Culture Gabfest: Eddington, Billy Joel, and Stephen Colbert's Late Show Cancellation

Review of Ari Aster's 'Eddington'

• 🎬 The film 'Eddington' stars Joaquin Phoenix as a New Mexico sheriff during the summer of 2020, amidst the pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and Me Too movements.
• 🎭 The movie is described as a neo-Western exploring conspiracy theories and mental instability, featuring a confrontation between Phoenix's sheriff and Pedro Pascal's mayor.
• 🤯 Panelists found the film abrasive and alienating, questioning if its experiential unpleasantness equates to dramatic engagement, with some critics calling it incoherent.
• 🗣️ Sam Adams suggests Ari Aster's films often feature characters who believe they are in an Ari Aster movie, convinced of conspiracies that turn out to be true, but in 'Eddington,' not all can be right.
• 🧠 The film is seen as capturing the conspiratorial mindset prevalent in 2020, mirroring the experience of disappearing down internet rabbit holes during lockdown.
• 🎭 Joaquin Phoenix's performance is noted for its intensity, though some find it repetitive and bordering on concerning, while others see it as directors typecasting him.

Discussion of Billy Joel Documentary 'And So It Goes'

• 🎵 The documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' explores the life and career of the best-selling artist, from his early days as an angry young man to superstardom.
• 🤔 The panel grapples with Billy Joel's legacy as both a national treasure and a punchline, with personal histories of liking, disliking, and re-evaluating his music.
• 💔 The film delves into Joel's personal torments, including his father's and grandfather's history with the Nazis, his struggles with depression, and two suicide attempts.
• 🤝 A significant focus is placed on his first wife, who became his manager and was instrumental in his career turnaround, with panelists suggesting he might not have achieved his level of success without her.
• 🎶 While acknowledging his melodic talent and earworms, some panelists question if his songs, despite their autobiographical depth,