Joe The King

This movie came as a total surprise! Frank Whaley in his directorial debut is a man capable of getting the most out of his cast, having been an actor himself.The film is a disturbing account on a family that appears to be beyond dysfunctional. The father, Bob Henry, is a man that life has passed him by and has sought company with the bottle; he is the janitor in his children's school. As seems to be the case with men in this situation, Bob vents his frustrations with whoever crosses him, as we watch in horror the way he beats his wife.Joe, the sensitive young son, is ridiculed in school by a teacher at a tender age (very disturbing), where compassion for his state in life would have worked better.As he grows, he becomes a young man that will do whatever in order to get what he wants. He begins stealing from the stores he is sent on errands as well as from the restaurant where he is employed as a dishwasher. We watch him as he eats hungrily the leftovers that come his way before washing those plates.Eventually, Joe will go to stealing from his boss and getting into trouble that will scar him for life. The only kindness Joe receives is from the teacher counselor in his school., played perfectly by Ethan Hawke.The best achievement for the director is the acting quality he gets from his cast. Noah Fleiss, who portrays Joe, is the best thing in the film. He is so talented. His acting career surged after this film. Val Kilmer is seen as the father who seems to live in a permanent fog caused by his heavy drinking. Karen Young is Theresa, the suffering wife. Ethan Hawke plays the kind hearted counselor."Joe the King" deserves a viewing because of the excellent direction by Frank Whaley and the fine acting throughout. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

This is a slice-of-life no holds barred movie about 14 year old Joe Henry growing up in a dysfunctional family in the 70’s. I can kind of relate since I grew up in a dysfunctional family in the 70’s as well. We weren’t this dysfunctional, though.This kid does not get any breaks. Sooner or later he seems to be set upon by just about everyone in his life, even if it was un-intentional. His dad, Bob, is a former school janitor who could not hold his job due to excessive drinking. Every time we see Bob he is in some stage of inebriation; either drunk, hung-over, or in the process of getting drunk again. His mom, Theresa, is a shattered woman who between work and avoiding Bob’s wrath seems not to have the time or inclination to look after her two adolescent boys. His brother, Mike, is one year older and in the same situation. Mike is trying desperately to get in with kids from better families to hopefully eventually have a chance at a better life for himself. Who could blame him?? Both Mike and Joe work after school, Mike as a school janitor and Joe as a dishwasher in a diner, to compensate for Bob not working.Joe tries desperately to hold his family together. He steals valuables and money to try and pay off the people Bob owes money to. He also replaces Theresa’s treasured collection of Blues LP’s that Bob destroyed in a fit of rage. He is unintentionally turned in by an incompetent guidance counselor who thought he was helping. Joe is arrested and slapped with a 6-12 month sentence in a juvenile detention center.It isn't until an hour before he has to leave for jail that Bob finally sees the error in his ways that caused this all to happen to his son. After Joe leaves on the prison bus, his mother finds the big box of LP’s that he bought for her.It’s a very sad movie and the last 10 minutes and especially the last 5 minutes make this the saddest movie I’ve ever seen. It might be because this is usually not the kind of movie I watch but many others seem to feel the same about this movie. I will say that this movie, is not real long on dialog because people, especially in families like that (trust me on this) don’t talk to each other a lot. You have to get a lot of the story from the mood, the setting and cinematography, and expressions of the characters. This is one of the things that makes Joe the King stand out for me, it doesn't inundate the viewer in unrealistic dialog in order to narrate everything to us. I was very moved by this movie and I’m not easy to move.

To watch on my dvd player

I recommend that the powers that be, circulate this film to major theaters again.A story of two good boy who are raised by parents of poverty, alcohol and abuse.This is about the best 'kid film' you will ever see. Ten Stars.Maybe the best two young actors I have ever seen. And I have seen a ton of them.There are few young stars that can equal their performance.The writer of this story is nothing less than brilliant.In my long live I have seen families like this. It's very hurtful to think that these kids don't stand a chance.Next time you see in the news a young man arrested for something....Think of abuse they receivedat home as a child. POVERTY......ALCOHOL.......NO HOPE. Makes me so sad.******Parents: The 'F' word is used liberally in this film, but I feel your kids should see it anyway.

I like movies about life, there isnt much out there, with all the blockbusters drowning all these independent movies out. Had a good story, a coming of age type story, where sometimes the kids are the adults in the family, and I got the sense he was loved by his parents, in only the way they knew how. But he wasnt getting the love he so desperately needed, even by his brother. Which is why he was led down the path he was. Wont give anything away, but this was a good find.

This is a very moving drama of a fourteen year old boy in a rather dysfunctional home. So dsyfunctinal in fact that his mother suggests a way out for her son to a judge which most parents would never consider but she feels that she has lost the run of his life and is unable to cope with him. The sad thing is that no one really bothers to ask him why he is always late for school, falls asleep, steal things etc. He is just guilty and not worth redeeming. It is all for his father and mother's sake but even they don't see it - and possibly don't care. Particularly the father who is unfortunately very well acted and portrays the sort of loser that rear their offspring for prison.Joe Henry is terribly well acted. Very convincing and you can only feel pity for him even though he shouldn't evoke any good feelings from the viewer as he is just some scruffy kid we pass on the streets every day and just don't see. Or care about.It's not a feel good film by any means but a true to life film. Joe Henry's are everywhere and nowhere. Unseen until they are adults when it is too late to do anything.

ts a good item and was just what I was expcting Thanks a lot for swift delivery and good value item.

Unfortunately it is an American DVD and does not work on my system.

Very Good

Very happy. This film is great.