Nathan Lane revealed how his Beau Is Afraid co-actor Joaquin Phoenix could not look him in the eye during filming. The upcoming surrealist comedy horror film, written and directed by Ari Aster, has Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. The trailer caused a buzz with its psychological elements and animated visuals. As promotions are ongoing, Nathan Lane revealed interesting behind-the-scenes about Phoenix as they worked on the film.
In his interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Nathan talked about his upcoming film with Joaquin Phoenix, Beau Is Afraid. The actor praised the film and increased the hype around it as he called it the “Jewish Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Lane then details his off-stage chemistry with Phoenix, disclosing the actor could not look him in the eye since Phoenix found Lane hilarious. Here is the full quote and video below:
“And, you know, it’s funny. He and I, Joaquin, we really hit it off, although we have very different sensibilities. He’s very intense, and I am just tense. But he thought I was funny, so every time we did a take he would say, ‘I can’t look you directly in the eyes, or I’ll break up.’ So just know that in every close-up and in a scene with me, he’s just looking directly at me nose.”
Beau Is Afraid Could Be Joaquin Phoenix’s Weirdest Movie Yet
Joaquin Phoenix is known for taking on unconventional roles, although the upcoming movie Beau Is Afraid is seemingly his most experimental. The trailer hints at an intriguing storyline, psychological horror setting, and creepy shots, which are the signature of Aster films. Aster’s movies also typically focus on the psyche and the horrors of the human mind, such as Hereditary and Midsommar.
Beau Is Afraid could become Aster’s weirdest movie yet, as Phoenix’s anxious character undertakes a nightmarish dreamscape after his mother’s passing. Based upon the few trailer snippets, the upcoming comedy horror suggests another Aster staple, where the movie may explore Beau’s mind and psyche while undergoing a few difficult tasks in his adventures. However, it is unclear what challenges are posed by Beau’s journey.
Beau Is Afraid is only Aster’s third feature film, while Phoenix returns to the big screen since his last movie was 2021’s C’mon C’mon. Despite its surrealist nature, the director and actor share a sense of unconventionality in their style, which adds to the film’s anticipation due to this pairing. As the movie gets closer to its release, it will soon be uncovered what fear Beau is confronting in his outlandish venture, whether in his mind or in the real world.
