Film Review: "You Were Never Really Here" (2017).

"Bring the hammer." This is You Were Never Really Here. This psychological action thriller film adapted and directed by Lynne Ramsay, and based on the 2013 novella of the same name by Jonathan Ames. When a teenage girl goes missing, a jaded, brutal enforcer attempts a rescue mission. He uncovers corruption and abuse of power along his way.

In early May 2016, it was reported that Ramsay would write and direct an adaptation of Ames' novella with Joaquin Phoenix to star in the lead role. By August, Ekaterina Samsonov, John Doman, Judith Roberts, Alessandro Nivola, Frank Pando, and Dante Pereira-Olson rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place around New York City. In early May 2017, it was confirmed that composer Jonny Greenwood would score the film.

The film stars Phoenix, Samsonov, Doman, Roberts, Nivola, Pando, and Pereira-Olson. I may not have completely loved the film, but because of the tour de force performances given by the cast, especially from Phoenix, I certainly won't forget it. The moral and philosophical argument that the characters endure is what gives the story its power; and Phoenix does an excellent job portraying a man ambivalent to the bone about the world around him. Phoenix hoists the film from a possibly melodramatic mire to a crushing discussion on the impact of morals and the lack of them.

The film is a masterful blend of drama and horror, with fantastic performances across the board (Phoenix especially, delivering one of his very best). As a portrait of a deteriorating state of mind, the film is a masterful one. The film masquerades as a psychological and philosophical puzzle but is essentially a thriller film full of decorous sensationalism. The film is yet another installment in the pantheon of post-modern films intent upon assaulting the human desire to give meaning to the world. The film in fact needs to be talked about, as what it is attempting to do by marrying the darkest, most nihilistic components of contemporary cinema with a redemptive message is groundbreaking. Within the genre of action thriller, the film is a doozy. It speaks to the worst aspect of humanity imaginable: that evil lurks in every corner of the world. An acute and profound dissection of the genesis of a complex, seemingly harmful world with an alarming potential for complete corruption and evil. I recommend you prepare before you see it. It poses difficult questions, and perhaps has too easy answers. But it's a grueling and fascinating interview process. It may be one of those pesky films that is awful to watch but is worth watching all the same. Oh, dear. As a psychological study of a shattered man struggling to make sense of a heinous world around him, it's endlessly fascinating. We're not supposed to talk about a lot of the ugly feelings the film stirs up, but maybe we need to. It may not be a crowd-pleaser, but it's not every day we get an emotional powerhouse of a film done this well.

Simon says You Were Never Really Here receives:

Also, see my review for We Need to Talk About Kevin.