You Were Never Really Here

Taken 4 features Phoenix’s rise from rap career to Taxi Drive. Stoned and hammered character blends seamlessly into his actor, and yet empathy Never Really emerges despite palpable pain and sensational cinematography. Oddly paced and extremely existential, Ramsay’s post-violent drama is improved by its music, but still misses despite score.

The Immigrant

Gray handles period in his usual somber shades. Cotillard polishes performance perfectly through stilted but compelling character arc opposite un-empathetic Phoenix and less than magical Renner.  On-the-nose dialogue disorder prevents emotional power from crossing over. Ultimately pays off with clever reveal and moral message even grayer than the skyline.

Inherent Vice

Source material is film’s inherent vice.  Phoenix stays lit as latter day Lebowski amidst a stellar cast of coked-up costars while Anderson’s brilliant long-shots mark the highlight of an overly long and convoluted mockery of narrative.  Rainbow pallet lightens the gravity of what may be the brightest noire ever made.

Her

Reborn Phoenix proves he can still play an empathetic everyman.  Jonze delivers another soft sci-fi with cinematic brilliance and deep philosophical conjecture.  Adams, Wilde and Rooney are brilliantly quirky/real, but the added sound of Scarlett gives the movie color, leaving Joaquin and us wondering what Her would be without her.

The Village

Underrated middle-act in Shyamalan’s predictably twisty career.  Well acted by an all-star cast and cleverly conceived.  Film is greatly hurt by clunkiness of the reveal and several forced lines of explanation thereafter.  Though his performance is great, Brody’s senseless (story-wise) character drags plausibility of film into pit spiked with silliness.

The Master

Phoenix rises from the ashes to become highlight of an impressively neutral portrayal of Scientology-style cults.  Anderson’s There Will Be Liquor lacks the cinematography of its Bloody predecessor and has even less story to-boot.  Hoffman’s return and Adams’ appearance in another religious piece still leave Doubts about meandering anti-climactic plot.

I'm Still Here

Controversial film about a Phoenix who tries to rise from the ashes by lighting himself on fire. Fairly well made film, that maintains its own legitimacy admirably. Still, fails to sell point solidly, and becomes overly offensive through use of coke, craigslist, and Diddy-Daddy’s comments on Assassination of Jesse James.

Gladiator

Archetypal epic and honeymoon of Crowe-Scott marriage. Beautiful cinematography, impressive action, genuine performances, and brilliant script lend to creation of an excellent film. Moments of Baby Scott style editing detract mildly but not enough to mar this masterpiece. So inherently good, for once even Scott’s director’s cut couldn’t improve it.