Eddington is perhaps the most nuanced and genuinely satirical take on the COVID-19 pandemic and Americans’ response that we will ever see put to film… largely undercut by Ari Aster’s penchant for sensationalism. It is sure to piss off basically everyone on the political spectrum, and I suspect that’s part of the point. The real point, however, is one of opportunistic greed and the corruptive nature of power, one that most Americans can agree on. Which is why I find it a shame that the film shakes off its provocative-yet-grounded roots for a full-on hyperbolic ending. Obviously there will be [spoilers] in this post; if you’ve ever enjoyed an Aster film, I highly recommend seeing it before reading this. Love it or hate it, it is one of the most thought-provoking movies of the year.

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