Review of Joe (2014) by Dustin D — 24 Jun 2014

Director David Gordon Green returns to his drama roots after a trio of comedies that ranged from decent (Pineapple Express) to downright horrible (Your Highness), and he does so without a hitch. Joe is a gripping, tense drama with powerful themes of family and redemption that shines due to some terrific casting and a confident narrative.

I'm not a huge fan of Nic Cage; I don't hate him, and he's had a few performances I've enjoyed (Kick-Ass, Drive Angry, Adaptation), but I've never been drawn to his work as an actor.

However, his subdued performance as an ex-con with a temper in Joe may be the one to change my mind. For me however, it was the young and very talented Tye Sheridan who stole nearly every scene. The range he demonstrates here is outstanding, and I really hope to see more from him in the future.

Joe is spun up in a brilliant metaphor that I didn't fully comprehend until the end. It runs through the entire movie, but is never force fed to the audience. It's subtle, much like the movie as a whole, and that's what makes Joe one of 2014's hidden gems.