The story follows one intense day in the life of Steve, who runs a boarding school for troubled boys. The film tries to explore how pain, regret and broken systems affect both teachers and students. It aims for emotional depth, but the message gets lost along the way.
Murphy gives a strong performance. His face carries weight and his quiet moments show real emotion. He plays Steve with pain behind his eyes, and it’s easy to see why critics still praise him. But even with all his skill, he can’t save a film that feels unsure of what it wants to be.
The direction feels restless. The camera keeps moving, scenes are loud and chaotic and the film adds a fake documentary crew that distracts from the story. It tries to feel bold but ends up messy. I often found myself admiring the style instead of feeling anything real.
Still, a few quiet moments shine. When Steve finally sits alone or looks at the boys without speaking, the emotion is pure and heavy. These scenes remind you of what the film could have been. But they are too few, and they arrive too late to leave an impact.
The pacing also hurts it. Everything happens in a single day, yet the editing rushes through big moments. The story feels forced to fit into its tight time frame, so side characters barely exist. You sense what the director wanted to say, but it never lands fully.
In the end, “Steve” had all the right pieces, a great actor, strong idea, and emotional setup, but it doesn’t come together. It’s a missed chance. The film wants to move you but keeps tripping over its own style. It did not work out for me.