A black comedy about COVID-19 lockdowns? Too soon? Maybe not, as this film was a hit at Cannes. The story plays out in May 2020 in the small town of Eddington, N.M., where residents accuse Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) of not enforcing mask mandates — he’s not a fan because he has asthma and they make it hard for him to breathe. The escalating protests, for and against, convince Joe to run for mayor.
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The chaos hits close to home after he posts a video online accusing his liberal opponent (Pedro Pascal) of sexually abusing his wife (Emma Stone) and the two end up in a standoff. While the film is polarizing politically and morally, Phoenix’s tour-de-wacko performance as the increasingly unhinged sheriff is as riveting as his turn as the Joker.