Latest news with #JoaquinPhoenix
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
WA's peak festival for indie filmmaking drops wild lineup
Internet boyfriend Pedrol Pascal and a Norwegian animated sex musical about sperm are two of the disparate array of treats in store for moviegoers at this year's Revelation Perth International Film Festival. WA's peak festival for indie filmmaking is renowned for alternative fare, but the event has outdone itself this year, boasting more than 45 features and documentaries and more than 100 short films. Among the highlights from this year's program is the aforementioned Pascal project, Eddington, a contemporary Western that doubles as a black comedy, which has sprung from the mind of horror auteur Ari Aster. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film's star-studded cast also includes Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Austin Butler. As for that risque animated film, colourfully titled Spermageddon, it will surely appeal to fans of South Park and Seth Rogen's Sausage Party. For those who prefer their cinema a little more high-brow, Rev will also screen the British biographical drama Mr Burton, about the early life of Welsh acting legend Richard Burton. Rev can always be counted on for thought-provoking docos, and this year is no different, with Eno, a film about enigmatic music icon Brian Eno. Eddington is an American contemporary Western film starring Joaquin Phoenix (pictured), Pedro Pascal (pictured). Credit: supplied Other notable documentaries include the fascinatingly meta examination of the true crime genre, Zodiac Killer Project, and Chain Reactions, a film that explores the cultural impact of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Rev's commitment to the local screen industry is set to continue, with the return of Westralia Day, Get Your Shorts On! and the City of Vincent Film Project, three events focused on celebrating West Aussie content. While a dedicated First Nations showcase will honour Indigenous storytelling traditions and contemporary experiences. Revelation Perth International Film Festival runs July 2-13 at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and the Backlot, and the full program is now available on the festival's website. Spermageddon is a 2024 Norwegian adult animated musical sex comedy film directed by Tommy Wirkola and Rasmus A. Sivertsen. Credit: supplied
Arab News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington' — a satirical thriller in small town America
CANNES: The memory of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers, the deaths and the economic destruction it caused still play on the mind. Ari Aster's 'Eddington,' which just played at the Cannes Film Festival in France, is a brutal look at what the virus did to humanity, the kind of misinformation we were fed and the losses, monetary and emotional, we all suffered. 'Eddington' is a fictional town in the US state of New Mexico and the movie opens as lockdown begins. In the Cannes title, the mayor of Eddington, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), and Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) are at loggerheads. Their bone of contention is the medical mask — Cross refuses to wear one thus setting a bad example, encouraging people to defy the rule. Cross also resents Garcia's support for the construction of a giant online server farm and decides to run against Garcia as an anti-lockdown candidate in the upcoming mayoral election. This forms the main plot, but interestingly it is the sub-plots that add pep and zing to the film. Cross's wife Louise (Emma Stone) suffers from hysteria and depression while Garcia's problematic teen son Eric (Matt Gomez Hidaka) is in love with Sarah (Amelia Hoeferie), who bills herself a warrior for social justice. Aster manages to grip us with all these diversions and distractions in what could have otherwise been a rather dull narrative. The satire on the sidelines is hilarious, and despite a serious plot that treats the town as a microcosm of America's problems — from police brutality to racism — the writer-director manages to keep the audience engaged until the finish line. The film could have done with tighter editing, though, and it isn't till the halfway mark that the plot begins to speed up with a segway into a farcical crime thriller.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Angelina Jolie sparks fan fears after series of awkward interactions with her own bodyguard
Angelina Jolie fans have expressed concern for the A-lister after she appeared to look 'uncomfortable' around one of her security guards. The Hollywood actress, 49, stepped out on red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last week for the premiere of Eddington, starring Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Austin Butler. Before heading inside, Angelina stopped and posed for photos as she greeted a legion of fans. However, following the grand event, eagle-eyed social media users noticed how the mom-of-six seemed uneasy around one member of her security team and quickly deduced that she 'doesn't like him.' In a video that has since gone viral on Instagram, Angelina was seen appearing to avoid eye contact with the man in question and seemingly trying to evade any interaction. At one point, she was filmed turning her head away from him as he attempted to get her attention while she sat down for a fancy dinner. Instead, she turned her gaze towards another member of her team and managed to get his attention instead. Another moment saw the guard attempt to take a bouquet of red roses out of Angelina's hand as she interacted with a fan. In a video that has since gone viral on Instagram, Angelina was seen appearing to avoid eye contact with her security guard and seemingly trying to evade any interaction Social media users were quick to claim of a rift between Angelina and the security guard. Taking to the comments, one joked: 'She needs security from her own security.' 'She doesn't like him,' another said while a third claimed, 'She is clearly not comfortable.' Agreeing, another wrote: 'I feel stressed out just by seeing that. I know that's their own work but please let her breathe!' But others sided with the security guard and reiterated that he is only doing his job. 'Way to destroy somebody's life and reputation,' one slammed. 'Just imagine yourself being publicly shamed and criticized for doing your job. 'If he was a problem, she would most likely fired him by now.' contacted Angelina's rep for comment. Angelina had been in attendance for the premiere of the Ari Aster directed film Eddington on May 16. The Hollywood star was a vision in a white floor length gown as she attended the event at Carlton Beach. Her dress featured a cape style sleeve on one side and perfectly hugged her slender figure as she walked along the carpet. Smiling and waving to fans and photographers, Angelina flaunted her toned arms, while flashing her inked skin. The star flashed a hint of leg as she walked - with the dress boasting a thigh high side split.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Pedro Pascal's hot looks at Cannes: The Last of Us actor stunned with his bare arms, exposed chest and Bottega air travel wear – plus his trans ally shirt at a Marvel premiere
While director Ari Astor's new neo-Western film Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix , Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone , and Austin Butler is considered one of the most divisive films of 2025, the internet seems fixated on one thing – Pascal's biceps. Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in a scene from Eddington. Photo: AP Posing alongside his co-stars at a photocall for Eddington at the 78th Annual Cannes Festival on Saturday, Pascal turned heads with his all black Calvin Klein look featuring a black sleeveless merino wool tunic that showed off his muscles, paired with wool trousers and studded dress shoes. Advertisement Pedro Pascal poses during a photocall for Eddington at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, on May 17. Photo: Reuters Videos and photos of the actor playfully blowing kisses at cameras and interacting with his co-stars gained major traction on the internet as fans zeroed in on Pascal's arms. One X (formerly Twitter) user shared snaps of the actor hugging his castmates at the Palais des Festivals and wrote, 'My new religion is Pedro Pascal's arms.' Pedro Pascal (right) and Joaquin Phoenix at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Reuters 'I feel like a Victorian man catching glimpse of an ankle,' another user humorously replied to a post sharing photos of Pascal's arms. His biceps aside, Pascal's attire for this year's film festival has been impeccable. Take a look. All Bottega at the airport Pedro Pascal pictured arriving at Nice Airport for the Cannes Film Festival dressed top-to-toe in Bottega Veneta. Photo: GC Images
CairoScene
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Review: Eddington, The Unmasking That Reveals Nothing New
Review: Eddington, The Unmasking That Reveals Nothing New I was genuinely looking forward to Ari Aster's Eddington, but it didn't live up to my expectations. After Hereditary, Midsommar, and the ambitious yet ultimately disappointing Beau Is Afraid, Aster reunites with Joaquin Phoenix for what might be his least compelling project to date. While Eddington is watchable and never exactly dull, it lacks the depth and sharpness of his earlier work. The film is a satire set in a fictional small town in New Mexico. It pokes fun at how people behaved during the COVID lockdown. The divide over wearing masks becomes a central metaphor for a country that can't agree on anything. It also touches on America's fixation with online conspiracy theories, political correctness, the Black Lives Matter movement, and white privilege. In many ways, the town serves as a microcosm of the United States. On paper, this all sounds splendid. The problem is that Eddington barely scratches the surface of the topics it raises. Its commentary feels shallow, and its attempts at humour often come off as forced. It wants to be clever and biting, but ends up being more smug than insightful. The plot kicks off when Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) refuses to wear a mask at the local convenience store. His small yet defiant gesture leads to him deciding to run for mayor. He positions himself in direct opposition to the current mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), who's enforcing strict mask mandates. But this isn't just a political standoff. It's personal. We learn that Joe's wife, Louise (Emma Stone), shares a complicated past with Ted. The campaign quickly spirals into a battleground of clashing ideologies. The film then takes an unexpected turn. When several murders are committed, it starts to enter Coen Brothers territory. Although, it plays more like imitation than homage. Still, there are things to admire. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a strong performance as a sheriff no one respects. Emma Stone is equally compelling, even with minimal dialogue. I was less impressed by Austin Butler, whose character felt underwritten and borderline cartoonish. Ari Aster has always excelled at turning ordinary situations into arenas of existential horror. But here, his usual flair for emotional tension is replaced by a kind of self-conscious quirk. The tone is inconsistent. It goes from deadpan humour to surface-level social commentary. It tries to make you laugh and shock you without fully committing to either pursuit. Visually, the film has its moments. Darius Khondji's camerawork impresses in a few sequences, but even that can't save the script's unevenness. Eddington follows a similar structure to that of Beau Is Afraid. Both begin in grounded reality and slowly unravel into exaggerated chaos. At least with Beau Is Afraid, the absurdity was unpredictable. With Eddington, the plot escalates, but never quite evolves. It doesn't land on any revelations. Unlike directors like Charlie Kaufman or Luis Buñuel, who use absurdity to interrogate meaning, Aster stops at the surface. This is ultimately what I found most frustrating about the film. It had so much potential. What could have been a vital cultural reckoning is reduced to a series of shallow jabs. In the end, Eddington is not a total disaster. It's a missed opportunity. Aster might have thought that his film is unmasking a nation in crisis, but it ends up revealing little more than a blank expression.
