"You Were Never Really Here"

You Were Never Really Here is a 2017 psychological thriller film directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Joaquin Phoenix as Joe, a man with a traumatic past who specializes in rescuing kidnapped girls and has persistent suicidal thoughts. When he is tasked with rescuing the young daughter of a politician, he is forced to confront his demons and find redemption.

What I liked about the movie: Joaquin Phoenix's acting in this film is phenomenal. He's able to say so much only a few words, a shift in posture, a slight change in his facial expressions. The film is quite sparse in terms of dialogue, preferring to use brief, simple flashes of imagery for exposition. I also admire Ramsay's restraint in explaining the plot to the audience, as it allowed me to engage with the story and what Joe might thinking about at any given moment. The plot itself is simple, but the decision to avoid focusing on action scenes in favor of a deep exploration of Joe's psyche is what makes the film stand out as a truly haunting psychological thriller, with a powerhouse performance from Joaquin Phoenix.

10/10! I highly recommend this movie!