The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) is a political thriller directed by Dee Rees, based on Joan Didion’s novel. The story follows Elena McMahon (Anne Hathaway), a seasoned political reporter who gets entangled in a dangerous world of arms dealing. Elena takes over her father’s (Willem Dafoe) risky business, unknowingly getting deeper into a covert operation that threatens her safety. As the stakes rise, she becomes torn between her journalistic integrity and the reality of her family’s shady dealings.
The film explores themes of corruption, personal sacrifice, and moral ambiguity against a backdrop of 1980s U.S. politics. With a fragmented narrative and complex characters, The Last Thing He Wanted delves into the consequences of being caught in the crossfire of political and criminal intrigue. Despite its compelling source material, the film received mixed reviews for its pacing and narrative structure, though Hathaway’s performance was widely praised.
