Beau is Afraid: a movie review by Alex First
Beau Wasserman (Joachim Phoenix) has issues and is having a very, very bad few days.
Anxiety-riddled, his therapist (Stephen McKinley Henderson) prescribes new medication ahead of a planned visit to his wealthy and successful 70-year-old mother, Mona (Patti LuPone).
She has been a huge controlling influence in his life (Beau never knew his father).
All is in readiness for the trip the following day and then everything goes pear-shaped.
In fact, anything that could possibly go wrong does.
A large contributing factor is that Beau lives in a neighbourhood from hell, where the world’s flotsam and jetsam appear to have descended.
In short, the intended break goes awry and he ends up in the company of benevolent strangers Grace (Amy Ryan) and Roger (Nathan Lane).
They put him up in their troubled teenage daughter Toni’s (Kylie Rogers) room, which serves to further ostracise her.
At the same time, they have memorialised their dead war hero son.
The couple has also taken in his fellow soldier Jeeves (Denis Menochet), who has major mental health issues.
As the narrative unfolds, we get to see a young Beau Wasserman’s (Armen Nahapetian) awkward interaction with his first and only girlfriend Elaine* (Julia Antonelli). *Parker Posey plays Elaine as an adult.
With this introduction to the plot, I have merely brushed the surface of an increasingly zany work, which starts with promise.
The first act is a beauty. It is highly creative – intense, off the wall and dangerously funny.
The fine actor that he is, Joachim Phoenix’s nonplussed expressions only serve to heighten the impact.
They are undoubtedly helped by the close-ups favoured by cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski (Fresh).
Ari Aster (Midsommar) has crafted a challenging, decidedly confrontational and increasingly obtuse script, which – unfortunately – loses its way.
Mixing fact and fantasy is fine, but at one point (nearing the end) the plotting disintegrates into the tawdry and unnecessary.
One minute shy of three hours is also highly indulgent and a big ask from an audience.
While admiring Phoenix’s performance, I also had a soft spot for the eternally cheery Nathan Lane, while Julia Antonelli made a favourable impression as Elaine.
Beau is Afraid is a brain scratcher that is continually pushing the envelope.
I dare say many will call it out for being “a bridge too far”.
While not without merit, the film becomes a mess, elements of which don’t congeal.
Rated R, Beau is Afraid scores a 6½ out of 10. Runtime: 179 minutes.
