Ari Aster’s filmography invokes the words sick and sentimental. You can now add funny to it. In the guise of a ‘Midsommar‘ director’s cut screenings, fans at Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn were treated to a surprise screening of ‘Beau Is Afraid‘ starring Joaquin Phoenix.
Emma Stone was the moderator present for the screening, talking to the director about his surreal nightmare comedy. Ari Aster mainly spoke about his collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix. He opened up on the film’s exhaustive nature, taking a physical toll on Pheonix.
Related: ‘Beau Is Afraid’: What’s The Surrealism And Sadness Surrounding Joaquin Phoenix’s Film?
Joaquin Phoenix Exhausted Himself While Filming ‘Beau Is Afraid’
True to the spirit of April Fool’s Day, the crowd at Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn went in expecting a screening of ‘Midsommar.’ The cinephiles were treated with a nearly three-hour cut of ‘Beau Is Afraid.’ Ari Aster spoke to the moderator Emma Stone about Joaquin Phoenix reaching his saturation point while filming.
Ari Aster said, “At the end of the film, it was the last week, and he was working with Patti, and there was a scene that was very intense for Patti, and it was a shot that was on Patti, not on him. All the sudden, he fell out of frame, and I was really pissed because it was a really good take.” Joaquin Phoenix fainted had collapsed during a take, worrying the director for a while.
In Case You Missed: Nathan Lane Explains Why Joaquin Phoenix Couldn’t Maintain Eye Contact With Him While Filming ‘Beau Is Afraid’
Ari Aster Is Looking To Collaborate On Future Projects With Joaquin Phoenix
‘Beau Is Afraid‘ starts a beautiful and twisted friendship between Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix. In an interview with The New York Times, both artists said good things about each other. Aster found his actor’s exceptional commitment to the script a breath of fresh air. He described the Oscar-winning actor as “ruthlessly investigative,” with no false note in his performance. Phoenix felt the same way, supporting the claim of mutual respect and understanding.
Ari Aster told the outlet about the follow-up project to ‘Beau Is Afraid‘ being “almost certainly” a Western. He also hinted at working with Phoenix on another project, who looks equally excited to extend their working relationship. Both share an exhilarating need to push cinematic boundaries and have developed an excellent shorthand.
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