TV REVIEW: STRANGER THINGS 5

4/5

Inside Out

8 Episodes. Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Nell Fisher, Cara Buono, Linda Hamilton & Jamie Campbell Bower. Created By: The Duffer Brothers. On: Netflix. 

1.3.2.4.5. All things must pass, and after nine years, Netflix's most famous and successful show, 'Stranger Things', is all grown up with its fifth and final season coming to a close to conclude the calendar. One volume of these epic, eight wonder episodes came in the fall of November. Another unwrapped on Boxing Day after Christmas. And the final, mammoth, movie like, two-hour, last episode ever came with the countdown at 0.00 on New Year's Day. Way to bring in 2026 with a mic and ball drop. Your eyes will be streaming tears, like your nose, blood. 'Squid Game', 'Ozark', 'The Crown'. No Netflix original series has it quite like The Duffer Brothers (to the Russ Brothers what the Safdie's are to the Cohen's) coming of age series (assisted by 'Deadpool and Wolverine's' Shawn Levy), nuanced in 80s nostalgia. Not even 'Wednesday'. Dialled up to Eleven, even the 'never press skip intro' theme tune is the best in show, as the marvel of this book of closing credits will illustrate your inspiration for one last time. We hope these heroes have had the time of their lives. But it's never really over, now, is it? This year, the animated 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' will do for the Upside Down what 'Squid Game US' will for the South Korean phenomenon. 

The Goonie gang is all here. All being pseudo parented by the legendary Winona Ryder, on fine form, and fan favourite David Harbour, licking his wounds after the Lily Allen album, but still drinking cop coffee out of a 'Father of the Year' mug. Stopping the hate, and turning into an X-Men like superhero in a jumpsuit, 'Enola Holmes' and the new member of the Bon Jovi family, Millie Bobby Brown is amazing as El, AKA, Eleven. Super powered and charged up for a formidable finale, as big and bloated as it is, bold and beautiful. All with the love of new 'Ghostbusters' and 'IT' franchise face Finn Wolfhard, taking charge, and telling us he's about to be welcomed back to Derry. The Dungeons and Dragons friends of Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin honouring Hellfire (EDDIE!) and their love's (sensational Sadie Sink about to show 'Spider-Man' a 'Brand New Day' and love?) love of Kate Bush respectively. Running up the hill and through Vecna's red room hellscape. Yet it's the sensitive, sweet soul of Noah Schnapp's wise Will that really finds himself, in more ways than one.

Triangles of love elsewhere keep this generational science fiction horror drama relating to the whole family...and all those they bring home. Natalia Dyer ('Velvet Buzzsaw') is still number one with an Emily Blunt in 'A Quiet Place' shotgun. In a house of wax with unsung hero Charlie Heaton, and still some sort of candle for Joe Keery (Steve "The Hair" Harrington being the new "Rachel"). Making music in his spare time, like Uma and Ethan's own Maya Hawke, all moxie, no nepo. You still suck if you think differently, baby! Yet it's the new kids on the block who are alright. Scene-stealer Priah Ferguson, really coming into her own. Or another little sister, Nell Fisher's Wheeler, makes her mark, with Red Riding Hood aesthetics, on this season, much more than most. And whilst we're here, let's give it up for the real 11 of 'Stranger Things', Cara Buono. Billy! We understand. 'Fleabag' favourite Brett Gelman is also on fire, snookums! And, the most famous new face, 'Terminator' icon Linda Hamilton, commands, albeit if a little underutilized. Even Prince's music keeps up with appearances for a show that sounds so good, even Frank Darabont came out of retirement.

Yet the cult favourite, and new Hollywood heartthrob, Jamie Campbell Bower is the one pinning up and possessing hearts. Albeit, not in his burnt spaghetti and worms form. I'm still of the ilk that thinks the Demogorgon, and those damn, dirty Demodogs, are iconic enough, even if they do look like, you know. Still, Vecna and that voice that have been haunting the penultimate, and this, the one last dance of 'Stranger Things 5', do make for something straight out of the John Carpenter like 1980s, like these chapter's type. Honestly, I can't stand that "noseless bastard", but isn't that makes for the perfect boo and hiss bad guy? Sure, there are other problems here. At times, this last season, finally showing signs of running out of steam, can be a slog. There's only so many times you can hear enhanced sound on literally everything. Opening a door. Putting something on the table. And what's with the murder of so many military men? Yet 'Stranger Things' is so iconic, the WSQK radio, and 'The Squak' (that you can actually listen to) is about to be, too, like those old vintage sweaters. And a massive, monumental monster end has even more legs in the meaning that follows. Still the best thing. Strange days forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85', 'Squid Game', 'IT: Welcome To Derry'.

STAND-UP REVIEW: RICKY GERVAIS - MORTALITY

3/5

Dead Funny 

59 Mins. Starring: Ricky Gervais. Director: John L Spencer. On: Netflix.

Morality may be missing in Ricky Gervais' new Netflix special, 'Mortality', but it's still a jolly good show. Even if we aren't always willing to be bloody good sports. Released after Christmas, just in time for the New Year, and in-between all those final 'Stranger Things' volumes, Ricky Gervais' 'Mortality' doesn't make any resolutions to tone down its darkest of dark humour and discriminatory subjects. Just like 'The Unstoppable...' surprise from fellow comedian of the type, Dave Chappelle, a week earlier and a few days before December 25th. As a matter of fact, Ricky resolves to go even harder against his harshest critics and communities he rubs up, on and off (ooo-err) the wrong way. Not to mention the comics who are calling him out.

Interchangeable with his 'Armageddon (2023)' and 'Supernature (2022)' specials before. Much like Ricky's cupboard of Primani, nondescript coffee shop worker, black t-shirts. The man, with dirty angel wings that Natalie Portman's 'Black Swan' would be proud of, is back to his old tricks. So much so, you could almost copy and paste a previous review, like you could use a promotional photograph from a past performance. But we're not saying that's a bad thing. If it ain't broke and all that. And this multimillionaire, like Chappelle, is far from that. This old dog knows new tricks, mind you. Especially as he discusses his own mortality, to hell with his place in the entertainment world. Similar to how Sebastian Maniscalo, who recently made the Netflix jump to Disney Plus, talks about walking past the mirror, past 50, in his new special. 'It Ain't Right'. And we all got it to come. But Gervais is staring into the abyss of what could be it. Life (he's not ready for the hereafter just yet, thank God) and legacy.

One that's being taken to task by cancel culture and all those offended. I mean, there are jokes about Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking and Jimmy Saville. The first two, are done in good jest, and not directly about them. The latter, can rot. The same can be said for his bit about Harold Shipman, which really reminds us of true evil and what a terrible place this world can be. A stand-up comedian just joking, one whose made sweet, sombre and soulful pieces of comedy art (like 'Afterlife'), truly pales in comparison to this devil red. Come for his response to all those comments (even if you might not like what he has to say). Stay for his behind the scenes look at the last, infamous Golden Globe's monologue that torched Hollywood. Not to mention anybody who ever took a trip to that infamous island. Face it, that James Cordon 'Cats' joke was absolutely hilarious, and Ricky will tell you how he got away with it here. No other mortal man could pull off quite a feat like this against 'I' dotting and 'T' crossing lawyers. No other, except this one. Call Gervais a disgrace if you must, but Ricky's reality check comedy is something we all need in a world gone mad. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: Dave Chappelle - 'The Unstoppable...', Ricky Gervais - 'Armageddon', Ricky Gervais - 'Supernature'.

TV REVIEW: STAR WARS - VISIONS (Season 3)

4/5

スター・ウォーズ.

9 Episodes. Starring: Masaki Terasoma, Daisuke Namikawa, Takako Honda, Manaka Iwami, Aki Toyosaki, Anna Sawai, Ronny Chieng, Karen Fukuhara, Freddie Highmore, George Takei, Harvey Guillén, Jodie Turner-Smith, Judith Light, Simu Liu, Stephanie Hsu & Steve Buscemi. Created By: Kanako Shirasaki. On: Disney +.

The anime anthology of Kanako Shirasaki's 'Star Wars-Visions' finds the high ground once again, in its third season, by returning to the format of being solely produced by Japanese anime studios. The second season was varied and fun, but this third time is the charm of taking us back to the outstanding origins. Culture and animation meet like two lightsabres striking each other, just like in the return of 'The Duel', in groundbreaking, grainy black and white, for some perfect 'Payback' you never saw coming. One that will add some more 'Star Wars' lore to these calligraphy like brushstrokes of our Ronin, a samurai without a master, but with a couple of Jedi in his corner. A new classic with a worthy sequel. Then, on 'The Song Of Four Wings', a princess, who could give Studio Ghibli's Laputa a run for her rebelliousness, takes you through a terrific, tundra trip, ripped with some video game soundtrack and some cute companions. Not to mention her own X-Wing jetpack and the best look at AT-ATs since they were lassoed up like Spider-Man. This is how anime can even take Star Wars to strange new worlds...wait, wrong franchise.

And if you thought she was heroic, and those androids, adorable, then just you wait for the force of 'The Ninth Jedi' to be with you, and its own saga beginning. All for more parts and spin-offs for this amazing anthology of separate storytelling with strands of plot longer than soba in this soup. To be continued with the next part's episode, but not before there's an even bigger bounty to have and be hunted in an epic episode voiced internationally by 'Shogun' star Anna Sawai and classic comedian Ronny Chieng. Making for a compelling pairing, we'd love to see in live action. Hey, Disney are doing it with everything and everyone else. 'Yuko's Treasure' is a real, fond find which shows you what it would be like if 'Star Wars' met 'Ghibli', like Grogu and those Dust Bunnies, and starred a 'SpyxFamily' like Anya. And we even have a neighbouring character, cuter than Totoro. This will really move you in the only hope of the end. Voiced by Masaki Terasoma, Daisuke Namikawa, Takako Honda, Manaka Iwami, Aki Toyosaki, and the likes of Freddie Highmore, George Takei, Harvey Guillén, Jodie Turner-Smith, Judith Light, Simu Liu, Stephanie Hsu and Steve Buscemi internationally, these Japanese roots reach to galaxies far, far away.

Now, if you're feeling like 'The Lost Ones', then the outstretched hand of a real hero will help you, in this atmospheric animation from Kinema Citrus Co. Especially when it peels back the layers to find the fruit of the past. As perfect as the poster, this episode between 'Revenge' and 'Hope', internationally stars Karen Fukuhara of 'The Boys' and 'Bullet Train' fame, and focuses on mentor and apprentice relationships that will cut you more times than Anakin. A worthy sequel in matrimony to 'The Village Bride'. Smuggling more on the seventh episode, like an awakening force, for the shortest part of the set, but one that could hold so much more in its series future. Produced by Studio Trigger and first announced during the Star Wars Celebration in Japan in April, this one rescuing a fugitive is a runaway hit. Fighting and taking flight through Star Wars history and its own visionary legacy. Then, the penultimate part, 'The Bird Of Paradise', shows you real sight through the third eye of a Jedi Padawan blinded in battle. These trails and parts will take you through yours, with proverb affirmation, as we head into the New Year of the Fire Horse. All before 'BLACK' fades to anything but. A psychedelic, fever dream devoid of dialogue, but one that speaks volumes as one of the most visionary yet. And now we have 'The Ninth Jedi' ('Star Wars Visions Presents') anime to look forward to. Sound and vision. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Star Wars: The Bad Batch', 'Love, Death + Robots', 'What If...?'.

REVIEW: MARTY SUPREME

4/5

Supreme Clientele 

150 Mins. Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara & Fran Drescher. Screenplay: Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie. Director: Josh Safdie. In: Theatres.

Madness in movies has never been done quite like how the Safdie Brothers do in the anxiety attack classics 'Good Time' and 'Uncut Gems'. The New York brethren, becoming the new Cohens in the process, with their cinematic capsules for the canon. But just like the 'No Country For Old Men' and 'The Big Lebowski' directors, these brothers are taking a brief break from each other to see what they can do all on their own. Still lighting up the best studio in cinema, A24, with inspired instant classics. All for good sport and nerve-shredding entertainment in a tableau of human horrors even King couldn't conjure up. First, in-between making movies with 'Gem' Adam Sandler ('Happy Gilmore 2') and Christopher Nolan ('The Odyssey'), Benny Safdie gave us 'The Smashing Machine' with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, whose character refused to shake his hand in 'Oppenheimer's' most outstanding moment. And now, Josh Safdie serves up the instantly iconic 'Marty Supreme'.

Ping-pong. Imagine making a movie out of all that. And that's exactly what Josh does with fellow screenwriter Ronald Bronstein ('Frownland'), who co-wrote the brother's previous pictures. Truly thrilling table tennis scenes set this game and match up, but how will this movie get paddled bums in seats, especially over the holidays? Two words for you, Timothée Chalamet. The 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Dune' franchise face is 'Marty Supreme'. And coming in the same calendar as his Academy Award nominated 'A Complete Unknown', he truly wins as the best actor in the game. And get those envelopes ready, because this may even be better than his turn as Dylan. Timmy told us he wanted to be one of the greats. And now, from a 'Beautiful Boy', to 'Bones And All', he really is, in your best Karl-Anthony Towns voice, watching the New York Knicks from courtside at Madison Square Garden with the great Ben Stiller (and you know they're just cooking something up, like having a bite after the game in NYC's Hell's Kitchen). Supreme, supreme, like Talib Kweli and Mos Def.

Josh Safdie knows how to put Timmy Chalamet through the ringer, like fellow generational great Ari Aster does Joaquin Phoenix ('Eddington', 'Beau Is Afraid'), who Timothée recently dubbed, "the weird GOAT." All for an almost 'Avatar' like runtime of fire and ash. Set to the nostalgic tune of a stunning score from Daniel Lopatin (OPN, Chuck Person). And with 'Marty', very loosely (because a lot of crazy s### happens here) inspired by the life of American table tennis player Marty Reisman and his 1974 autobiography ('The Money Player'), A24 now have their biggest ever four-day opening for a film. Move over, Bill Murray! This 'Wonka' is the new King of Christmas. The bespectacled wonder of Chalamet dreams big this Christmas as one of the National Board of Review and American Film Institute's top ten films of the year. Just being called in to the line of 2025, with a couple of Golden Globe nods to its name. Inspired by Paul Newman in 'The Hustler' and 'The Color Of Money', Chalamet's complete performance, blood, sweat and earned tears, has drawn comparisons to Pacino in 'Dog Day Afternoon' (my favourite movie). And after being reduced to paddling around with a walrus at the halftime show for the Harlem Globetrotters, sees him trying to get to Tokyo for a revenge match against a Japanese player that spanked him in London...HARD!

All through lost dogs, affairs with Hollywood actresses and the best hustles you've seen in cinema. Gwyneth Paltrow gives her best in years, and the intimacy coordinator a hard time, as a fading starlet, the kind this amazing actress is anything but. Bringing boldness to this picture, like rising star Odessa A'zion ('I Love LA', 'Hellraiser') and fellow legend, Fran Drescher. But everyone owns their screen time here, from dog owners to orange ping-pong designing wizards. The kind you see in perfect promotion at the creative Sphere in Las Vegas. Tim standing atop, all before distributing 'Supreme' jackets, as sought after as the clothing brand of the same name, to the best of the best, like Susan Boyle. Canadian Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O'Leary is on business and provocative filmmaker Abel Ferrara ('The Driller Killer', 'King Of New York') will leave you not knowing what hit you, like a bathtub out the ceiling. But standing next to Timothée, it's Tyler Okonma, AKA top hip-hop star, Tyler, The Creator, who really taps the glass, acing his acting assignment in his own amazing year. This smashing gem really is a supreme, uncut classic. The flyest Marty yet. TIMOTHEE DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Uncut Gems', 'The Smashing Machine', 'A Complete Unknown'

STAND-UP REVIEW: DAVE CHAPPELLE - THE UNSTOPPABLE...

3.5/5

The Closers

75 Mins. Starring: Dave Chappelle. Director: Rikki Hughes. On: Netflix.

Controversial comments, like cigarettes, come thick and fast in Chappelle shows. I remember seeing him on Broadway in New York, on the 4th of July weekend in 2019. Far from 'The Closer', but close to the edge of the time when we were coming to put in check our, and the world's own, casual cruelties. He opened with a great gag that elicited as many groans and gripes as it did cackles and cheers. He promptly told us all in attendance at NYC's Lunte-Fontnane Theatre to "man the f### up", because it was going to get much worse from then on out. He wasn't lying. He was thriving. It really did. But it was oh so good. No wonder he had our phones locked up like Styles P and Akon.

Now, unwrapping a surprise stand-up special for Netflix right in time for the holidays, he's at it again like Timbaland and the late, great Magoo. It's been some time since 'The Closer' caused uproar in the LGBT community, but he doubled-down on his last special, 2023's 'The Dreamer'. Now, like a Denzel Washington runaway train, he gives us 'The Unstoppable...', directed by Rikki Hughes, with more in its name ('The Unstoppable N##### Act'), similar to an untitled Nas album channelling the one and only Gil Scott-Heron. You can expect Dave to more than ruffle feathers as much as he rifles through his black and white photo black book of celebrity connects for his closing credit gallery. Featuring everyone from Bruce Springsteen to a Wayans brother ("there's more of them"). In this one, he defends Diddy (sort of...he's obviously kidding around, but there's something deeper to be said) and his Bill Burr like tour of taking that Saudi Arabia money. And of course, he goes by the J.K. Rowling book when he talks about a certain community.

Most, and certainly Bill Maher, won't like it, but once we get past all of that jazz, in self-defence instead of deference (the kind that ruined Ricky Gervais' last special a little, let's hope the same can't be said for the one he has primed for the New Year), we get to some real comedy gold, that's truly saying something about the society we live in at this very maddening moment. The kind of lions and lambs talk he was getting at in his Mark Twain prize acceptance speech, with his mother mouthing along what she always told him, in a bold and beautiful opening here. Sure, taking it to Trump, Musk et al, right there in the US nation's capital of DC, Dave Chappelle is not afraid in his Kaepernick jacket. Even if he is scared of his own attack and what happened to Charlie Kirk. Chappelle says he was no MLK, and makes some good points, in-between the jabs. Social media and search engines, on the other hand, will just run off the fumes of these controversial quotes without the context, or the nuance, that is king.

I, myself, should have even looked at 'The Closer' closer. But when it comes to this one, we should really sit up and take notice, as he gives us a knockout story about Jack Johnson (the boxer, not the 'Sitting, Waiting, Wishing' singer) which really hits at the racial divide in America that's sadly canvas imbedded in the history of that great countries skin, like orange is in the White House. Not only that, he links it all together with a story about Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' (because you know what that song is all about, right?) and Senator John McCain. Two great men in history and humility. And the karma of the date we got Obama. But before you get at the late McCain, like an ignorant Trump saying he doesn't like his war hero's captured, check why John McCain really remained a POW. The iconic Nipsey Hussle and legendary Aretha Franklin also get their respects, as does Chappelle's comedy muse and mentor, the late Charlie Barnett. One of his jokes he references we've actually heard before in a Chris Rock special. The jokes about transgender people and Cassie need to stop, like Diddy and blood money, but this is one act that still has some right in it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: Dave Chappelle: 'The Closer', Dave Chappelle: 'Equanimty', Dave Chappelle: '8.46'.

REVIEW: AVATAR - FIRE AND ASH

3.5/5

Ashes To Ashes

197 Mins. Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Jack Champion, Britain Dalton, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Giovanni Ribisi, Jemaine Clement, David Thewlis, Cliff Curtis & Kate Winslet. Screenplay: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Director: James Cameron. In: Theatres.

Endurance comes in many forms. Acting underwater. Fighting for your fortress of a family. Sitting in the middle of the back row of a packed theatre, watching an 'Avatar' movie, and needing to go to the bathroom after the first act. Perfect preparation for the window seat of my 12-hour flight tonight. These water logged sequels, a decade later, make the original 'Avatar's' three-hour runtime a thing of the past. And you can never really get that time back. A whopping 197 minutes of crossed legs and finished popcorn greets us with the great James Cameron's ('Titanic', 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day', 'The Abyss') 'Avatar: Fire And Ash'. The follow-up to 2022's wonderful 'The Way Of Water'. World building towards two more movies, released in the December's of 2029 and 2031 respectively. And you just know these movies will be just as massive and monumental. No romcom runtimes for something that should have been a series if it wasn't for that IMAX inspired big-screen dream. All this time, and it's still papyrus, Ryan Gosling.

Sure, the 'Avatar' franchise is not as iconic as say, 'Star Wars', epic as 'The Lord Of The Rings', or as classic as the 'Planet Of The Apes', but it's still a great of our generation. Even if most moviegoers will be more highly anticipating the new 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer rumour that broke Threads. And yes, it's no A.I. He's back! Back to the titanic franchise assembling that was out grossed by 'Endgame', Cameron, with screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, has given us another hair-twisting tail, that might just be the best braid yet. And that's all thanks to the live wire talent of 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Taboo' star Oona Chaplin, as a delicious new villain who snarls menace as she says "your Goddess has no dominion here" in the terrifically teasing trailer. The daughter of Geraldine Chaplin and granddaughter of Charlie, looking iconic in blue and red. Making naughty and nice with merc turned smurf Stephen Lang, who is always game. Wanting those weapons that sound like thunder.

Top of the call sheet, Sam Worthington is still the man, like he was in those early 2000s, as Jake Sully, the Avatar with human blood...and those pink palms. But it's 'Emilia Perez' Oscar winner and 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'/'Star Trek' star Zoe Saldaña whose star really shines the most. Expressively acting out of her motion capture as a mother in mourning, trying to work her bow and arrow again, all to find the heart. That's in a movie that sees Cameron reunite with both Kate Winslet and 'Aliens' star Sigourney Weaver, who's about to add even more to her sci-fi cannon with 'The Mandalorian & Grogu'. Along with the great Cliff Curtis and CCH Pounder, the behind the console scenes likes of Joel David Moore, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Giovanni Ribisi all return. Whilst the legendary David Thewlis make a new mark, promising more. Yet it's the coming of age 'Boyhood' development of Jack Champion and Britain Dalton that really makes this fire of a franchise find new fans. In the ashes of brimstone battles and the vivid visuals, 'Avatar' has its humanity and heart. Cinematic art for the digital age we crave. A beautiful blue. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Avatar', 'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Titanic'.

REVIEW: EDDINGTON

3.5/5

No Country For COVID

149 Mins. Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., Austin Butler & Emma Stone. Screenplay: Ari Aster. Director: Ari Aster. In: Theatres. 

2020 in hindsight, like the words of the bull free-falling promotional poster in black and white, is given to us, no mask, in Ari Aster's neo-western thriller set in 'Eddington'. Written and directed by the crazy genius, and one of the directors of the moment, who has so far given us two horror classics ('Hereditary' and 'Midsommar') and two bloated blockbuster think-pieces with Oscar winning 'Joker' Joaquin Phoenix (the other being the madness of 'Beau is Afraid'). One that on the surface looks like a misfire, but has and hides more substance in its subterfuge, as we just point fingers at each other. Maybe Joaquin Phoenix is Ari Aster's new muse, like the dynamic director/actor amazing pairing of Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, or those Scorsese and De Niro or DiCaprio duos. Aster, and 'Get Out' and 'Us' director Jordan Poole, are to the human horror genre what Wes Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson are to the weird and wonderful one of the great American movie. And this one, set in New Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaches the whole planet.

Ari sure knows how to put Phoenix through the ringer. Ashes and all. 2023's 'Beau Is Afraid' was like an anxiety attack of Adam Sandler in the Safdie Brothers' 'Uncut Gems' proportions, with 'I'm Thinking Of Ending Things', 'Tree Of Life' surrealism. And this one is no stranger to all that, not keeping to six-feet, as this stabbing satire pokes all sort of fun and games at the people we were and have become since that beginning of the 20s that roared in a completely different direction than those who thought it was the beginning of another Gatsby dance. One scene with Joaquin's solitary sheriff, all by his lonesome in a staked out cruiser, has him being told to wear a mask by a cop whose own one is barely flirting with his nose. Phoenix gets it from all comers, here. From those trying to do the right thing, to others with "I saved you", in your face virtue signalling, filming on their phones. Which these days are shoved in your face more than promotional fliers.

Equal parts funny and frustrating, this film, like the time, is all over the place. There's a sheriff in town who wants to be the new mayor, and Phoenix is perfect in his painstaking portrayal of the epic extremes of a man as villainous as the hero he wishes he was. Does that sound like something, or someone, familiar? Like 'Beau', this will be studied by film scholars years after when we do a victory lap of the formidable filmography of a fantastic actor that 'Marty Supreme' himself, Timothée Chalamet dubs, "the weird G.O.A.T.' To run this town, he must get past everyone's vote for mayor. The one and only Mr. Fantastic. Everybody's favourite, until a typical social media, this summer, Pedro Pascal. Underused, but undeniable, we wish Pascal's part touched on more. But his campaign commercials are cackle coaxing classic. Also missing in most of the action, is rising poster actor of the moment, your every own 'Elvis', Austin Butler. Playing a radical cult leader with that holier than thou look of someone who will call you "brother" (after knowing you for five minutes) just after taking your life away.

Emma Stone, who has this Phoenix pairing with fellow outstanding offbeat director of our generation, Yorgos Lanthimos, is also desperately on a milk carton here, but anything but sour when she does have time to find in this film. Instead, an inspired turn from her mother, played by legend Deirdre O'Connell, has more influence. Perfect, like when she was the mother to Colin Farrell's 'Penguin'. Elsewhere, Phoenix's partners in questionable law enforcement see fantastic flanking from 'American Sniper' and 'Yellowstone' star Luke Grimes (the football body armour will have you in more tears than gas) and 'Empire Of Light's' brilliant star Michael Ward (who might be the one true north in this perplexing picture). Even an unrecognizable Clifton Collins Jr. shows us as a symbol of this all, like he did in his brief, but brutally telling turn in one of this year's best, 'Train Dreams'. And just before you think this film is preaching too much about those it's taking to practice, a signature Aster third act showdown with a minigun, terminates all that, as the sheriff loses more than his Stetson. Ari and A24 give us another gilded gem in 'Eddington'. As divisive and as uncomfortable as the time it captures, and with a sequel on the way, nothing is as wild as this west. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Hereditary', 'Midsommar', 'Beau Is Afraid'.