LIFF31 2017 #5
"Joe, wake up. It's a beautiful day".
"You Were Never Really Here" is a cold and brutal revenge story that isn't for everybody. Wasn't a slow burn or the usual art house film you'd expect. The story is straight forward; we see a suicidal, possibly sexual abused veteran trying to rescue a missing girl from sex slavery, but it's presentation is different. After it was over, I struggle to collect my thoughts and needed to take time to suck all the details.
But the more I think about it, the more I like and appreciate it. Themes play a big part, instead of plot. Leaving you to fill in the gapes. This might be frustrating for some people.
Joaquin Phoenix was amazing, as usual. The way he portrays a soft and rough person with a long history of violence told through his eyes. Phoenix was extraordinary to watch. You can feel the sweat, blood, and tears come off the screen in a couple of scenes.
Lynne Ramsay manges to build up this atmosphere and anxiety through her excellent directing. Even the on/off-screen violence made the film's energy of brutality so uncombable. Mixed with Jonny Greenwood's vicious and tense soundtrack. Of course the trashy and beautiful cinematography, only adds to the dream-like feel of it.
Issues I had with the film (which are small) is how too simply the storyline is or the flashback scenes could have been executed a little better. That's really it, to be honest.
Overall rating: Interesting look on the new "Taxi Driver".
Another impressive performance from Phoenix coupled with an artsy aesthetic makes this a work that you should see. I felt uncomfortable watching it, and not many movies leave me with that feeling anymore. It's also vague enough to keep you asking questions and dissecting it long after. I'll definitely be watching this again.
Extremely powerful and well shot+edited. However, this movie is not for everyone as it is not a point a to b type when it comes to story telling.
Unconventional thriller, as befits Ramsay's style, but not as good as I thought it would be. Visually great, but narratively weak, and it does fall on the side of pretentious at times. Still, it is a good film, and while I don't rate is as highly as some people, it is worth a watch. But hey, what do I know anyway? I was never really here!
I thought that this film was really a gem. I really appreciated that we did not know that much about the main character and the director really slow-played our discovery of him.
https://IHateBadMovies.com
"McCleary said you were brutal."
Joaquin Phoenix truly is brutal in this film. He gives a fantastic performance of this quiet and unhinged man for hire. Some beautiful cinematography and one of Johnny Greenwood's best scores makes this a beautiful watch. The editing is also amazing, what they show on an off screen really made the plot vague enough that we can fill it ourselves. The whole time while watching this I was uneasy but in a good way. Lynne Ramsay has another excellent film
"Joe, wake up. It's a beautiful day."
This one will never be forgotten. Its richness lies in the silent details.
Pretty Poor. Go watch Man from Nowhere or I Saw the Devil (both 2010) to see how this type of film should be made.
Slow and not engaging.
Also think Ramsey’s directing is consistently uninspired and don’t see why she is rated.
Skip!
4/10
What a fantastic film.
The triggers and mental episodes were done so well.
And just when I thought “how do they know who he’s connected to, how do they know the guys from the shop” and a general “who are they anyway”… at the end I slid into a “was she ever really there” and maybe everyone was killed by the same one person. Maybe.
This had all the ingredients for a great film; instead, it was a horrible, snail-paced, do-nothing story that went nowhere and told nothing. The horrors of human trafficking are real, and I get that; sadly, this story touched on it but did nothing with it. Confusing, disjointed, one of the most difficult-to-follow stories I've watched. Still not sure what I just wasted 90 minutes sitting through. Joaquin Phoenix is an outstanding actor, but in spite of his superb talents, this story just did absolutely nothing but slog around the murky edges of a nasty subject until it went nowhere.
I'm really surprised how someone could give this movie more than one star!!
A man walking with a hammer killing whoever in his face.
What is the idea of this silent movie, it could be good for the 18th. century.
Again Prime movies waisted my time.
A rather unconventional thriller revolving around a kind of twisted action (anti-)hero protagonist mentally broken beyond repair, who seems inevitably drawn towards the kind of traumatic situations that gave him that severe case of PTSD in the first place. This is echoed by the girl he is hired to rescue, a victim of child prostitution and clearly doomed to become a similarly broken person. Writer-director Lynne Ramsay is clearly more concerned with the inner torment of her characters than with the overall plot and achieves her vivid portrayal of their their messed up states of mind through purely cinematic language.
Votto: McCleary said you were brutal.
Joe: ...I can be.
Votto: I want you to hurt them.
Wow, where to begin. I went in blind and I was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised by this film. I want to give props to the cinematographer (Thomas Townsend), the sound crew. The way they tell this story gets you sucked in and the emotions can punch you in the gut. I see some people think it is too slow, but why rush a well-paced story.
Story line could have been good but the director was HORRIBLE!!!
"Joe, wake up. It's a beautiful day".
"You Were Never Really Here" is a cold and brutal revenge story that isn't for everybody. Wasn't a slow burn or the usual art house film you'd expect. The story is straight forward; we see a suicidal, possibly sexual abused veteran trying to rescue a missing girl from sex slavery, but it's presentation is different. After it was over, I struggle to collect my thoughts and needed to take time to suck all the details.
But the more I think about it, the more I like and appreciate it. Themes play a big part, instead of plot. Leaving you to fill in the gapes. This might be frustrating for some people.
Joaquin Phoenix was amazing, as usual. The way he portrays a soft and rough person with a long history of violence told through his eyes. Phoenix was extraordinary to watch. You can feel the sweat, blood, and tears come off the screen in a couple of scenes.
Lynne Ramsay manages to build up this atmosphere and anxiety through her excellent directing. Even the on/off-screen violence made the film's energy of brutality so uncomfortable. Mixed with Jonny Greenwood's vicious and tense soundtrack. Of course the trashy and beautiful cinematography, only adds to the dream-like feel of it.
Issues I had with the film (which are small) is how too simply the story line is or the flashback scenes could have been executed a little better. That's really it, to be honest.
Overall rating: Interesting look on the new "Taxi Driver".
This guy was an artist with a ball peen hammer.
Certainly this is Taxi Driver for the 21st century but with director Lynne Ramsey’s distinctive stamp all over it. We stil see wet, seedy, dark locations as Joe traverses the underbelly of society but this is juxatobpose by bright, clear, colours and well-lit scenes. Joe is multilayered and fair from being portrayed as a somewhat likeable pyscho or even unlikealbe one he is shown, and amazingly acted by Phoenix, as a basically normal man with huge flaws. He has a disasterious past that bubbles to the surface from time to time, he is horrifyingly violent but only in when the circumstance arises, other than that he’s a somewhat scruffy, beardy bloke, you might pass on the street.
Sure the film is slow past with plenty of shots of Joe ‘thinking’ or wandering about, the flashbacks are cut-editted in, I liked this but I can see how others would get confused or irritated but let’s think about this. It’s slow-placed, a bit boring, so there aren’t enough flashy, explody, bang-bang-bang films out there for you? This is the opposite. You can drink this without scolding your lips.
The story is shockingly violent. Violence seams throughout the running time like some precious ore yet Ramsay very clearly says right from the beginning she’s not interested in the violence despite it being part of the life-blood of the film. In a lesser director’s hands I could have watching arterial spurting, brain splattering and hearing bone-crunching sounds alongside screeching and screaming. With Ramsay we see it remotely, in black and white through security cameras, or the aftermath, which is a bit gory, or it is entirely implied. I wish more film-makers did this, torture and gore porn have never been mine thing and worries me that so many people seem to get a kick out of it when at times it seems to he the only reason for the film – but I digress.
Joaquin Phoenix as Joe is centre and stage and fills the screen as a big bear of a man who seems on the outside normal although clearly troubled. all other roles and actors are bobbing in his wake. With this type of presence on the screen you need an actor with big shoulders to carry you and with the mercurical Phoenix, Ramsay got her man. Few other actors could have had the screen presence to carry this and the film would have been very different without him.
As a story You Were Never Really Here is actually as straight forward conspiracy that goes to the very top story with a loner tough-guy sorting it out but give it an actor and director and the top of the games, let them twist the plot and pacing the way they want it to go and you get something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
‘The man with the ball pane hammer’ will not be for everyone but if you give it a chance, maybe view it in the right frame of mind and perhaps watch it more than once you will see more than you first thought you did. It is good.
Finally like Taxi Driver is there a subtext to tell what is happening throughout the film – the title, the final scenes, well it should get some debate going but in the end you make your own mind up as you should with all good films.
The visual and audio design of this movie wil make you feel uncomfortable for the whole 90 minutes of playtime, but it's totally worth it. Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely amazing and his performance gave me the chills more than once.
Unfortunately, it was pretty slow.
Possible spoiler, I suppose?... It never quite hit a climax, like one would hope it might/would.
It’s a beautiful day but a pretty dark movie. Amazing acting by Joaquin Phoenix.
An interesting watch that keeps you on edge from the start, despite its slow pace. Joaquin's performance is brutal. Somehow I felt it needed a stronger ending like [spoiler] him saving a lot more girls [/spoilers].
7/10
Really? Please don't do it again. WOT!
Fucking Skip It
There's a lot of posturing around this. Yes, it's bleak. Yes, it has the feel of a ponderous and thorough-going "gritty realism" piece, but the attempt doesn't make up for a going-nowhere script that and absolutely awful and confusing editing. Some of that was undoubtedly due to the shoestring budget and time constraints that come with that, but this is simply not the work of a talented or visionary director.
Nothing really works, is the problem. Except when Phoenix is just acting and noone is talking. I don't like his psychotic, nonverbal acting, but it's the only thing I felt was consistently well executed or compelling about the film.
The "flashback" shots look like they come from a completely different filmmaker and film. One of them looks quite nice.
The score from the lake scene was perfect, and well suited to the scene and film. The rest of the score was plain terrible. Like, the director watched her nephew play Hotline Miami, watched Drive, then decided to use a disused computer from 2006 with Fruity Loops installed to compose a track, bad. You could easily find better on SoundCloud.
There is a story to be told about suicidal people severely damaged by the horrors they've had to witness and endure, but this just isn't a good film. Also, Jesus Fucking Christ are we just going to have movies where all the main characters are nearly completely incomprehensible with their mumble acting for the duration of the film?
Cerebral psychological crime thriller about a veteran suffering from PTSD trying to save a kidnapped young girl from sex slavery. The story is filled with blanks and leaves you to fill them in with your imagination which isn't all that bad but it missed out on some potentially interesting narratives. The sex slavery storyline was underwhelming and paled in comparison to the psychological elements who were top notch. Phoenix gives emotional distress with every look on his face. More flashbacks and explanation would have been great though. The mother/son storyline was something else, that really got me emotional.
I love the visuals and lighting, score and music choices were spot on, great editing and Joaquin Phoenix was absolutely brutal. The climax (or lack thereof) is a bit confusing and frustrating at first but after reflecting on it, it's quite fitting. They could have added a little more in the third act before the ending though, something shocking or thrilling. Truly a depressingly bleak thriller that'll leave you with a lot to think about afterwards.
You Were Never Really Here is a disturbing and emotional film that stands out due to its solid performance by Joaquin Phoenix.
"The story is complex and the atmosphere is oppressive, but it is rewarding for those willing to venture into it."
While it may be a bit difficult to watch due to its graphic violence and dark themes, it is definitely a film worth seeing at least once. Joe's journey is deep and meaningful, and the film will leave a lasting mark. I definitely recommend giving this film a chance.
Powerful and disturbing. Phoenix was tremendous and this was beautifully shot. There wasn’t much to the story as evidenced by what seemed like 40 minutes worth of Phoenix staring into space looking disturbed and depressed.
Not an easy watch, very slow and methodical, but necessary for this type of film. I think you need to be in certain mood to watch this.
Kind of disturbing to watch but any film that can create that type of reaction is well done. Caution advised for those sensitive to taboo subjects.
A meditative path to the exit from a dreary dirty world, punctuated by short bursts of rage. A magnificent actor plays on one string, although his instrument is not a violin. And since the movie is not entertaining, it becomes clear that going to windmills with a hammer is possible, but unsuccessful
good pacing, definitely on the cerebral side so be aware of that if it's not what you're in the mood for. absolutely uncomfortable at times but i enjoyed it!
What a lost of time. I don't understand how this can like to someone...
Another movie where Joaquin Phoenix becomes his character flawlessly. A dark, deep violent movie that really is good. Rescuing young girls for a living and suffering from ptsd makes for a violent and very scarred man. Edge of your seat and highly emotional. A great watch
Phoenix makes it work, although I don't think there's much to really take out from this.
Beautifully filmed shots, a few very introspective/reflexive moments and a lot of "I don't know". "You Were Never Really Here" is not, in any way a bad movie, it's just overall uninteresting.
You could choose to either look at this film as full of meaning, feeling, heartbreak, and violence or a very slight art-house revenge flick. I choose the former...but only after having thought on it for a bit. Initially I wanted more until I let myself mull on what felt "slow" or "unneeded" and realized that there was so much left unsaid that you got glimpses of, that you need a bit of time to let yourself decide how you want some of the pieces to fit.
Underrated. Slow paced, minimal dialoque and visually brutal. My kind of action film.
All I can say is a good one from phoenix.
Really good revenge tale, score is amazing, editing is really good. Kind of a slower movie that still manages to keep your attention the whole time and Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal as always.
I'll never get my time back..
Hat erre kar volt ennyi idot pazarolni. Szerintem rossz. Nagyob rossz film.
I enjoyed this film to a certain degree.
The cinematography was very good, and the acting was really good, the pacing was on point and Joaquin Phoenix's character was very well written, he also delivered a great performance .
I know this is a film with a hit man and everything else, and that might attract the wrong audience, as people often seek and enjoy the escapism of violence in film, however, this film does exactly the opposite and tries to explore the reasons on why we are the way we are, obsessed with violence, or in this case, the reasons that the main character is obsessed with it and what built him to be like that.
Overall it was a good film.
Were they charged for the dialogues or did they have no budget for the writers? In passing, a governed and a senator in a pedophile case, little credible.
You were never really here
Man, did they F with the wrong guy.
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
0 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
1 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
0 / 1 misc
6 out of 10
I found it interesting overall but am not ashamed to admit I also found it a little hard to follow exactly what was going on in places. Maybe it's up to the audience to decide? The details seemed murky. The movie tries to shock you in places and to be different. This is refreshing but may also lose its way in doing so. Regardless of the other plot details it's clearly a story of revenge.
I did not really find it that similar to Taxi Driver or Drive in terms of cinematography or soundtrack, the main similarity of course is the protective male loner type character. As with De Niro and Gosling, Joaquin Phoenix was powerful and convincing.
8/10
Saw it at the Fantasy Film Fest White Nights. I really like the ending, last 2 minutes
It's the story of a twisted man on a rescue mission, and he's driven there by his demons. Startling, passionate and intense, the film is a series of long, winding passages punctuated with exclamation points. "You Were Never Really Here" is the sort of film you want to applaud when it ends.
Shout by Ninja PoonBlockedParent2018-04-09T07:10:54Z
Swing away Merrill...swing away