DVD Corner

Eddington Blu-ray Review

“Eddington” never takes a stance.

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, “Eddington” takes place in the small New Mexico town of Eddington. The story focuses on Sheriff Joe Cross and Mayor Ted Garcia who are constantly at odds with one another. Ted is enforcing mandates and planning for a big data center while Joe is against the mandates and is dealing with a chaotic home life involving his strange wife (Louise) and his out there mother-in-law Dawn. Ted is running for re-election and Joe decides to throw his hat in the ring. This is when all hell breaks loose. Murders occur, someone is framed for murder, terrorists invade Eddington, Louise runs off with a cut leader, protests happen, etc. 

After the bloated and pretentious “Beau Is Afraid,” Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix reteam for the timely A24 film “Eddington.” For the first two-thirds of the film, writer/director Ari Aster crafted a gripping story about conspiracies, politics, COVID, division, cults, activism, violence, social media, and racism while cleverly framing it through a western lens. Unfortunately, the last third falls apart as Aster doesn’t really commit to the ideas he presents. He spends much of the runtime setting up characters and plot and stuffing in countless subplots about modern day existence and that’s about it. There’s no real viewpoint and the satirical element never really lands. You’re left wanting more because the pieces here are ripe for a riveting film. Still, there’s no denying that Aster is a captivating original voice in cinema. His films may not always work, but he’s always worth watching.

The cast is stacked with talent. Once again, Joaquin Phoenix gives an excellent and intense performance as the unstable Joe. 2025 is truly the year of Pedro Pascal and the actor shows even more range as the Mayor. Emma Stone and Austin Butler don’t have a ton to do here as their characters are rather mysterious, but they turn in fine work regardless. Luke Grimes (of “Yellowstone” fame) and Micheal Ward also shine as police officers.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a sharp transfer. It should be noted this title is also available on 4K.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Perhaps a little low for an Atmos track, but effective in the right moments.

Extras include 6 postcards and a 33 minute featurette titled “Made In Eddington” with film clips, cast and crew interviews, set footage, discussions about the location shooting, western tropes, characters and themes, etc.

October 19, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | A24, Ari Aster, Austin Butler, Eddington Blu-ray Review, Eddington Movie, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, western