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Beau Is Afraid
2023 179 min United States of America, Finland R 18+
★6.6
Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Ari Aster
Trailers
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Description
Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic odyssey back home.
Budget:
$35M
US Gross:
$8.18M
Worldwide:
$12.34M
Starring
Joaquin Phoenix
Actor
Patti LuPone
Actor
Amy Ryan
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2024
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Beau Is Afraid is a divisive, surreal odyssey that anchors its nightmarish, anxiety-fueled narrative in a powerful central performance. While many praise its technical ambition and psychological depth, others find the three-hour runtime excessive and the episodic structure disjointed.
| Acting | Joaquin Phoenix delivers a mesmerizing and sympathetic performance that serves as the film's emotional anchor. | |
| Cinematography | The film features visually stunning, immersive cinematography that effectively mirrors the protagonist's distorted inner reality. | |
| Runtime | The three-hour runtime is a point of significant contention; supporters find it a necessary commitment for the immersive experience, while others perceive it as exhausting, bloated, and lacking restraint. | |
| Theme | The narrative's reliance on surrealism and dense, meta-textual symbols creates a barrier that some find thought-provoking and deep, while others dismiss as pretentious and incoherent. | |
| Pacing | The film's episodic, dream-logic pacing is seen by some as a brilliant depiction of a crumbling psyche, whereas others find it tedious and lacking in narrative momentum. |