Joe (2014)

Awesome Movie

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. Joe was Nicolas Cage first critical success in 8 years the movie scored an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.9/10 in IMDb and to be honest i agree with IMDb in this one as good as the performances of Cage and Sheridan were the film had a very slow pacing, dumb moments such as Joe using his dog in order to take down another dog or Gary beating the crap out of Willie but for some reason he couldn't beat his father. The movie could have been better in certain points in some occasions or even use some of it's characters better now on the bright side like i said Cage and Sheridan have a nice chemistry together and the 3rd act is pretty good although i was feeling that something was going to happen in the end but overall not a complete disappointment but not a Masterpiece either. (7/10)

I'm a fan of David Gordon Green since i saw the hilarious comedy "Ananas Express". The movie was funny, violent, and had actually a heartwarming message about friendship. Then came a similar movie only set in a fantasy environment called "Your Highness", which is also hilarious and much less serious, but also had a little message about brotherhood and to do something that matters instead of hanging around and wasting time.But comedy isn't the only thing he can do, he's also very good in telling serious and dramatic stories about life like "Prince Avalanche", or now "Joe".This movie is now as far away from a comedy as you can get, it's gritty, realistic and unsettling from the start. So as a fair warning, don't watch this if you are not in the mood for a downer, cause man...this one get's all the way down...In the best way, it's very well told, and feels fairly engaging cause of the great direction and most of all the great actors.Nicolas Cage is as good as always, he never let's you down even if the movie surrounding him is pure crap. But he is not the only one, the two strongest performances besides him are Tye Sheridan, who seems to be a young actor we can rely on in the future and Gary Poulter, who was actually a real homeless non-actor, who's very real and insanely threatening in the part, but also died two months afterwards, which is sad.The cinematography is very art-house-ey and doesn't feel out-of- place at any point, it serves the story it tells perfectly, as much as the editing. Not to mention some terrifically moody lighting.There is not much to say contentwhise besides it get's fairly dark towards the end, but get a rewarding wrap up, so that it feels earned. It portrays very much how the life of people without real future prospects wents, and that everyone needs his own meaning of existence.Very well told, bleak, but also hopeful drama...

I had no idea that Gary wasn't a professional actor until I watched the extras on the DVD. He is so good in the role. Yes-as some mention he knew the life so perhaps it was easy for him to portray that on screen- but not everybody can do that. A good example of that is the guy who plays himself in the film about the Clash- Rude Boy- even though he is playing himself he is woeful. Anyway its such a shame that Gary passed away after making this film- imagine if he had a small film career start up on the back of this film- just like Danny Trejo has after he had a part in the film Runaway Train. He would have been able to get a home somewhere and perhaps even give up drinking. But it was not to be. I recommend watching the interviews on the DVD- he was quite an eloquent and funny man.Is this a spoiler? some people might read this before they watch the film- not knowing that Gary has passed away.

From what I have been hearing, Joe is a return to form by Nic Cage. I haven't seen many of his recent movies outside of the Ghost Rider series Knowing, and Drive Angry so I am inclined to agree. This film is a fantastic, gritty thriller about a kid finding the father he never had. This film is the 2014 version of Mud, ironically both starring rising newcomer Tye Sheridan. This film is very violent and has an explosive ending, but it is also a realistic portrayal of relationships. Also I must add a beware note to animal lovers because there is a good amount of "abuse" in this drama. David Gordon Green's film is about an ex-con named Joe who runs a company regarding the poisoning of trees. When he meets a 15-year-old kid named Gary, he finds a chance for redemption when he has a chance to save him from his abusive father. This is definitely Nicolas Cage's best film in years. He returns to form and has no crazy haircut or wild personality to speak of this time around. Tye Sheridan is one of the best newcomers these days and just like he did in Mud, he does a fine job portraying a troubled Southern kid. Overall, Joe is a very good film and finally a film from the 2010's worth crediting Nic Cage for. Granted, I have not seen those films to date but I don't hear the greatest things. This film is a realistic, gritty drama about relationships and trying to make life right. The director, Green certainly has a flair for making indie films that impact our everyday lives. Another fabulous film here in the vein of Mud. My Grade: A