Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Eddington And What's Making Us Happy" Summary
Episode Title: Eddington And What's Making Us Happy
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Host: NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
Guests: Walter Chow (Writer, Critic, Film Instructor)
1. Introduction to "Eddington"
The episode kicks off with the hosts introducing "Eddington," a new film by Ari Aster, known for his unsettling movies like Hereditary and Midsommar. Glenn Weldon provides a brief synopsis:
"Ari Aster is the kind of filmmaker who loves to make the viewer squirm and cringe. He's done it with Hereditary, Midsommar. And now there's Eddington, which plunges us back into that familiarly distressing time of the early days of the pandemic."
(00:21)
"Eddington" stars Joaquin Phoenix as Sheriff Joe Cross and Pedro Pascal as Mayor Ted Garcia, set in May 2020 in Eddington, New Mexico. The film explores political tensions during the pandemic, personal rivalries, and the impact of George Floyd's murder on a divided community.
2. Initial Reactions and Satirical Approach
Walter Chow begins the discussion by addressing the film's attempt at satire:
"It answers the question of how you satirize a period that is unsaturizable in a way... Eddington tries to say the extremes of both sides seem consumed with these conspiracies. So why don't we make a science fiction movie in which all of them are right... and let it boil over."
(02:06)
He praises the film for attempting to tackle the complexities of the pandemic and societal divisions, despite feeling it falls short.
Glenn Weldon echoes this sentiment, noting:
"The pandemic seems both too close and yet not far enough in the distance to cover. So I echo a lot of your sentiment there."
(03:30)
3. Critique of "Eddington"
Glenn Weldon shares his disappointment with the film's execution:
"What he does is just give us the obvious and land us in the obvious point... everything on screen was there for a reason. But as this movie goes on and on and on, two and a half hours, you can feel his hands slipping off the steering wheel."
(06:08)
He criticizes the film for being "toothless" and "lazy," relying on hack observations without deeper insight.
Walter Chow counters by expressing his frustration:
"I did not like this movie. And I was angry that I didn't like it because I thought I knew Ari Aster’s deal... I thought he was in control of his narrative."
(03:46)
He further elaborates on how the film fails to develop its characters meaningfully, especially the sole Black character, Michael, portrayed by Michael Ward.
4. Portrayal of Race and Character Development
The hosts delve into the film's handling of race and character depth:
Glenn Weldon draws parallels to Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing but feels Eddington lacks the same depth:
"We have all these townspeople, all these eclectic people and how they all are connected... the difference is... Spike Lee clearly likes and cares about all those characters."
(12:13)
Walter Chow criticizes the film for using minority characters as mere symbols:
"Minority characters... are forced to carry, using, Aisha's term, the burden of their entire heritage... they’re seen as like a symbol or like a vessel to... project all of these ideas about anti-racism through and not as like a fully realized character."
(17:00)
5. Comparisons to Other Films and Directors
The conversation shifts to comparisons with other filmmakers:
Walter Chow mentions Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as a similar film that superficially addresses deep societal issues:
"Three Billboards... took one look at the great psychological, socioeconomical, cultural wound on the American psyche, that is race in America, and thought I got this and then proceeded to deal with it in such a shallow and surface way."
(16:05)
Glenn Weldon acknowledges the influence but still finds Eddington lacking:
"There's even a whole scene involving getting angry about music being too loud... like Katy Perry's Firework... it's obvious."
(16:33)
6. Performance Analysis
The hosts briefly touch upon the performances in the film:
Glenn Weldon brings up Emma Stone's role:
"She is playing Joaquin Phoenix's wife... part of the catalyst of the tension between the Pedro Pascal character and the Joaquin Phoenix character."
(17:00)
Walter Chow criticizes the authenticity of the performances:
"I saw Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix working out, you know, sociopolitical issues on a stage shot... it's tired."
(17:48)
7. "What's Making Us Happy" Segment
After the in-depth discussion on Eddington, the podcast transitions to its beloved segment, "What's Making Us Happy."
Walter Chow shares his happiness in the third season of Strange New Worlds:
"I adore this show... it's aspirational... good people trying to do the right thing in hard situations. More of that, please."
(21:55)
Glenn Weldon discusses his current reads and music preferences:
"Florentzer by Phil Melanson is a new historical novel... the prose, the vividness of this writing... Song of the Summer is Shake it to the Max, Fly* remix by Molly. It is amazing. It makes me want to be in a club."
(22:54) (24:04)
He concludes with a recommendation to listen to the remix and encourages listeners to sign up for their newsletter for more recommendations.
Conclusion
The episode provides a candid and critical examination of Ari Aster's Eddington, highlighting both the film's ambitious attempt to tackle contemporary issues and its perceived shortcomings in execution and character development. The hosts and guest share a range of perspectives, making the discussion both engaging and thought-provoking. The episode wraps up on a positive note with the "What's Making Us Happy" segment, offering listeners uplifting content to balance the earlier critique.
Notable Quotes:
- Walter Chow [02:06]: "Eddington answers, really well, I think how difficult that is and why there aren't more of them."
- Glenn Weldon [06:08]: "As this movie goes on and on and on, two and a half hours, you can feel his hands slipping off the steering wheel."
- Walter Chow [17:00]: "The only way out is violence. I probably wouldn't have wanted to see that film because all I would have to do is log onto my extended aunts, uncles and cousins, Facebook."
- Walter Chow [16:05]: "This film is doing the same thing [as Three Billboards], shallow and surface way that it showed its entire ass."
For more insights and discussions, tune into Pop Culture Happy Hour on NPR.