ODD MOVIES: “Eddington.” / “The Lighthouse.” / “Swiss Army Man.”

“Eddington” (2025, HBO Max) neo-Western thriller film written and directed by Ari Aster. Set in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, the film examines the political and social turmoil caused by the contested mayoral election. Stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal. 



       This is an Ari Aster shenanigan and an A24 flick so you know what you’ll get. “Eddington” though isn’t along the shock line of his “Midsommar” (2019) or the weirdness of “Beau Is Afraid,” but still off the grid. Hey, this movie grossed $13.1 million worldwide, not so bad. 

       This movie tackled a number of inter-related issues but, as expected, the end game is typical Aster. I am not complaining. Joaquin Phoenix is, as expected, the kind of crazy that could enliven a crazy shit such as “Eddington.” 🎥💻📽


“The Lighthouse” (2019, HBO Max). Co-written with his brother Max, the grimly brilliant Robert Eggers directs this black comedy/psychological horror, starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as turmoiled 19th century lighthouse keepers stranded at a remote New England outpost by a violent storm. 



       The idea of The Lighthouse first emerged from Max's re-envisioning of Edgar Allan Poe's unfinished short story of the same name. Robert assisted the development when Max was unable to complete his adaptation, sourcing the plot from a nineteenth-century legend of an accident at a Welsh lighthouse. 

       This movie appeals to those who prefer visual mischief or artistic exclusivity, or whatever. In case your weekend watch means sheer entertainment with family or partner who already had enough of Social Media darkness, go somewhere else. Robert Eggers work isn't for the comfy couch personage.

       Featuring deeply-involved performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, the feeling I get is intimately exhilarating in a surreal way. Like watching a one-act play, alone. Yet I didn't really get the message of the entire macabre shenanigan though the trip captivated me. 🎥💻📽


“Swiss Army Man” (2016, Pluto TV) surrealist comedy-drama about a man, marooned on an island, is on the verge of hanging himself, but sees a corpse washed up on the beach. 


I am not saying that this movie, written and directed by this odd duo Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, is an awful movie. It isn’t. This is definitely weird right off the bat but the weirdness is handled pretty well by Paul Dano as Hank, the suicidal dude who sucked at this suicide thing,  and Daniel Radcliffe as Manny, the corpse kinda. Surreal, isn’t it? But still watchable nonsense. 🎥💻📽

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