Joe

  Nicolas Cage plays Joe, an honest, hard working man trying to go straight after spending time in prison. When he hires an abused teen named Gary, Joe finds himself getting back into trouble as Gary’s problems become his own.
  Despite all the horrible stuff he makes, I am still a fan of Nicolas Cage. When he isn’t turning out shit like Left Behind or terrible movies about Ghost Rider, he occasionally shows audiences why he is a star. Say what you will about Bangkok Dangerous or National Treasure parts one and two, the man can act. If you’ve never seen him in a good movie, I would highly recommend Leaving Las Vegas, his performance as a guy drinking himself to death is heart breaking. Adaptation is another fine performance, in which he plays twins, giving each their own distinct personality.
  Joe isn’t a great movie, but it’s a solid film and as a fan of Nicolas Cage I was happy to see him in something good. Joe is a character on the razor’s edge, he has been through an awful lot and his pain is raw. He is trying hard to survive and follow the rules, but life is constantly testing him. When he takes in Gary, a good kid with his own problems, things go into overdrive. Gary’s abusive father and a local thug with a grudge against Joe team up to put him to the final test.
  The movie is quite dark and violent, but it does have some positive scenes. Joe’s relationship with Gary is touching, the two seem to really appreciate each other. Joe at first does not want to get involved in Gary’s problems, but by the end of the movie he cannot resist himself as he seems to genuinely care for the youth.
  Cage doesn’t completely pull off the character of Joe, at least not the pure machismo that Joe requires. This character is a hardened bad-ass, a violent man that can barely contain his pain and rage. Cage nails the pain, but I wasn’t fully convinced that Cage was the violent force of nature Joe is supposed to be. I like this movie but it might have been better to cast an actor who is more physically imposing, like Tom Hardy or one of the Wayans brothers. I’m just kidding, fuck the Wayans brothers.
  This movie has two good villains, Gary’s father Wade is a lazy, despicable monster who is capable of horrifying acts. In one scene we see him follow another drunk around, until he eventually strikes up a conversation with the man, before casually murdering him for his wallet and booze. The other bad guy is Willie Russell, a maniac with a scarred face that oozes sleaze. Watching the movie, I was eager to see Joe’s righteous fury consume these two creeps, the tension built was palpable.
  Joe was directed by David Gordon Green, who started off his career by making critically acclaimed, low budget dramas. Since then Green has moved onto more audience friendly films like Pineapple Express and Your Highness. I liked Pineapple Express but I’m glad to see the director go back to his roots, stoner movies are good in small doses but I know I’m more interested in movies like Joe.
  There’s a subplot about Joe’s love interest, a young woman who’s staying with him, but it doesn’t really go anywhere. Joe’s a pretty damaged character, and at this point it’s probably too late for romance to save him.
  I am giving Joe a recommendation, it’s not Earth shattering, but it is good stuff, and one of the better entries from Cage’s growing filmography of awful films. I had fun mentioning some of the shit movies the man has starred in, so to end this review I will mention some more. The Rock. Con Air. Face/Off. Windtalkers. The Wicker Man remake. Next. Season of the Witch. Drive Angry. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
  Jesus Christ, they’re making a National Treasure 3? Who watches this shit?