Review of Joe (2014) by Clem A — 25 Apr 2014

A gripping mix of friendship, violence & redemption erupts in the contemporary South in this adaptation of Larry Brown's novel. Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage stars as the title character, a hard-living, hot-tempered ex-con, who struggles to dodge his instincts for trouble.

Joe forms a bond with Gary played by Mud â??s star Tye Sheridan, a hard-luck young man he hires on his â??tree- poisoningâ?? crew for a lumber company. Gary has been the man of the house, taking care of his mother & little sister, while dealing with his monstrous alcoholic of a father played by the late Gary Poulter who has become violent with his severe drinking.

With this new friendship, Joe is struggling to control his instincts until he meets Garyâ??s little sister & knows that something bad has happened to her in the past. Director David Gordon Green teams up with screenwriter Gary Hawkins to brilliantly paint a brutal, intense & unflinching look at trying to make a better life while headed down the same path that you always go.

The performances from the cast which were a mix of real actors(Cage & Sheridan) & non-actors(Poulter & local Texans) were all superb. This was the best performance from Nicolas Cage I have ever seen & he should do more films like these instead of the crap films that he usually does.

You could feel Joeâ??s anguish, inevitably driven to resort to the violence of his past. It was unsetting to see an aspect of life where there is little to live for. MUST-SEE FILM. I highly recommend seeing 2010â??s Oscar nominated film, Winterâ??s Bone & the 2013 film, Mud.

Both films show the harsh reality of life.