aster admitted, “is that I don’t know how much of a hunger people have anymore for anything controversial or challenging.”
“Eddington” is positioned as a departure from traditional summer movie fare, offering a more challenging and thought-provoking experience. The film’s themes are rooted in a period of meaningful social and political upheaval, making it a reflection of a specific, yet resonant, moment in recent history.
New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour, which features this interview with Ari Aster, are released every Tuesday and Friday.The show is a co-production of WNYC studios and The New Yorker.
