Ari Aster: A Rising Talent in Cinema
Ari Aster stands out as one of the unique auteurs in contemporary filmmaking, earning admiration from critics, audiences, and fellow filmmakers alike. Best known for writing and directing the A24 horror films Hereditary and Midsommar, Aster’s feature debut was a deeply unsettling family drama steeped in supernatural horror, grossing over $87 million at the box office and becoming A24’s highest-grossing title at that time.
After his breakout success, Aster returned with Midsommar (2019), a folk horror film depicting a group of college students who travel to Sweden for a festival that occurs once every 90 years, only to find themselves ensnared by a cult steeped in pagan practices. The film garnered positive reviews, once again enchanting audiences with Aster’s distinctive fusion of emotional trauma and atmospheric dread.
Aster ventured into new territory with Beau Is Afraid (2023), an exploration of an anxiety-ridden man’s surreal journey to visit his mother. Though the film received a generally positive reception, reactions were more mixed compared to his earlier works, and Beau Is Afraid struggled at the box office. Now, Aster’s next project may be his most polarizing yet, but it has garnered praise from one of the greatest filmmakers alive.
Martin Scorsese Praises Ari Aster’s Eddington
In a recent profile by The New York Times, Martin Scorsese offered high praise for Aster’s upcoming film, Eddington. This new work, blending elements of neo-Western, satire, and dark comedy, follows the conflict between a sheriff played by Joaquin Phoenix and a mayor portrayed by Pedro Pascal in the fictional small town of Eddington, New Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As tensions flared, neighbors turned against one another.
Alongside Phoenix and Pascal, Eddington boasts a star-studded cast that includes Luke Grimes from Yellowstone, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Oscar nominee Austin Butler from Elvis, and two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone known for La La Land and Poor Things in supporting roles.
Scorsese’s accolades for Eddington highlight its deep exploration of the emotional violence ingrained in its narrative. He articulates that the film “dives right into the side of American life that many people can’t bear to look at or even acknowledge — no one wants to listen to anyone else, which is frightening.”
While Eddington‘s critics have noted its jarring tonal shifts and other perceived flaws, Scorsese perceives something far more significant. He interprets the film’s tonal fluidity as a deliberate reflection of the social and emotional tumult that lies beneath the surface of American life. Where others see dissonance, Scorsese perceives resonance; Eddington acts as a mirror to the fracturing of community and communication in a world overshadowed by a pandemic.
His praise carries immense weight, not only because of Scorsese’s illustrious legacy but also due to his profound dedication to the art of cinema itself. It holds remarkable significance when a film earns such acclaim from a luminary who not only watches films but comprehends their intricate depths. Scorsese’s commendation of Eddington as a courageous confrontation of uncomfortable truths sets it apart in a cultural landscape often dominated by safer storytelling.
Source: The New York Times