Beau is Afraid (2023)

Beau is Afraid is a look into a paranoid anxiety-ridden adult child staring Joaquin Phoenix.

Written and directed by Ari Aster, the man known for Hereditary, and Midsommar. I thought Hereditary was great and Midsommar could have used some producer input. This movie has the George Lucas effect, where Aster is left to do what he wants because of the fame that his name brings. The beginning of the movie is great, but the middle gets a little weird for an already weird movie. Then by the end, I'm just over it and ready for the climax.

Joaquin Phoenix is great in this film. I mean I totally lose him in this role. Beau could have been played by a lot of actors and I think Phoenix was lucky to be put here as it allows him to shine but we already have a movie where he shines as a mentally unstable person in The Joker. I think his best work is Gladiator and I really enjoyed Signs.

There is a supporting cast but they really are just that, support. Amy Ryan from The Office as Holly Flax has a small but memorable role with Nathan Lane. I normally don't enjoy Lane's movies as he plays the same character in each of them and here again, he's playing Max from The Producers.

Beau is Afraid starts off great and dies in pretending to be deep and hitting ourselves over the head with how unreal everything is for someone who is constantly afraid to the point his mind makes up stuff. Result: B- it's a little better than Midsommer but less than Hereditary.

Comments

K-Pop: Demon Hunters (2025)

K-Pop: Demon Hunters follows a girl group who balance battling demons by night with pop stardom by day, but the concept ends up more exhausting than exciting. Directed by first-time director Maggie Kang , best known for being in the art department for The Lego Ninjago Movie , the film leans hard into a hyper-stylized, neon-soaked aesthetic but forgets to bring anything fresh. The animation is polished, but the visual style feels borrowed from better films. The pacing drags even during the action scenes. It is more concerned with selling attitude than building stakes. Arden Cho , known for Teen Wolf and Partner Track , voices the group’s leader and brings charisma to the role, but the script doesn't give her much to work with. She has strong delivery and presence, but the character is more wish-fulfillment than fully realized. May Gong , in her first major role, fits the energy of the film and brings a youthful vibe. She holds her own in the group dynamic but is often sid...

M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

M3GAN 2.0 continues the story of the world’s most dangerously sassy AI doll, picking up after the first film's events with a new host, new threats, and a few more upgrades. Directed by Gerard Johnstone , returning from the original M3GAN , the film keeps the same sleek look and dark humor, but the energy isn’t quite the same. The scares are toned down, the satire feels more obvious, and the plot plays it safer this time. It’s still well paced and visually sharp, just not as punchy or fresh as before. Violet McGraw , reprising her role from the first film, shows a bit more range this time. She handles the trauma beats well and sells the emotional moments, even when the script leans a bit cheesy. She’s growing as an actress, and it shows. Allison Williams , best known for Get Out and Girls , returns and feels more like a supporting character this time. She’s fine, just not given much to do besides react to the new version of M3GAN and deliver exposition. Still, she’s a steady pr...

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic World: Rebirth attempts to relaunch the franchise with a fresh cast and setting, but it ends up feeling like a commercial in search of a plot. Directed by Gareth Edwards , known for Rogue One and Godzilla , the film is filled with baffling creative choices. There’s product placement in almost every scene, and most of the action sequences are over-edited and underwhelming. Edwards seems more interested in drone shots and branding than tension or logic. Written by David Koepp , who once gave us Jurassic Park and Mission: Impossible , the script is shockingly clumsy. The dialogue is flat, the pacing is off, and the characters regularly make decisions that would embarrass even the worst horror movie victims. It’s hard to believe the same writer once helped build this universe. The film is basically Aliens but with dinosaurs. Scarlett Johansson , known for Marriage Story and Black Widow , stars but seems like she’s checked out. Her performance lacks the spark she once h...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog