This should be a fairly quick review for the Best Picture Oscar nominee "I'm Still Here". For in all honesty, I don't have much to say at all about this film. Quality wise, I felt the same after watching this as I did when I finished "The Brutalist" last month. It's fine for what it is, but it nowhere near impressed me as much as I thought it would. With a subtle and restrained confidence, Fernanda Torres leads our ensemble as Eunice, the devoted wife of politician Rubens Paiva who disappears not long after Brazil falls under a new dictatorship.
The majority of the film sees Eunice answer questions to the Brazilian government and manage her family the best she can amidst uncertainty over Rubens' whereabouts. In her main role, Torres has the task of trying to stay strong for her children while fearing the worst internally. Torres sells it well on that front, masking her true emotions to the best of her ability. The film at least earns a recommendation based on Torres alone. If it wasn't for her, I would've been bored. The film captures the water and beaches of Brazil in all its beauty.
Clear parallels between Brazil in the 1970's and how many people in America feel today are established. It makes sense that a film titled "I'm Still Here" mainly has our lead stuck not exactly knowing what to do next. Either this film will be for you or, like me, you'll be underwhelmed by it. It took awhile before anything meaningful happened to earn my eventual investment in it. Also, just when we have an ideal note for the film to wrap up on, we're greeted with what feels like three to four epilogues in succession. It goes on for much longer than it needed to.
There was also an unnecessary death that felt cheap and unbeneficial to the narrative at hand. It should be easy to pinpoint which one for the record. The production value is strong all around, and it isn't just the setting I'm talking of. The wardrobe is authentic to the time period, including Torres' classy dresses. Plenty of shots taking place from an old school camera made during the 1970's is a nice nostalgic touch. "I'm Still Here" is a film that does what it sets out to do, even if it comes at the expense of any future replay value.
Final Verdict: 7/10
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