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Eddington… Paul Eddington…
Yes, it’s the tale of the actor from Yes Minister… nope, not really.
Taking place in late May 2020, in the titular town of New Mexico, just as the COVID19 pandemic was starting to take effect, Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal, who I’d only just watched before this, in Materialists) also runs a bar, where a drunk man tries to enter, but he’s trying to stop him coming in, and wanting help from Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix – Joker: Folie À Deuxe), who instead just takes him to task over events, because there’s a group of men inside who are drinking at the same time. Oh, it’s a council meeting, allegedly, so because they’re having a meeting, it’s classed as a business reason, and is legally allowed. We had all sorts of shit with the Tories when they were in power, having parties, etc.
Given the situation at the time, everyone has to wear a mask, but Joe has trouble wearing one due to his asthma, which causes consternation when he goes in the supermarket, even though such a plot point feels slightly dated, given how it’s five years since the pandemic began, yet feels like a lifetime ago.
Clearly, this is a Democrat-led film, as it takes in the Black Lives Matter protests, but fails to acknowledge that such protestors then went on rampages and destroyed black-owned businesses(!)
It was also the time when George Floyd had used fentanyl to the point where his eyes were bulging out of his head, and resisted arrest by refusing to even come out of his car. It all ended up very unpleasant, but Floyd did himself no favours by being off his bonce and not complying with simple instructions from the police. It could all have ended up very differently, but it all leads the yoof to spend almost 9 minutes virtue signalling, as they ‘take the knee’.
There’s also an online Zoom meeting, where some people have their name onscreen followed by their pronouns… oh dear, always the mark of a bonehead.
Overall, I expected a gritty drama from Eddington, but it’s a bit of a mess and just gets a bit silly as Joe and Ted argue the toss about not very much – albeit with Joe potentially getting the wrong end of the stick about certain events, before trying to get ‘revenge’ by throwing his hat in the ring to become the next Mayor.
The film does develop some action as it gears into its third act, but it’s all a bit stupid and over the top, as well as earlier becoming incredibly dull when amongst a tempestuous relationship with his wife, Louise (Emma Stone – Kinds Of Kindness), she and her mother invite cult leader Vernon Jefferson Peak (Austin Butler – The Bikeriders) round for dinner, but if there’s a contender for more boring movie scene of the year, as everyone just waffles to the point where I was falling into a coma, I haven’t seen it.
There’s also rather unfortunate timing for the filmmakers, since Top Boy‘s Micheal Ward – who plays cop Michael (why even bother to swap the letters in his name round?) – is on bail after appearing in court charged with two counts of rape, plus additional counts of sexual assault. I thought it would stop the film from being released, but maybe it went ahead because his character isn’t a major one.
It reminds me of when Baby Driver was just one week away from its Blu-ray and DVD release, and the allegations came out about Kevin Spacey. Completely killed the momentum for what was otherwise a film that loads should get to see.
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credits scenes.
Eddington is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of its release on November 24th.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 149 minutes
Release date: August 22nd 2025
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (ARRIRAW (4.6K))
Studio: A24
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 4/10
Director: Ari Aster
Producers: Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, Ann Ruark
Screenplay: Ari Aster
Music: Daniel Pemberton, Bobby Krlic (as The Haxan Cloak)
Cast:
Joe Cross: Joaquin Phoenix
Ted Garcia: Pedro Pascal
Louise Cross: Emma Stone
Michael Cooke: Micheal Ward
Dawn Bodkin: Deirdre O’Connell
Brian Frazee: Cameron Mann
Eric Garcia: Matt Gomez Hidaka
Guy Tooley: Luke Grimes
Sarah: Amélie Hoeferle
Lodge: Clifton Collins Jr
Officer Butterfly Jimenez: William Belleau
Vernon Jefferson Peak: Austin Butler
Will (Knighthood Gold Member, 14): Landall Goolsby
Nicolette (Knighthood Cadet): Elise Falanga
Warren: King Orba
Paula: Rachel de la Torre
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.