Beau Is Afraid, Ari Aster’s latest film, is the true definition of a weird movie. It’s Joaquin Phoenix‘s performance that makes it something special, too.
Ari Aster movies are always a little bit strange, so it should come as no surprise that his latest, Beau Is Afraid, is that as well. The thing about this movie though, is that it isn’t just a little strange, it is completely bonkers, twisted, and bizarre. It is just about three hours in length and details the life of Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) pretty much from birth to death, although it mostly sticks to his older age.
There is a LOT going on in this film. And I mean a lot. It is very convoluted, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. There are essentially three stages to it, with each act detailing another moment in his later life. Probably the biggest issue with Beau Is Afraid is that it is hard to distinguish what is real, and what is a figment of Beau’s imagination, if anything.
The things that are happening should not be real, and yet it is never revealed to the audience one way or another. But if you don’t mind an anticlimactic end that will have you wondering what you just watched, I still recommend watching it if A24 and Ari Aster films are your jam.
Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely phenomenal in Beau Is Afraid. If nothing else, you should check this movie out for his performance. From the very first moment we see him on screen, it is clear that he is just going through the motions. As the movie goes on, viewers will be wishing they could reach through the screen and give him a hug. But by the third act, things go completely off the rails and you won’t know what to think anymore. About him and about the world around him.
Beau has lived his life scared, hence the name of the film, but once he learns some terrible news he must power through his fears. And trust me when I tell you that life throws a lot of them at him. So many, that are so ridiculous, it feels as if this cannot be what is truly happening to him. These events feel like a massive exaggeration as they get more and more bizarre as the story unfolds.
It is hard to talk about what fails in this movie without giving spoilers, but pretty much the entire third act, which tries to pull everything together, only makes things more outrageous and confusing. Overall there are fantastic messages about selfishness, parental relationships, and not being afraid of life, but at times there is too much weird overshadowing it.
The third act itself jumps the shark, on more than one occasion, taking what could have been a great film for many audiences and making it one that will turn some people off to it. In my opinion, Beau Is Afraid is worth checking out, but I like bizarre and twisted movies, so take that as you will.
There is a dark humor mixed in that will have most people laughing nervously because they honestly don’t know what to expect next. But there are also some truly hilarious moments, as well. Phoenix gives a performance that rivals that of his in Joker, which says a lot. It is clear he thrust everything he has into this one, and it pays off.
Overall Thoughts
Fans of Joaquin Phoenix will love seeing every side of him in Beau Is Afraid (in more ways than one). He very clearly dove into this role headfirst and never came up for air. While he is incredible, as is the supporting cast around him, it is the story itself that falters. It tries to do far too much over a very long period of time. This movie never warrants being three hours long, even though cutting any of the scenes would have just made it more confusing.
We could all learn something from Beau, the problem is there is a very small select audience for this movie. Hereditary has its issues, but was still rather enjoyable, and Midsommar completely raised the bar. Beau Is Afraid sits somewhere in the middle, as it never fully satisfies viewers. The potential to be one of the best films of the year was here, but is ultimately lost in everything that Aster tried to pull off. Still, Phoenix delivers one of the best performances of the year, so something about this movie works. Unfortunately, it won’t be for everyone.
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: Suzume Review: A Magical and Emotional Journey
About Beau Is Afraid
A paranoid man embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother in this bold and ingeniously depraved new film from writer-director Ari Aster.
Beau Is Afraid hits theaters on April 14th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.