Materialists

I have a friend who told me when I was going to Algonquin College to get a "real" job, that women don't want a guy who isn't financially secure - long haired artist freaks are romantic, but women will eventually dump my ass because nobody wants to be poor. Was my friend right? I will admit that poverty sucks. I have managed to be an artist, a writer and have a full time job. I also got married and had kids. I know a writer who did not compromise, never got a "real" job and just wrote - he also got married and had kids. He suffered in poverty for decades and had just as much shitty writing success as me. What's my point? Most artists, writers, actors, painters, cartoonists, never reach the heights of George Clooney or Stephen King. Heck, even moderately successful writers here in Canada still have some sort of side job (teaching, etc.) to make ends meet. What has this all to do with the movie, Materialists you ask? Well this is the heart of the picture - do you marry the guy with money and have an easy life or do you marry the struggling actor, the love of your life and be poor? This is Lucy's (Dakota Johnson) dilemma. Lucy has given up her dream to become an actor and now she is a high-end Manhattan matchmaker for the wealthy. Along comes handsome, tall, and extremely rich Harry (Pedro Pascal) who doesn't want Lucy's services, he wants Lucy. Lucy likes money and eating in fancy restaurants. Will she end up with him or John (Chris Evans) who is at the top end of his 30s and still living with roommates and working a part time job to support his acting dream? Full confession, I didn't care for writer/director Celine Song's first film, Past Lives. However I certainly enjoyed this one. This is a smart film for adults and Song's writing is strong. I was impressed. All these actors I mentioned have been Marvel superheroes. I bet they all did it for the money. Catch this regular person movie at your local repertory theatre or if you are in Ottawa, rent it from Movies 'N Stuff.  

Eddington

Savage. This word not only perfectly describes Ari Aster’s latest film but it's also a word frequently used by the late great writer Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson used it to describe the work of his often-collaborator, artist Ralph Steadman. As I watched Eddington I thought about the work of Steadman, especially from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Steadman’s portraits of Americans are often grotesque, unflattering, and as Thompson would say, savage. So too, is Ari Aster’s Eddington, a film that takes place in the early days of the pandemic, more specifically, May 2020, in the small New Mexican town of Eddington. Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) doesn't enjoy wearing a mask and doesn't think anyone should who is uncomfortable doing so. The town's mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) is running for reelection and is unhappy with his town's law enforcement. Cross decides to run for mayor himself - it's buffoonery. The whole film has a Coen brothers feel to it, Burn After Reading crossed with No Country for Old Men. It's darkly funny. At times as ridiculous as South Park, and I mean this as a compliment. Ari Aster was already one of my new favourtie directors. Beau is Afraid was my top pick for 2023. Eddington solidifies Aster is one of the best writers and directors working today, up there with Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and the Coen brothers. Eddington is a scathing, savage, and tremendously funny portrait of modern America. Catch it in theatres now. In Ottawa, it's currently playing at the Bytowne.