‘You Were Never Really Here’ Movie Review: A Hitman Thriller

Widely-acclaimed as the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay and Best Actor Award of 2017, You Were Never Really Here is an honest and brutal depiction of politics, corruption, and satire. The movie is accompanied by the unique and creative portrayal of director Lynne Ramsay’s (Ratcher, Morvern Callar, We Need To Talk About Kevin) inimitable poetry.

You Were Never Really Here is based on Jonathan Ames’ novella of the same name. The film follows the story of on Joe’s (Joaquin Phoenix) point of view, and at some parts of the movie, Joe is sometimes absent from the screen entirely. This is to show that we are inside his head. Joe is an emotional force so heavy that it cannot resurface. With Joe ’s experience of trauma and constant flashbacks from an abusive childhood, his character turns into negative space.

From the get-go, Joe is portrayed in pieces—his rough hands pick up suspicious items like a hammer covered in blood and duct tape. Something sinister has obviously just occurred.

Alison Cohen Rosa/Amazon Studios

Joe lives in Brooklyn and takes care of his mother at the same time. But despite his noble duties as a son, Joe is a hitman for a private detective and prefers using a hammer as his weapon. Joe is then hired to save a Senator’s underage daughter (Ekaterina Samsonov) from a sex trafficking ring.

You Were Never Really Here draws massive inspiration from the 1973 film Taxi Driver, as well as The Big Sleep. The film follows the story of a brave warrior delving into a deceitful world where politics and sexual exploitation creeps into the high ranks of society.

You Were Never Really Here is a movie reminiscent of the 80’s thriller and corrupt cop movies. Ramsay’s gift of showing a unique and intriguing character development makes her approach a bit ambitious—but still works somehow. Ramsay did not sentimentalize and manipulate how we’re supposed to feel about the lead character. It is also shown in one scene that Joe is tender and funny, but the next frame shows him hitting someone over the head.

Alison Cohen Rosa/Amazon Studios

Jonny Greenwood, who took care of You Were Never Really Here’s soundtrack, made a commendable approach and atmosphere that highlighted the tension and fear. The sound design is created as if it was a living nervous breakdown. In one scene—while the air is filled with white noise—the city of New York howls in a persistent uproar of subways, traffic, and horns.

Ramsay’s tough approach to filmmaking goes beyond the in-between spaces, the void where the marginalized try to exist in a confusing world. Ramsay’s films tend to be filled with important clues and details that one must not miss. It often requires her performers to meet Ramsay’s aesthetics.

Alison Cohen Rosa/Amazon Studios

Phoenix’s portrayal of Joe is amazing, although he was a bit all over the place during his career as an actor. One significant characteristic he possesses is that he does not “stretch” the various roles he gives life to. In You Were Never Really Here,  Phoenix’s tears are heartfelt as they come down filled with angst, despair, and trauma.

‘You Were Never Really Here’ Overall Verdict

You Were Never Really Here is a rigid and unimaginably intense 90-minute movie. It’s grim, dark and at the same time ecstatically fun to watch.