declan-murphy-96194 This is easily the sickest, most disgusting piece of excrement that I have ever seen in my 65 years. I am not squeamish, but this film shamelessly exploited gratuitous violence and sleaziness and truly had no "redeeming social value". All of the director, producer and actors should be ashamed of having participated in this flaming abortion waste of time. This film showcased the worst in human nature and had no lessons for anyone except the hopelessly depraved. I need at least three showers to wash this filth off of me.

mchertov-68655 It was 20 years ago that Nicholas Cage won an Oscar for Leaving Los Vegas. Since then, Nicholas Cage's career has been so volatile we cinephiles can hardly talk about it. Through the highs and lows of his career (and there have been many), Cage always leaves us wanting the high quality acting we know he has. And then he have Joe...Joe is about a character named Joe (Cage), a man who lives a simple life with his dog and his demons. He befriends Gary (Tye Sheridan), a young boy with just as much anger in him as Joe. While everything is there for a high quality film (domestic abuse, alcoholism, and a history of violence mixed with love, friendship, and fatherhood) the movie just doesn't deliver. The length and the constant use of slow- motion to show the feelings and mindset of the characters becomes repetitive and boring. The climax itself seems very out of place and forced. The majority of the characters are shallow, not helped by the shallow writing. And even with all this, there stands Nicholas Cage. If there is one reason for why this movie should be watched, it to see Nicholas Cage breaking out of the filth that his career has become. He is a terrific actor, which he reveals through his raw and gritty portrayal of Joe. Joe is a character torn by his desire to live his life, and the violence that he holds inside of him. Cage holds that rigid exterior for the entire movie, making the slight hints of vulnerability all the more heartbreaking. Even more heartbreaking is the way Cage takes Joe from a seemingly calm state to savage one. Nicholas Cage has a long road ahead of him. But Joe is definitely a start.

griz-259-175100 The latest offering in a genre of movies that audiences are eating up because it's so depressingly dismal that it would make whatever darkness a watcher is going through look like a bed of roses. A slow and plodding start eventually opens up to reveal . . . well, what? If this is any passable sort of representation of the American south, it is a skeleton that perhaps should have been left in the closet and not lauded before audiences. The performances are believable, well acted out. But the source material limits what the actors can do with it. Nicholas Cage's performance of the part was OK, but I find myself disappointed that he would attach his name to such a work. Perhaps he had gambling debts to pay off? Tye Sheridan was the only possible twinkle of hope -- but one has to plod through dysfunction and shocking displays of what Americana has come to call "normal". It's hard to believe this movie rated such returns or such reviews. One might find some small nugget that shines in a mountain of turds. But mostly, one will just stink after finding said small nugget of worthwhile entertainment.

Michael Radny Joe depicts some of the impacts of child abuse in a somewhat amusing (but serious) manner. However, it feels as if it is constantly trying to strive for its climax, making it quite boring until things actually become interesting. But when things kick off, they kick off, and the remaining of the second half of the film is quite good. Nicholas Cage surprisingly does a fantastic job in this film, despite his resume, and does a tough job to keep this film floating on a sinking ship. If you can battle through the first hour or so you will find light at the end of the tunnel. However, you can't excuse what could have been a much better opening. You feel as if the somber first act is being too pretentious in its goals, but it pays off somewhat in its closing act.