Joe

RELEASED IN 2013 and directed by David Gordon Green, “Joe” chronicles events in the heart of Texas when a goodhearted-but-flawed ex-con, Joe (Nicolas Cage), befriends a 15 year-old poor kid (Tye Sheridan) from a dysfunctional family headed by a hopeless alcoholic (Gary Poulter). Ronnie Gene Blevins plays Joe’s rival while Adriene Mishler plays Joe’s maybe babe. Aj Wilson McPhaul is on hand as the likable police chief. This is a southern gothic crime drama with a gritty melancholy mood similar to “Mud” (2013) and “Winter’s Bone” (2010). The guy who plays the kid’s dirtbag father was actually a homeless drunk who pursued acting in his youth. While he looks like he’s about 68 years-old, he was actually only 53 and died on the streets of Austin a couple of months after filming stopped. The movie depicts the ugly side of “rural trash” (aka “rednecks”) and is so downbeat some find it disgusting. Also, the film might seem sloppy story-wise, but that’s because it respects the intelligence of the viewer to read in between the lines. If you can look past these issues, there are thematic gems to mine and occasional glimmerings of light. THE FILM RUNS 1 hour & 57 minutes and was shot in rural areas outside Austin, Texas (Bastrop, Taylor & Lockhart). WRITERS: Gary Hawkins wrote the script based on the novel by Larry Brown. GRADE: B-