movie Beau Is Afraid | A24 Dark Comedy | out now | Ari Aster & Joaquin Phoenix

[wesleywalrus]

This is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Shocking just to be shocking, ambiguity  to the point of utter confusion, and no real standout performances. Patti Lupone is fine but a very, very minor role and the animation was cool.  
 

There were 4 other people in the theater, and we were talking after it. I said “how do you go from Midsommar to this”, and they all instantly agreed. One of the ladies said she would have to go home and do research to understand what things meant. That’s not cinema that’s a research project. This trend of hiding messages so ******* far into the film where you can’t even decide what’s happening in the now is so frustrating.  I cannot say I recommend this to anyone. 

[Leptine]

2 hours ago, The Witch said:

We have no other option but to STAN 

 

 

@Leptine @Reverse Warholian @State of Grace. @Roberto

[Roberto]

Masterpiece. If you get it, you get it. That's all I'm gonna say. 

 

Hereditary >>> Beau Is Afraid >>> Midsommar 

[Roberto]

3 hours ago, The Witch said:

We have no other option but to STAN 

 

 

@Leptine @Reverse Warholian @State of Grace. @Roberto

OMG, Gaga. 

[Roberto]

On 4/11/2023 at 4:02 PM, Kylizzle said:

She's in the movie and the scene in question is insane. Would've loved to see her reaction watching it

That ******* scene. 

[Dark Phoenix]

3 hours ago, wesleywalrus said:

There were 4 other people in the theater, and we were talking after it. I said “how do you go from Midsommar to this”, and they all instantly agreed. One of the ladies said she would have to go home and do research to understand what things meant. 

Not a cinema focus group right after the film 💀💀 sounds like it was more fun than the film tho.

 

Yep I decided I won’t be watching this in theaters.

[Bhabylon]

This film is for the artsy fartsy girlies yup 

[WildAmerican]

man what a mess. it had its moments, but it was so self indulgent, aimless, and unpleasant. shame, cause at least Hereditary and Midsommar had POINTS to make. This just was a mess.

 

i nearly walked out during the forest section, i feel like i deserve a medal for sticking through it.

Edited April 22, 2023 by WildAmerican

[MAXIMO]

Alex Garland with Men and now Ari Aster with this, like wtf is happening? 

[nostalgia]

Is Joaquin…

Spoiler

Really nude full frontal?

 

[Kylizzle]

3 hours ago, Roberto said:

That ******* scene. 

Legendaric methinks. 

I don't understand the pretentious complaints. If anything this movie is the definition of unserious 

[wesleywalrus]

1 hour ago, nostalgia said:

Is Joaquin…

  Hide contents

Really nude full frontal?

 

no. he rolls down a hill naked i believe, but you don't really see anything. there's also a shot of his balls during sex but his face/body and his genitals are never in the same frame.

 

[Uncatena]

I think ANY criticism is fair, but to say that this film's message is HIDDEN and ambiguous is genuinely hilarious. it literally SCREAMS it at you... like if anything it's the opposite. lets put our thinking caps on, please

[Kylizzle]

Just now, ChapelHooker said:

I think ANY criticism is fair, but to say that this film's message is HIDDEN and ambiguous is genuinely hilarious. it literally SCREAMS it at you... like if anything it's the opposite. lets put our thinking caps on, please

Spoiler

The therapy scenes fully articulate the meaning

I think movies with "unsatisfying" or unhappy endings just genuinely don't compute with some people.

 

[wesleywalrus]

12 hours ago, ChapelHooker said:

I think ANY criticism is fair, but to say that this film's message is HIDDEN and ambiguous is genuinely hilarious. it literally SCREAMS it at you... like if anything it's the opposite. lets put our thinking caps on, please

it's obviously about mommy issues and how people with mental health issues see the world. But - 

 

 

the movie doesn't say anything about it. And there are hidden messages and confusing things during every act of this movie. What does the brown recluse represent? Were Beau's prescriptions even real or just placebo? Why was the cruise ship scene necessary at all? What does the family in the house represent beyond being the 'typical American family'? Why do people live in the woods? Why does Beau narrate the play in the forest to an alternate timeline of his life? Is that his awakening that he can actually have sex? Who was the man who claimed to be Beau's father or knew Beau as a kid? Most importantly, why was there a ******* ***** monster? Was the other guy in the attic even real? Why was the lighting completely different on the way to the attic than anywhere else in the house?

 

This would've been better as a 90-minute insane, action-packed acid trip instead of a 3-hour AMBIGUOUS movie. 

[State of Grace.]

20 hours ago, The Witch said:

We have no other option but to STAN 

 

 

@Leptine @Reverse Warholian @State of Grace. @Roberto

Oh we BEEN stanning!

 

 

The reactions have been fun to follow so far. I will be waiting for this to surface online to watch it but I trust daddy Ari

[Kylizzle]

4 hours ago, wesleywalrus said:

it's obviously about mommy issues and how people with mental health issues see the world. But - 

 

  Hide contents

the movie doesn't say anything about it. And there are hidden messages and confusing things during every act of this movie. What does the brown recluse represent? Were Beau's prescriptions even real or just placebo? Why was the cruise ship scene necessary at all? What does the family in the house represent beyond being the 'typical American family'? Why do people live in the woods? Why does Beau narrate the play in the forest to an alternate timeline of his life? Is that his awakening that he can actually have sex? Who was the man who claimed to be Beau's father or knew Beau as a kid? Most importantly, why was there a ******* ***** monster? Was the other guy in the attic even real? Why was the lighting completely different on the way to the attic than anywhere else in the house?

 

This would've been better as a 90-minute insane, action-packed acid trip instead of a 3-hour AMBIGUOUS movie. 

Spoiler

My thoughts:

-The brown recluse in the original script represented Beau, as Beau was played by a black actor and Beau himself was a literal brown recluse. I'm not sure how to interpret it in this version other than as representing how run-down the apartment complex is.

-The prescription is real but I'm not sure how much it matters. I think one could argue that the whole film is a result of him taking the pill without water, resulting in some sort of fever dream. Really though I don't think real world logic applies here.

-I think the cruise ship scenes really established how Mona emotionally guilted Beau from the beginning. For me they also made me question whether Mona was in control of Elaine and Beaus budding relationship even then, considering Elaine goes on to work for her. Setting up where the mommy issues comes from is important.

-I don't think the family is supposed to "be" anything, although maybe it's the type of family Beau wishes he had? They're stable, and yet their daughter still rebels and hates them. I was more confused by the drug scene honestly. 

-I don't think the orphans of the forest needs to be explained? It feels like you could suspend your disbelief enough to believe in a traveling theatre troupe. I do generally think this part of the movie was unnecessary even though I loved the hero Beau story. 

-The play represents how we identify with art. Beau identifies with the play, and we see a version of his life play out where he is a hero (narrated by Mona). It is what Beau wishes he could be with happiness and stability. But he can't have that happiness due to his fear of sex as imposed on him by his mother. Further, this shows how the play doesn't really relate that much to his life at all, which is a commentary on how people apply art to their lives where it is inapplicable. 

-Beau having sex is the culmination of everything and the loss of his innocence. He is very very briefly liberated, which is why Mona immediately reappears to put him down again 

-The monster can have many interpretations. I saw it as a very literal and Freudian manifestation of his fears of his sexuality and masculinity. I'm not sure how anyone can see this scene and still think real-world logic is supposed to apply here.

-I believe the other guy (his brother) was real. That image was the creepiest part of the movie for me! 

 

[wesleywalrus]

2 hours ago, Kylizzle said:

  Hide contents

My thoughts:

-The brown recluse in the original script represented Beau, as Beau was played by a black actor and Beau himself was a literal brown recluse. I'm not sure how to interpret it in this version other than as representing how run-down the apartment complex is.

-The prescription is real but I'm not sure how much it matters. I think one could argue that the whole film is a result of him taking the pill without water, resulting in some sort of fever dream. Really though I don't think real world logic applies here.

-I think the cruise ship scenes really established how Mona emotionally guilted Beau from the beginning. For me they also made me question whether Mona was in control of Elaine and Beaus budding relationship even then, considering Elaine goes on to work for her. Setting up where the mommy issues comes from is important.

-I don't think the family is supposed to "be" anything, although maybe it's the type of family Beau wishes he had? They're stable, and yet their daughter still rebels and hates them. I was more confused by the drug scene honestly. 

-I don't think the orphans of the forest needs to be explained? It feels like you could suspend your disbelief enough to believe in a traveling theatre troupe. I do generally think this part of the movie was unnecessary even though I loved the hero Beau story. 

-The play represents how we identify with art. Beau identifies with the play, and we see a version of his life play out where he is a hero (narrated by Mona). It is what Beau wishes he could be with happiness and stability. But he can't have that happiness due to his fear of sex as imposed on him by his mother. Further, this shows how the play doesn't really relate that much to his life at all, which is a commentary on how people apply art to their lives where it is inapplicable. 

-Beau having sex is the culmination of everything and the loss of his innocence. He is very very briefly liberated, which is why Mona immediately reappears to put him down again 

-The monster can have many interpretations. I saw it as a very literal and Freudian manifestation of his fears of his sexuality and masculinity. I'm not sure how anyone can see this scene and still think real-world logic is supposed to apply here.

-I believe the other guy (his brother) was real. That image was the creepiest part of the movie for me! 

 

 

See i really don't think all this is necessary I mean if anything its great it gets people talking but there shouldn't have to be research papers about a movie where most people don't understand it on first viewing. Midsommar and Hereditary were easier to follow, but you still understood what messages were laid throughout. The themes of the movie were chatted about instead - like Beau is Afraid - what many objects and scenes meant. 

On the cruise ship, Mona seemed to encourage the relationship? Elaine's mom is the one who took her daughter away?

I think the film has merit to what it's trying to achieve, but too much of this stuff takes me out. Especially all the supernatural stuff (Elaine freezing, ***** monster.) These things could have been dealt with differently and were only there for shock value.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kylizzle]

1 hour ago, wesleywalrus said:

  Hide contents

See i really don't think all this is necessary I mean if anything its great it gets people talking but there shouldn't have to be research papers about a movie where most people don't understand it on first viewing. Midsommar and Hereditary were easier to follow, but you still understood what messages were laid throughout. The themes of the movie were chatted about instead - like Beau is Afraid - what many objects and scenes meant. 

On the cruise ship, Mona seemed to encourage the relationship? Elaine's mom is the one who took her daughter away?

I think the film has merit to what it's trying to achieve, but too much of this stuff takes me out. Especially all the supernatural stuff (Elaine freezing, ***** monster.) These things could have been dealt with differently and were only there for shock value.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

It's definitely not for everyone or even most people. I really like conceptual movies that aren't necessarily "about" anything but many people find them pointless. This movie kind of walks the line but it worked for me.

I will say Beaus journey is relatively short for what is supposed to be an "epic" journey. He really only goes to two places during the journey to the house. Would've been more interesting to see him actually have a journey rather than most of it being a dream sequence/vision 

 

[Bhabylon]

I really wish I could see Mariah’s reaction to her song being used in the film because  

[Kylizzle]

56 minutes ago, Bhabylon said:

I really wish I could see Mariah’s reaction to her song being used in the film because  

I can't believe she watched that and approved it and then liked it enough to attend the premiere

[creativity.]

Wow, I absolutely loved this and can’t wait to see it again. But I also loved Hereditary and MIDSOMMAR so…

[slik]

I haven't seen it yet but I assume the point is to feel like a real nightmare, where everything keeps getting worse and narratives shift to accommodate that, rather than to make sense.

 

 

[Sweetestsecret]

A truman show copy..just more artistic 

[Scandalous]

TALENTED INCREDIBLE BRILLIANT AMAZING SHOWSTOPPING SPECTACULAR NEVER THE SAME TOTALLY UNIQUE ETC

 

BEST MOVIE IVE SEEN IN SUCH A LONG TIME

 

this one’s for the Charlie Kaufman girlies