Post-WWII Joaquin Phoenix, obviously traumatized and attempting to find a life for himself, makes several bad stops on his way to the eventual premise of the film.
It’s interesting, at first, especially wondering where exactly it’s going to go and knowing Phoenix will be there for 2 hours. And he
is, and he’s good as always – welcome back, JP.
But it never truly takes off beyond the pleasure of watching him act, and to a lesser extent watching Philip Seymour Hoffman.
It’s just too generic, too scattered, too unfocused to be the triumphant return I had heard it was for Phoenix. I mean, his PERFORMANCE is up to it…but he picked the wrong film. He just doesn’t get enough help.
You might disagree at first, but I found the more I watched the more disappointed I became in everything except JP and PSH.
Basically it’s another example of a hopeless, vulnerable, sad and tremendously damaged person being taken advantage of by a prophet of false hope. And I don’t mean that religiously; cruelty and abuse of that kind are very mortal, simple, basic human things…for some people.
Unfortunately.
Grade: C