Maybe there’s a good movie to be had by delving into the psyche of a sociopath who turns to violence when he feels betrayed by society, but I’m not sure the director of the Hangover is the guy to bring it to us. While better writers than me have tackled a lot of the issues surrounding the film, I think the biggest problem I had is that it raises all sorts of interesting concepts without actually having anything to say about them. It’s provocative by being provocative without attempting to look at anything deeper. It wants to be an indictment on depravity even as it celebrates it. Couple that with how dark (in every way) and bleak the film is, it’s a mostly miserable experience, even as it’s anchored by an(other) amazing turn by Joaquin Phoenix.
excellent awkward 