Ari Aster with “Beau is Afraid” posters
I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to post about a movie I watched last night as I’m still in the absorption phase of what I experienced. As it keeps coming back to the forefront of my consciousness, much like an earworm, here goes. It won’t be in the usual movie review format from the past, but more a stream of consciousness kinda thing.
As my regular readers know I borrow A LOT of movies, books, and music from the library. Some I search for by title; others by scrolling by genre, actor, year, etc. For awhile now I have simply done a weekly scan on the newest releases, first in Blu Ray and then in DVD. “Beau is Afraid” (2023) starring Joaquin Phoenix as Beau, was one that drew me first because I saw Joaquin on the jacket; and although it looked a little disturbing on the cover, free borrows means if it doesn’t click for me, I simply eject and return.
I knew nothing about it and had heard nothing about it. It’s kind of like choosing a mystery gift from a table that could be your fondest dream or your worst nightmare. In the case of “Beau is Afraid,” I would classify it as a brilliantly constructed worst nightmare that also has a dastardly dark humor about it. It is the kind of stuff that if you don’t laugh about it as a shield, and it gets inside, it could act like a piece of cerebral shrapnel shredding your psyche. I remember thinking again and again that nobody that has a fragile state of mental health should watch it. I stand by that warning. Seriously, if you are feeling mentally fragile DO NOT WATCH IT. It would be like someone with a peanut allergy eating a Baby Ruth bar.
Beau is a forty-something (?) man who lives in what has to be one of the worst neighborhoods in what looks like New York City, but a quick check at imdb reveals it was filmed in Quebec, Canada. He lives in a seedy apartment building whose exterior and interior walls are spray-painted with the most soul-sucking, vile graffiti you can imagine. Navigating through the neighborhood without being accosted verbally or attacked physically is an achievement. The movie starts very low key, with Beau at his usual therapy appointment with his therapist, Stephen McKinley Henderson (as Therapist.) They are talking about Beau’s upcoming visit to see his mother, (played by Patti LuPone) who lives some distance away. Beau is rather reticent about his feelings about seeing her, as it has been some months, but the therapist keeps gently and then more sharply prodding him about what he’s feeling.
After the session, he runs the neighborhood gauntlet and finally safely locks his apartment door. From here, the slow simmer of the opening gets steadily cranked up to a frantic and literally maddening pace – that never subsides until the end. Clocking in at a minute shy of three hours, the relentless pace, with its gluttonous banquet of nightmare situations, put me on paralyzed overload. If it weren’t for the dark humor it would have been too much to bear at one sitting. As I read someone else’s take on it (forgot where) they said they felt like they’d aged a couple of years after watching it. After watching it, I’m sure there are a few more wrinkles and grey hairs on this old lady.
How I describe the events is it is like someone kept a nightmare journal for a year and then decided to cram them all into one film. You can imagine the challenge it would be to do it yet still somehow, through a maestro’s skill, keep it cohesive within its absurd excess.
I did NOT know that Ari Aster directed this until after watching it. Ari Aster has directed two blockbuster horror movies over the past couple of years, “Hereditary” (2018) and “Midsommar” (2019.) I didn’t see the first one and after being freaked out by the unnerving second one, I may have skipped, “Beau is Afraid” — but I’m glad I didn’t.
Besides the exceptional actor, Joaquin, there is an equally exceptional (no exaggeration) ensemble that works to bring this phantasmagoric masterpiece to life, including the beforementioned Henderson and LuPone, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane, Kylie Rogers, Denis Menochet, Parker Posey, Zoe Lister-Jones, Armen Nahapetian, Julia Antonelli, Richard Kind, Hayley Squires, Julian Richings, and many more players that add their flair to the mix.
I’d like to say that this movie, aside from its darkest of dark humor, has some bits of beauty, caring, light, etc. in it. Unfortunately that is not the case. At the same time, the way it articulates, similar to way an entomologist might see beauty in the way a cockroach is put together, is quite beautiful if you look at it in the right way.
There is an excellent soundtrack, which is listed here. I will never listen to that Mariah Carey song the same way ever again! The sets are fantastic.
Rating 9/10
No trailers on this one and I would advise against seeing trailers ahead of time.
One more thing I’d like to add: the use of hyperbole. I think Ari has used it well here. I did not see it used in “Midsommar” but he’s used it in, “Beau is Afraid” in a way that I’ve seen before. Two movies that excel in it are “Natural Born Killers” and “The House That Jack Built.”
Tao Talk 
I haven’t heard of that movie, but since I very rarely watch or go to the movies, that’s not a big surprise. Based on your description, it certainly doesn’t sound like something to watch for relaxation or light entertainment.
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No, not unless you consider having your fingernails pulled out relaxation or light entertainment.
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I LOVE dark dark black past midnight humor. This one sounds really good.
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It is but the experience of watching it is rather traumatic, so beware.
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Ok…but I’m going to see it. Jen has to go take care of her mom…God bless Jen! Her mom is getting two knee replacements so Bailey and I will be watching movies 24/7 while she is away.
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Oh my gosh, I cannot imagine why any doctor would want to give a patient two knee replacements at the same time. One would be bad enough. The pain will be horrible and how easy to get hooked on painkillers to avoid it. I swear doctors are agents of evil. How long will Jen have to be there? I think it will take awhile to be up and about after that :(
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Jennifer and I asked the same question…She is 80 and she is taking a chance going under…so she decided to do both at the same time so she wouldn’t have to go under again. She will be there a little over 2 weeks.
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Ah ok, I didn’t realize she was that old (not that 80 is old per se just old for going under.) Two weeks, please give Jen strength.
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I sure will… thank you. AND I agree with your last quote on a lot of Doctors. Had my kidney stone blasted and the bastard didn’t x ray after…clogged my kidneys completely…needed an operation THAT day but it was his birthday and he didn’t do it til the next day. I called him a quack bastard after it was all done…and I’m still paying him off… pardon the language..I should have sued.
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I remember that with your kidney but I forgot the part about him making you suffer in agony and I’m sure an unsafe situation (kidneys completely blocked!) because he didn’t want to inconvenience his birthday. I hope karma tweaks his every birthday in a bad way every year until he makes things right. Still paying him off is the real kicker :(
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Oh I do also! The very last time I saw him he…I’m not going to say it but you know if your pipes are clogged and you run a snake down it? Let your imagination take over…with no warning or nothing to ease it. I wanted to strangle him when I got off the table. I was nauseated for 6 straight days because my body rejected the kidney stent…he said that never happens and gave me nothing for nasuea…I had to go to the ER on the 6th day to get something…they helped…I should have sued…and I’m not a suing person.
Sorry Lisa…I had to vent lol
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Max, I knew it was bad, but I had no idea all that happened. I’m so sorry you had to go through that mess :(
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I’m just upset he did that to me…I shouldn’t have vented on you. I’m sure other patients got worse. I told the doctor who referred him to me…never refer him again.
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It’s OK to vent, you’ve listened to me plenty of times and for that I am grateful. The manner of practice for any health care provider is THE most important part of all. To treat a patient so callously is unethical! I’m sure (99% sure) part of their oath is to DO NO HARM.
I got referred to a periodontist in GR for some “deep scaling.” The hygienist I got at the first appointment gave me the shots and I felt every one and afterwards wasn’t numbed and it was literally torture. I was deathly afraid to go to the next one, but I didn’t want to lose my teeth so I went. The hygienist at the 2nd appointment was a different person. I literally NEVER FELT THE SHOTS or the deep scaling (scraping the roots of the teeth to hope the gums adhere to them better.) The MANNER was everything. And that was just my teeth. Where your doctor went was SO MUCH MORE SENSITIVE!!!!!!!
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Well thankyou Lisa I really appreciate it. That is terrible what he done to you. Stuff like that can totally affect you and make you never want to go again…so I know exactly what you are talking about.
Some of them think they are God…and can get by with anything. Jennifer worked with Doctors and said most of them did in fact think they were above everyone. Yes they can save…but there is such a thing as being humble!
Yep…it was sensitive!
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You’re very welcome, Max. The hygienist who hurt me seemed like she was new, and I have to wonder if the periodontist didn’t schedule her to be first so she could get practice to get better and the 2nd visit the patient could relax because it didn’t hurt. Am I being paranoid???
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Thats an interesting thought…no your are not being paranoid…that does make sense! They run the risk though of you not coming back… but yes after that you would love the second visit!
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Thanks for your support and saying I’m not paranoid. You’re right, many would not have gone back after that!!!!!!
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They are lucky you did come back Lisa…that is tramatic. If I feel pain I stop them…and say give me shots now! lol
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I might save this one for when I come out of the current ‘potentially depressing movie’ embargo. 🤓
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lol. This one will definitely challenge your state of mind. But at the same time it is so well put together!
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