I'm Not Here

I'm Not Here is a movie that follows the lead character Steve throughout three time periods of his life in a journey through the affects that alcoholism has on a family and the alcoholic. JK Simmons plays the older version of Steve and gives a fantastic performance of an aging alcoholic without saying a single word in the entire movie. But his performance is also part of the movie's weaknesses. Too much time is spent of his older years where Sebastian Stan as a younger adult version and Ian Armitage as the child version of Steve carry the film. Seeing their interactions with his parents and later his wife and child carry the emotional weight of the film. It could have easily been a great picture if more was focused on those time periods. As the picture is, it still is a good film that makes you think of your choices throughout life.

What I liked about this film: the acting was excellent, very evocative of the emotions of the situations being shown.

But I'm not sure what exactly happened in certain scenes. I guess we're supposed to assume the details don't really matter or that he's so drunk he can't remember or doesn't want to remember. The ending is what confused me the most. Was he imagining something that he wished had happened, or just felt better knowing that's what he would do if he could?

I suppose this film will appeal to people who had alcoholics in their family. I didn't, so unfortunately, it was a bit too confusing for me.

Acting at every age level in this film is exceptional from C.K. Simmons on down. Cute kids offset the struggles of their parents in this story. Tender couples scenes and family moments help soften the extreme regrets and personal isolation depicted to have resulted from alcoholism. There is no happy, heroic rehabilitation shown here. But the human foils and frailties are worth watching.

Excellent story showing struggles of an old drunk man who fights his addiction all his life, slowly ruining it till he's left alone. The storyline is short and filled with really touching moments. Definitely recommend.

This movie really touched me, it's very emotional though I think it's an unfinished work! This is very disappointing an hour and a quarter isn't enough :(