JOE

US, 2013, 117 minutes, Colour.

Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter, Ronnie Jean Blevins, Adrienne Mishler, Sue Rock.

Directed by David Gordon Green.

Nicolas Cage has made well over 100 films, sometimes many in the one-year, all kinds of films. He made a name for himself (omitting his surname Coppola because of the associations) during the 1980s, winning an Oscar in 1995 for Leaving Las Vegas.

Joe stands well as one of his better films. It was directed by David Gordon Green who began his career with small budget dramas, moving at this time into comedies like Pineapple Express, in later years making a Halloween trilogy and a sequel to The Exorcist.

The setting is the back blocks of Texas, Joe having served time in prison for assault, making his way with a troop poisoning trees that need to be got rid of, living alone, frequenting the brothel, some women friends, and a pet dog. Into his life comes Gary, an early performance by Tye Sheridan who was to have a significant subsequent career. He is 15, is brutalised by his father, asking for a job, bonds with Joe, Joe compassionate for Gary and his troubles, becoming a father figure. It is not easy, the brutality of Gary’s father, a long-time thug enemy shooting at Joe, the search for his dog, allowing Gary to buy his truck from him…

The film builds up to a dramatic and violent conclusion, confrontations, and Joe trying to do his best for Gary.

Before the film was released, Gary Poulter, a local vagrant who was employed by the director to act as Gary’s father – with some critics highly praising the performance as an embodiment of alcoholic brutality – was found dead, drowned in a shallow pool.

Direction, writing and performances make this film better than might have been anticipated.

1. Acclaim for the film? Awards?
2. The career of Nicolas Cage, this film standing out, performance, themes, issues?
3. The Texas settings, the back blocks, the town, streets and shops, homes, the brothel, the bridge, the woods and the trees? The musical score?
4. The title, the focus on Joe? The introduction, his job, poisoning the trees, his team and collaboration, living alone, the visits to the brothel, the women as his friends, in trouble, his temper, clashes with Willy Russell, Russell shooting him, his treatment of his wound, getting out the bullet, the black tape for bandage? The revelation of his 29 months in prison, his anger?
5. Gary, Tye Sheridan in an early role, his award, 15, the opening and the scene with his father, speaking directly to his father, his father hitting him, father walking away, the brawl? Home life, financial support, his mother, Dorothy, her not talking (and intimations of her being sexually abused)? His needing a job? Approaching Joe, making a good impression with his answers, conscientious, the work, the payment? Bringing his father, his father and the other men, drinking their water, not working well, their being fired? Gary and the brutal treatment by his father? Gary encountering Willy Russell, asking for the lift, the taunt about Dorothy, his bashing Willy Russell?
6. Gary, approaching Joe, admiring him, getting the job back, getting money, wanting to buy Joe’s truck? Joe agreeable? Testing out the driving with Joe? Joe and his response to Gary, an innate goodness, a father figure, Gary’s response?
7. The confrontations with Wade, Wade at home, brutal, demanding money, bashing his son? Wade and the vagrant, following him, talking friendly, bashing him, taking his money and drink? The confrontation at home and Gary desperate?
8. Joe and his dog, the dog with the brothel, the confrontation, bringing his own dog, the dog fight and Joe’s dog winning, going off, asking Gary to help him find the dog, their driving around, finding him?
9. The new truck, Gary and Joe going to the dealers, giving Gary the keys to the truck, his father taking it? Catching up with his father, in the truck, Joe threatening him, being ousted?
10. Joe, driving his truck, the confrontation with the police, arrested, his friend advising him to keep his nose clean? The policeman pursuing Joe, Joe confronting him?
11. The buildup to the climax, Willy Russell and his friend, bargaining with Wade, the money for Dorothy, Joe arriving, the confrontation, the guns, the accomplice shooting Joe, shooting Willy by accident? Joe wounded, shooting the accomplice, shooting Willy? Stumbling towards Wade, the confrontation, Joe and his collapse, Wade throwing himself over the bridge?
12. The arrival of Gary and the police, Gary embracing Joe, father figure? Joe dying? Gary looking over the bridge and seeing his father’s body?
13. Later, Gary with Joe’s dog, driving the truck, continuing the work?