Overview

• Ari Aster's 'Eddington' premiered in competition at Cannes, marking his first entry at the prestigious festival.
• The film, set in May 2020, follows Joaquin Phoenix as an anti-mask sheriff entangled in personal and political conflicts in a small New Mexico town.
• While critics praise Phoenix's committed performance and Pascal's comedic turn as Mayor Ted Garcia, they fault the film's meandering pacing and thematic overload.
• Blending Western-noir, conspiracy satire, and social critique, 'Eddington' tackles societal issues like Covid-era polarization, racism, and flawed leadership.
• Despite moments of brilliance, reviewers describe the film as an ambitious yet flawed attempt to capture the chaos of modern American society.