Review of Joe (2014) by Lewis E — 25 Jul 2014

There is something about these southern US dramas that film critics salivate over. The slow red-neck, hill-billy accent? The woodland, almost desolate, landscape? Who knows. 'No Country for Old Men' was very good but overrated. 'Mud' was treated like gold instead of what it accurately said on the tin. 'Joe' fits somewhere in the middle.

Scenes where characters clash, particularly ones involving the abusive, alcoholic father, are filled with tension and are the most gripping. The father is played by a real life alcoholic homeless man (Gary Poulter) and you can definitely see how he brings his personal experience to the role. I fall short of agreeing that it was a career-resurrecting performance but Nicholas Cage was good in places. Unfortunately, 'Joe' loses sight of where it's strengths were, minimising the bad father-good son storyline for more scenes referencing Joe's rather dull past life. I know he is the lead but it didn't work as well when he was on screen without the other main characters. Also, I don't know why they made Willy, Joe's enemy (who makes an powerful entrance), out to be a coward. Significantly diminishes his initially portrayed antagonistic personality and his threat to Joe.

'Joe' has the elements to be a solid, emotional drama but these issues prevent it from fulfilling its potential. However, I would not persuade those who plan on watching 'Joe' against doing so since it is a good movie with very good features.