Beau Is Afraid | The Horror of Anxiety
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 апр 2023
- Beau Is Afraid, the latest film from Hereditary and Midsommar writer/director Ari Aster, mines horror in the life of a middle-aged man with crippling anxiety. Joaquin Phoenix stars in the polarizing and surprising 3-hour epic. Here's my video review. Have you seen Beau Is Afraid? Let me know in the comments below!
Subscribe to Cineflect for more reviews, video essays, ranked lists & more! ruclips.net/user/cineflect?sub...
Written, Narrated & Edited by J.S. Lewis
► Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/thejslewis
► Twitter: / cineflect
► Email: cineflect@gmail.com
#BeauIsAfraid #AriAster #JoaquinPhoenix
______________________________________
MUSIC CREDITS:
♪ "Depth Fuse" - French Fuse
♪ "Alone" - Emmit Fenn
♪ “Walk Through the Park" - TrackTribe
______________________________________
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
► Link to the PDF: www.copyright.gov/title17/App...
► What is Fair Use? fairuse.stanford.edu/overview...
► About Fair Use: www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
► The Satire/Parody Distinction in Copyright and Trademark Law: apps.americanbar.org/litigati... 
Кино
Have you seen Beau Is Afraid? Let me know what you thought of the film!
The craziest , anxiety inducing , off the wall batshit crazy , film I've ever witnessed. Most likely my favorite film to date . I thought I was prepared having seen the trailer going into this but no , my jaw was dropped most of the time .
I dunno, it was just weirdness for the sake of weirdness. It might seem cool to some people,but to me it actually felt like the opposite of what it was supposed to be, lazy writing.
I much more prefer David Lynchs work or even Charlie Kaufmans. Or eternal sunshine of a spottles mind.
I love this film beyond words. I’ve seen it 5 times and will see it as many as I can while it’s in theaters. Joaquin is incredible. I enjoy probably about 85% of it and the last part just gets tougher to watch each time
5 times?! Wow. I hope to catch it on the big screen a second time.
If you at least sort of enjoyed it it’s worth seeing at least once more
you are a legend for that.. finally someone with a great taste!!
I think it’s hard to take in in just one viewing, it gets deeper the more times you watch it
I’ve seen it’s so many times too I love it so much so glad someone feels the same
Long story short, this was my favorite 3-hour-long panic attack. I loved the film.
XD
I loved it the second time. I have this theory that Mona isn’t even his mother and Beau is just a test baby for all the medication,food, housing ect. for the MW corporation. Even at the end it was like a public execution by a group of people who know every detail of his life.
🤯
Interesting! Never thought of that but I agree that his whole life is manufactured. Even the memory of his childhood in the cruise ship is too specific, might not be real either.
Or I watch too much Japanese dark anime with the similar concepts 😅
@@k.vn.k oh totally fake memory of the cruise ship! Haha, def too much dark anime. But that kinda stuff helps understand a film this abstract.
It’s a suicide at the end
@@dameianrachar6989 nah it’s too orchestrated to be a suicide, he desperately didn’t want to die I feel.
I really love this film. My husband describes it as a kaleidoscope. A simple shift in the viewers perspective can completely change the movie. We've had some of the best post-watching discussions of possible viewpoints on what is "really" happening. An amazing film for anyone open to a non traditional story experience.
Love hearing this. Couples who bond over experimental cinema together stay together :D
this movie is like if of ur anxiety induced “what ifs” came to pass. i literally couldnt love it more than i do
Great way to put it.
Totally agree.
I had the same feeling watching "Mother!". Anxiety, discomfort, claustrophobia... I love it
The womb is the Shire in this “Jewish Lord of the Rings” analogy: he’s born, he half-heartedly tries to exert autonomy in the world outside it, and in the end he returns to where he came to be judged (water being a metaphor for the womb).
I like this interpretation!
This movie left me with a panic attack when I left the theater. I love it.
When a panic attack is welcome, haha.
It was so so amazing in theaters. I want to see it again. It was beautiful and there was only one other person watching the movie with me. When the play happens, it literally felt like you were there the way the curtains draw back on the big screen. It was amazing. And as someone with ptsd who gets bouts of psychosis and extreme paranoia, i felt very seen.
My theatre was packed, girl next to me literally moaned when he "bust through the bag"
@@randyhiiip that sucks ):
@@randyhiiip lmao
I saw this movie with my husband last weekend and at the end we both agreed it wasn't an immediate favorite movie but it was pretty good. I've been thinking about it for 5 days straight, mentally processing every scene I can remember and growing more and more fascinated with all the different elements. It truly is an assault to the senses on first watch but I think I actually really love it lol
I watched this movie with my Garmin watch. It literally gave me the “relax reminder” two times throughout the movie. Last time the watch gave this warming during a movie? Midsommar.
Haha, amazing. Have you seen Uncut Gems or Green Room while wearing it???
@@cineflect i watch it both but not wearing the watch. Uncut gems is definitely right up there w Beau is afraid anxiouswise
Another thing it really reminded me of was the 1982 film based on Pink Floyd's album The Wall. They both focus on an emotionally isolated and mentally disturbed man who grew up with no father and an overbearing mother, both feature a mix of live action and animated sequences, the grotesque imagery of Beau's "father" in the attic reminded me a lot of the judge from The Wall, and both films conclude with the main character being condemned in a very surreal and disturbing trial. The lyrics from many of the songs on The Wall also fit Beau is Afraid pretty well in my opinion, particularly the song Mother.
“A Jewish lord of the rings…but he’s just going to his mom’s house.”
Well I’m sold.
Aster is the best pitchman.
I love that Ari Aster had the balls to make something different!
I love that A24 had the balls to support him!!
I love balls!!!
Hooray for balls!
I immedeately picked up on the feeling of anxiety. For me it's social, so when Beau looks out of the apartment peephole, when he goes out to get the water, how we interpret social cues in the worst possible ways and the feeling of dread it can bring to us.
Spot on.
I think what is great about this film is that love it or hate it, it is creating conversations that are making people actually think and debate on it. If a film can do that, that is a win in my book. You got a new subscriber btw lol
Agreed, Joshua. And welcome to the channel :)
All I remembered was Beau's dad 😅
He really sticks out.
This is one of my new favorites. It was like stepping into cloudy ocean water. I loved how the story was almost always emotional rather than analytical or explanatory. The hero Beau section touched my heart, and it was so totally unique
Nicely said, John.
Loved everything about it. The colors and sounds, as well as the fast-paced madness, bled together into an amalgamation of cinematography perfected. It really relays the feelings of anxiety and guilt to the audience using every resource at thier disposal.
Well put, Zack. It’s a brilliantly crafted experience.
Saw this last night, an overwhelming trip honestly. Aster once again proves how unique and surreal his films are, I was confused the entire time yet intrigued. Definitely worth the 3hrs!
In Aster we trust.
"It's such a mix of high brow and low brow that it's more of a big ol unibrow..." LOL.
Frankly, I think the film's a masterpiece. You need to be in a certain headspace to see it - I definitely get why it's so polarizing - but I went in knowing nothing except that it was an Ari Aster film and I was transfixed for three hours. Immensely disturbing, yes, but also darkly funny and oddly moving. I'm so glad he got this on IMAX, I agree that it's a film that benefits from a bit of scale. Great review, glad to see some more positive impressions out there: was starting to think my taste was objectively bad based on some of the other reviews out there.
Thanks, David. Us Beau fans gotta stick together 😜
I wound up laughing a lot more than I expected to, and then in that third act I got /mad/ but not necessarily at Beau. I’m gonna be sitting with this one for awhile
I think the most similar thing to Beau is Afraid I feel is the Shivering Truth on adult swim. With the insane twists and ability for both to not keep you in the same place before turning your head upside down lol
Ooo, I need to see that one. Have you watch Aster’s short films? They all feel like Adult Swim programming.
I loved the movie. I felt like anxious states were fully understood and explained with vivid pictures. a crazy dream of a movie. The three Ari Aster movies are about the fear and terror of being controlled by external forces, being impotent.
I felt seen by this video at least 3 separate times. I saw the movie tonight (was saving your video for after I had seen it).
And I was just commenting on Stuckman's review how Beau scratched the same itch for me that Mother! did and that I usually only get that in short form from some of AS Late Night Programming entries.
Saw it this weekend. And went from liking it despite the things that didn’t work for me to borderline the loving it. The more I think about it and dissect it the more I find myself enthralled by its existence.
I find that the best movies grow in estimation the more we think about them.
One can only imagine where Ari Aster goes next....
He said in an interview that he’s planning to do a Western with Joaquin 🤠 MUSIC TO MY EARS.
@@cineflect Oh my god. I don't have the words right know!
That will be...... Crazy!
@@cineflect it's an ari trick. It's another drama called 'acting class' with Phoenix and amy Adams
@@justinbondar2491 You mean the Western is a smokescreen? 😮💨
you really nailed it with this one, J!!! I really liked the collage of movies!
Thanks so much, David!
THis movie was hard on a scorpio moon. nice mix of the Cohen brothers, 'a good man" and a bit of 'im thinking of ending things'
A Serious Man? I've seen that comparison. It's actually the one Coen brothers film I haven't seen!
@@cineflect a serious man yes! oh you have to watch it!
Watching this movie with a nurse perspective the scene where he’s at the “hospital” felt really relatable! We often don’t understand the reality of people with dementia. We tell them to stay calm and to wait for there mom to come pick them up (even though we know they were dead years ago) we make fake stories to cheer them up not knowing that’s the reality they are living which is real and vivid for them.
I like the references of his other movies : the background view of the landscape in the car when he is going to the funeral (Midsommar) , and the complicated and enigmatic structure of the Mom house (Hereditary)
We appreciate your effort and hard work. God bless you.
Thanks for the kind words, Sophia.
Great video as always! Intrigued to watch it now!
Thanks so much, Sam. Let me know what you make of it.
Jorgos Lanthimos,
Ari Aster,
Robert Eggers,
Are the masters of modern film. It does not surprise me the set designer was the same for this film as the Favourite.
God I love this movie and all of these directors
Yeah, those are definitely 3 of the best to emerge in the 21st Century. That's a list I'd like to make at some point.
ur getting the subscription for the lighthouse pfp. my favorite movie ever
It's a masterpiece. Here's my analysis on the film: ruclips.net/video/kxStF_y0JuA/видео.html
Watched it a week ago and still thinking about it. So much to think about. It is amazing. Not for everyone for sure. You need to be in the right mood to embrace the 3 hours I think.
this looks so good
I like to be intellectually challenged during a film. Not saying that I wasn't and it felt like Fast and Furious. But overall, the idea was too simple, of exploring the anxiety of our protagonist. And Aster's filmmaking is always ferocious, unlike Eggers, who slips under my skin. Aster's shaking you and he didn't shake me with this. So I felt the experience was draining and overly long for the idea, but I had some good laughs and I wasn't miserable during it. Also felt that the humor wasn't welcomed in some scenes where the tone was supposed to be sad and intimate with our character. At the end of the day, I'd say to this movie: That's it? Glad some are really enjoying it, 3 hours of good entertainment is not bad.
I appreciate the honest take, Alexis. I agree with it being too jokesy for its own good at times. There's nothing worse than a completely humorless film, but sometimes filmmakers need to know when to let sincerity linger.
Wait, that was mount doom in the attic? My God, it all makes so much sense now!
🏔️ 🍆
Ari Ester calls it Dark Comedy. I can see it now though, the whole thing is just a comedy but instead of fun laughing, it’s more like a tragic laughing. Spoilers ahead.
I watched it twice, and at the second time I knew straight away that the beginning scene in the apartment with crazy neighbours are all scripted by his mother. That blue pills he took from his psychiatrist is her experimental drug. What kind of sick mother experiment on her own son. It’s no wonder everything Beau see is a heightened induced magic mushroom kinda.
The attic scene makes sense if you think that’s how his mother locked up Beau’s stronger self (the one that dare to oppose his mother) and the idea of his father (the unknown prick literally who abandoned her) away in the attic.
But that ending is what making this movie a masterpiece. You can see it in two ways. First, the scene of circular tribunal is a metaphor of guilt and plea for help, heightened by isolation feeling on a sinking boat. The only man who tried to defend him was pushed off the cliff to death. The power is in his mother’s hand, and everyone are on her side. He was judged and thus, he should end. Whether it’s his physical body or only his mental, we only could guess. Personally though I think the scene is definitely only a play in his mind, pretty sure he did actually drown himself.
You can also see it as a metaphor of rebirth. Beau is subconsciously entering what he perceived as the womb, returning to the first scene of the movie, and when he died he would be reborn as a new man.
Either way Beau is no longer afraid and so ended the movie.
Astute analysis, Phoenix! I'm looking forward to seeing it again with new eyes.
I think this is one of the best movies I have seen since EEAO. It is unique and riveting to watch that it controls my thoughts. I sadly do not have any imax showings near me for it. I believe the point of it, is that much like the title Beau is Afraid, we are taken on a journey following literally Beau being afraid. As a result, I don't think that we are even capable of being able to analyze this film for a greater meaning or an underling theme throughout. To me, it is a more cluster-fcked and mind-fcking version of the Truman show through Beau is afraid's use of blurring the lines through realism ,dystopian, and dream themed scenes. I will see this movie as many time as I possibly can and I will own this movie as fast as I can.
Yeah, I'm not seeing any new IMAX screenings near me either. I wonder if it was a one-night only thing :/ I cannot stress how perfectly the film fills that format.
I'm so glad it reminded you of Tim and Eric. I keep saying this was like a giant Bedtime Stories episode
Surely Aster has watched that.
I have been watching videos analyzing the film ever since I saw it a few weeks ago and I still have no idea what to think
subscribed immediately after the "Fellini to Tom Green...y" line LOL
I didn't know who I included that line for... Now I know. Welcome to the channel :)
Great video!! I liked the film when I seen it on imax but had mixed feelings about it after. But this movie was on my mind for days and now I’m appreciating it way more and I think it’s sort of brilliant and ambitious.
Thanks, Josh. We're in the same boat ;) I can't stop thinking about the film.
This movie is a cinephile's dream in my opinion
Absolutely loved this film. Phoenix’s performance was amazing, and agreed he’s the best working actor today. My favorites of his before this were The Master and You Were Never Really Here but this one blew me away. Absolute masterpiece on all levels, Aster didn’t compromise one aspect of this, no filler whatsoever and that’s saying something with a 3 hour run time
This is the first review that actually makes me want to watch the movie.
Haven't seen those! Will add them to the queue. Thanks for the recommendations :)
one of the most powerful films ive ever seen
Respect.
I didn’t really care for the story but wow was it beautiful , a whimsical nightmare you can’t wake up from but your curiosity makes you wanna stay. Big Fish vibes…
Big Fish is a great comp, could've included that in the collage.
I really enjoyed myself watching this movie the way we were put into beau's shoes and experienced everything with him was fantastic. I don't think this movie is for everyone though.
Definitely not for most people. I'm going to be very careful about who I recommend it to 😅
As soon as the movie ended I was disappointed, I was so hyped for this hoping for a beautiful SENSICAL storytelling of a broken man. But I got a weird fever dream not so sensical or even story really of the most broken man. But these last couple days since seeing it I've gone on my own journey of what this film was about and I'm absolutely in love with it. It doesn't make sense at all because neither do our mental health issues. I like to believe this movie was from the perspective of his horrific anxiety ridden intrusive thoughts and vivid imagination.
I thought it was nuts, I’m still trying to piece together some details. Matter of fact I had to write down the entire plot to tell what the hell I had just seen
Haha, I'd like to see your plot write-up.
I told people it was forest gump mixed w mother. I absolutely loved it, I gotta lil Beau in me.
My reaction leaving the theatre was "What the FUCK was the point of all that... I should of seen the Mario movie again.", But after the movie had more time to set in you start to love it and feel like you should see it again. I deeply related to practically every theme in this film from being terrified of everything around you, to surrogate family escapism, vividly imagining yourself in a story you see or hear, and an incredibly controlling mother who uses guilt to try and move you to do things and all it does is weigh you down, but it never feels like this movie ever gets around to making a point about any of those things. When the movie ends leaving you both completely weighed down with concepts of anxiety and trauma, but no answer or idea of what to do about those things and it takes time to ultimately except that it was all pointless from the start.
Bathtub scene is the best scene. my dads a HUGE DICK too. 10/10
Haha! I can relate to this. I wasn’t sure what to make of it all after I saw it, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days.
Dystopian Forrest Gump on a LSD bad acid trip.
Haha, put that on the poster A24!
I just saw this film today. I see it as a neo-surrealism movie that is more satire than anything, and to me, it feels like a psychological drama with some funny and horror sprinkled into the mix.
That's a solid way to describe it.
Went to see it..had a great time and according to the laughter of the rest of the audience: they enjoyed it too
I left the theatre confused by what I saw but so happy I saw it. It’s divisive and I think will find a stronger footing as a cult film down the road. I understand people hating it. What I’ve had trouble with is people claiming Joaquin Phoenix is one note throughout the film. I’m struggling to understand how multifaceted an overly anxious, paranoid and borderline agoraphobe who’s heavily medicated can be played. I thought Joaquin was phenomenal along with the rest of the cast.
Yeah, Phoenix is pretty incredible in this. It's not as "showy" per se as some of his recent roles, but man, this guy is always doing so much.
this movie was phenomenal, I completely suggest it. IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!
Beau Hive Assemble!
this movie hit me really hard at the theater part of the movie where he imagines himself in the play, This is not a bad movie at all, I felt it was really effective on what he was trying to do and the emotions he wanted to convey, It's just way too long, But it's great!
I thought it was hilarious! A kind of counter-cultural 'Exquisite Corpse' cannibalised from countless surreal nightmare movies. In addition to the other titles cited, I was reminded of 'O Lucky Man', 'The Magic Christian', 'Brewster McCloud', 'Brazil', 'The World According to Garp', 'Bad Boy Bubby', and '12 Monkeys', and I feel like, if I watched it again, I would probably be reminded of several more! It also felt like a grandiose and epic episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'!
Great reference points, Peter. I’m sure the collage will only continue to grow.
I just realized, this movie reminded me of Superjail, with the absurd humor and nonstop violence.
Ari Aster is pretty much arthouse Adult Swim 😅
Is this movie only in the theaters? Can I watch it only also somewhere?
It’s only in theaters right now. Worth experiencing on the big screen if you get the chance.
This movie was basically I’m thinking of ending things but.. worse. Which is hard to say because I want to love it as much as the other Ari Aster movies, but it just didn’t deliver for me the way I feel like it could have
No contradiction in options whatsoever? I felt the film overstayed it’s welcome without expanding its range of metaphors and was honestly a bit of a drag to sit through. Definitely felt the length of this film. It did lead to some interesting enough conversation though and analysis which is more than what can be said for a majority of films these days. Certainly a daring picture. No interest to repeat a viewing for many years
All fair. At least you gave the film a chance!
Ari is my idol. And I'm messed up.
You'll fit in around these parts :)
I absolutely love this movie and A24 in general
pinpoint breakdown my friend
Thanks, Paul!
With every Ari Aster film I go through the following process - I don't want to watch this. Why am I watching this? What did I just watch? Is that dog **** on the floor or a piece of my soul that a thief dropped while running out the door while I was watching this?
Did you delete RUclips videos? I could've sworn you had more analyst's on more movies
Not recently. Is there one in particular you're looking for?
@@cineflect the tin drum, valerie and her week of wonders, welcome to dollhouse, and I think the white dog. Might be thinking of someone else
Jim Scarecrow, hmmm
Not sure where I seen him from
Fucking amazing. Wow.
yea it sucks wish I could get ion pills but oh well off. the meds for life for me
High brow + low brow = unibrow. Yes.
Great film. Liked it much more after the second viewing
Looking forward to seeing it again!
This is the live action Courage The Cowardly Dog
I dont get why this film gets low ratings. I wanna speak to the person who hates that film
everything was brilliant about this film. except the poster. that is shockingly badly done
No argument here.
It strange that 35mil is alot for a movie
Everything is relative. For a non-major like A24, it's a lot of money.
I think it’s better than the shining
Whoa. That's a high bar. The Shining is my go-to answer when people ask what my favorite horror film is.
Another 'Literally me' film
Does anyone have any insight as to what the twin brother and the giant Dick with the claws means? Lol
I enjoyed the movie and hated beau lmao
Beau would be an incredible tough hang...
You name dropped every other film and the only concept of this movie I heard was anxiety, the Mom from Life Goes On, and a Jim Carey movie. I'm glad you enjoyed the film. I want my time back.
Joker 2019 was an awful film.
Not that this makes a difference but I have a master's in general psychology and also and am diagnosed with panic disorder, PTSD, and Bipolar disorder. This fill hit home with me because for a person with PTSD you kind of walk around with a since of doom like someone is going to come out of know where and stab you or attack you. PTSD comes from trauma so. But yes this film is like an artistc take on what mental illness could and does feel like for some people.
I loved this movie, not surprised it failed, but still bummed to see it haha!
I spent over an hour trying to figure out what the hell was going on . . . then I just let go . . . and let the movie play out. Odds are good, you will NEVER see another film like this . . .