Ari Aster's 'Eddington' Divides Critics at Cannes: A 'Messy' Western with Unlikable Characters?

CANNES, France – Film critic Tori B, reporting from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, has shared her initial impressions of Ari Aster's latest feature, 'Eddington.' The film, described as a contemporary Western, is set in a New Mexico town during May 2020 and stars Joaquin Phoenix as a local sheriff alongside Pedro Pascal as the town's mayor, whose characters reportedly clash. While commending Aster's audacious approach to the film's subject matter and tone, Tori B expressed reservations regarding its execution. She noted that the movie felt 'messy' and its characters 'unlikable,' leading to a viewing experience that was, at times, 'boring' due to its protracted pacing. Despite acknowledging that 'Eddington' eventually builds to a 'blood-spattered climax' characteristic of Aster's previous works, she emphasized the significant time it took to reach this point. The critic anticipates that 'Eddington' will prove to be a highly divisive film among audiences, potentially failing to meet the high expectations set by Aster's earlier successes like 'Hereditary' and 'Midsommar.'

Metro

one month ago

Eddington is one of 2025's 'wildest' movies - but it left me bored

It does not prove a return to form for its popular director.