I'm Not Here

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.

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.

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.

This film was a thinker. You have to make yourself think, and when you think you know what will happen, you are wrong. You wish you weren't, but sadly, you were wrong. Great film. JK Simmons was epic, and he didn't have to say anything. He just emoted through his role, and I felt for him -- hook, line and sinker. Sebastian Stan is good, sells us his 'version' of Steve, and we pay it. Iain Armitage is wondrous as Little Stevie, and is the future of Hollywood.

This is a very slow drama with an ending that will need some reflection, so if you don't like that this is not your movie.

Overall, being 100% honest, this movie is 3/5 (or 5/10 if you will). It's a good story, it has a great cast, and it leaves you thinking at the end. Seriously tho, J. K. Simmons deserves a standing ovation for his performance, it was magnificent.