Joaquin Phoenix’s Beau Is Afraid Is Being Called An Endurance Test
Critics are saying Joaquin Phoenix's new film Beau is Afraid seems designed to put audiences through a struggle.
Sometimes a film comes along that’s so weird and jarring, that we wonder if it’s a joke, or simply a form of high art that we don’t quite understand at the time of viewing. This kind of sentiment can be expressed in reference to Joaquin Phoenix’s new film, Beau is Afraid, which is nothing short of a fever dream that’s seemingly designed to push the limits of the cast, audience, and filmmaking entirely, according to Telegraph. Beau is Afraid is the third feature film written by Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), and it’s been described as an endurance test for everybody involved (including the audience) as Aster takes us on a wild ride through this surrealist black comedy horror film.
Arthouse filmmaking is known to push boundaries, and Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Beau in Beau is Afraid will go down in history as a film to be reckoned with that will truly test its viewers. The film centers around Beau Wasserman, a man who reluctantly takes a trip to his hometown to attend his overbearing mother’s funeral. As Wasserman goes on a traumatic foray from his hellish urban apartment surrounded by questionable characters to suburbia, he runs into indescribable creatures who only make the journey more disjointed and loopy.
But being disjointed and loopy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad film, just not something that we are necessarily ready for. Though Beau is Afraid is loaded with surrealist imagery, stop-motion animation transitions, and graphic sequences, it’s currently boasting a 71 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Joaquin Phoenix was fully committed to the role, and his dedication to the project is apparent.
Joaquin Phoenix, who’s known to get lost in his roles in the form of Method acting, and committing to his parts no matter how bizarre, truly delivered. He was so committed to his role in Beau is Afraid, that he even lost consciousness while taping one of the scenes that involved him jumping through a glass door due to the intensity of the stunt. But don’t worry, he lived to see another day, and hopefully for the Joker star, he had an easier time watching the film than he did acting in it.
In the case of Ari Aster, who saw a tremendous amount of success with his films Hereditary and Midsommar, it’s safe to say that he finally had the confidence and creative freedom to pull no stops with Joaquin Phoenix when developing Beau is Afraid. The film blurs the line between reality, perception of reality, horror, and comedy. It’s not often you see a man running from machine gun fire before getting hit by a car and walking down a yellow brick road reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, in a way that’s both chaotic and peaceful.
The film also boasts an all-star cast aside from Joaquin Phoenix, including, but not limited to: Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane, and Armen Nahapetian, who bears a striking resemblance to Joaquin Phoenix in his teen years during the flashback scenes. With this kind of talent on board, bolstered by Ari Aster’s fearless creative vision, it’s safe to say that they all joined forces to fearlessly produce Beau is Afraid.
Beau is Afraid debuted on April Fool’s Day, which is fitting, but will see a full US release on April 21. Clocking in at a whopping 179 minutes, the film is not only an endurance test due to its content, but also its runtime. But it’s a wild ride for Joaquin Phoenix’s Beau and an odd trip through the human psyche that we’re willing to endure because a film like this simply comes but once in a lifetime.
