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The Last Thing He Wanted
2020 116 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 16+
★4.2
Drama, Thriller
Director: Dee Rees
Trailers
Description
At the turning point of the Iran-Contra affair, Elena McMahon, a fearless investigative journalist covering the 1984 US presidential campaign, puts herself in danger when she abandons her assigned task in order to fulfill the last wish of her ailing father, a mysterious man whose past activities she barely knows.
Starring
Anne Hathaway
Actor
Ben Affleck
Actor
Rosie Perez
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2021
— Worst Actress
Key opinion
The Last Thing He Wanted is widely regarded as a significant failure, characterized by a confusing, incoherent screenplay that wastes its high-profile cast. While a small minority finds merit in its abstract, arthouse-inspired tone, the general consensus is that the film lacks narrative clarity, emotional stakes, and fundamental tension.
| Screenplay | The script is universally criticized as incoherent, failing to provide a clear narrative or resolve its complex political premises. | |
| Acting | The ensemble cast is viewed as a collection of star power that lacks purpose, with many characters feeling underdeveloped or unnecessary to the plot. | |
| Direction | Critics are split on the artistic vision: some see a failed, hollow political thriller, while others interpret the fragmented style as a deliberate, impressionistic exercise in chaos. | |
| Pacing | The film fails to generate suspense or maintain a compelling rhythm, leading to a sterile viewing experience that many find exhausting or stagnant. | |
| Acting | The lead performance by Anne Hathaway draws polarizing responses, ranging from sincere and empathetic to unlikable and detached. |