‘Eddington’ puts Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix on opposite sides of politics; read interviews
Watch the trailer for ‘Eddington’, a film by Ari Aster
Credit: Universal Pictures/Disclosure
Ari Aster He became known for two horror films: Hereditary (2018) e Midsommar: Evil Doesn’t Wait for Night (2019). But he changed his tune with the surrealist comedy Beau’s Afraid (2023) and even more with Eddingtona mix of modern western, paranoid thriller and dark comedy that hits Brazilian cinemas this Thursday, the 13th, after being shown in competition at the Cannes Festival in May.
In the film, Joaquin Phoenix is Sheriff Joe Cross, a conservative who is running for mayor to challenge the current incumbent, the progressive Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). Joe faces problems at home with his wife, Louise (Emma Stone), and above all, Dawn (Deirdre O’Connell), falling prey to conspiracy theories and gurus like Vernon Jefferson Peak (Austin Butler). The political dispute falls into a surreal spiral, from which the characters cannot escape.
The story takes place in the fictional city that gives the film its title, in the State of New Mexico, an area of confluence of the white, Latino and indigenous population – the pueblos Locals have their own leaders. We are in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, in the wake of the “Black Lives Matter” protests following the murder of George Floyd by police officers.
“The pandemic was interesting because we had our individual experiences in relation to a collective fact,” said Pascal in an interview with the participation of Estadãoin Cannes. “Even though there were different rules in each region, we were all living the same experience together and, strangely, as Ari tells in the film, it separated us in many ways. There are many stories of support and connection during this crisis, of communities created in little bubbles, but the information given was always terrifying, with a lack of leadership that caused moral wounds.”
Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal star in ‘Eddington’, new film by Ari Aster Photo: A24/Disclosure
The actor, born in Chile and raised in the United States, where his parents took refuge from the dictatorial regime of Augusto Pinochet, said the pandemic changed his perspective on everything. “I didn’t think it could happen to someone in their 40s.”
Facing covid
Eddington is one of the rare film productions that is not afraid to put the pandemic at the forefront, with visible masks and all. “I don’t know why there are few works about the pandemic. Maybe we’re not ready, everything is still very fresh in our minds. That’s why this film is so courageous,” said Pascal. “I don’t think Ari intended to do anything about now, but rather what he feels. And to be honest, what he’s feeling is what a lot of us are feeling too. It’s just that almost no one is willing to face that feeling head on.”
What Ari Aster puts in Eddington it is a state of confusion and chaos, in which the surreal and ridiculous can quickly transform into terrifying circumstances. It’s a bit like Joaquin Phoenix, who works with the director for the second time, after Beau’s Afraidfeel it too. “There is a poison that we sometimes cultivate in our lives and relationships that we let spread until something small becomes a catastrophe that we are not prepared for,” said the Oscar-winning actor for Joker (2019). In society, it’s the same thing. “Now we have the smartest people in the world building machines to take advantage of this. We are outnumbered, outgunned and surrounded. It feels like we are already falling off the cliff without taking any of this seriously. It’s terrifying.”
Joaquin Phoenix is a conservative sheriff in Ari Aster’s film ‘Eddington’ Photo: A24/Disclosure
Phoenix said he didn’t have a solution, but suggested there is something very deep and powerful about true communication. “What the algorithms and big tech companies are doing is trying to keep us apart. And so they will always win. There is no loss for them. I don’t know what our acts of rebellion might be, other than trying to reconnect with each other with courage and intention. Having conversations with people who you don’t necessarily agree with or who have opposing ideas to yours. Engage with them, because we are leading these separate lives, and it is affecting us and destroying us.”
‘I was once a fanatic’
Since Phoenix had already worked with the filmmaker, he knew what to expect. “Neither he nor I like to arrive on set with ready-made answers. Ari thinks everything through before filming, but leaves space for freedom on set.” He was impressed with the way his co-star arrived at the shoot, knowing his character well. “I felt very grounded,” Pascal explained. “Because I came from a lot of experiences where I had to wear a helmet, or carry a dummy, making films that are not like this one,” said the actor, referring to projects such as The Mandalorian (2019-2023) e Gladiator II (2024). “I have always been very influenced by films like Eddingtonwith human stories. But you always need a good dancing partner, no matter how cheesy it sounds.”
The filmmaker treats neither Joe nor Ted as a hero or villain, exposing their hypocrisies and weaknesses. Joe is a counterpoint to the classic image of the sheriff from Westerns who, through cinema, helped to build the American myth. “There are people who come in with their chests puffed out and look like they’re walking under a spotlight,” said Phoenix. “But most people navigate the world timidly. I’m that way, Ari, too. And I love characters like that.”
He compares himself to his character, saying that Joe is himself under different circumstances. “I’ve been fanatical about some of my thoughts and ideas. I’ve been a hypocrite, I’ve been afraid. Joe believes he’s a righteous man who’s doing the right thing, that he cares. And it’s true. Every time I’ve found myself judging or criticizing the character, I’ve stopped and thought: You’ve already done all these things in some way. Have empathy for him, try to find his human side and let that come out because he deserves his voice.”
Hi! I’m Renato Lopes, an electric vehicle enthusiast and the creator of this blog dedicated to the future of clean, smart, and sustainable mobility. My mission is to share accurate information, honest reviews, and practical tips about electric cars—from new EV releases and battery innovations to charging solutions and green driving habits. Whether you’re an EV owner, a curious reader, or someone planning to make the switch, this space was made for you.
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