Nicolas Cage’s Best Performance Is Joe
Director David Gordon Green is known for his studio comedies like Pineapple Express, Your Highness and The Sitter. Green’s 2013 film, Joe, is out of his element but nonetheless a film that proves you don’t have to stick to a certain genre.
The film is based on a novel of the same name written by Larry Brown. Now the fact that the film is an adaptation might raise a flag.
There are scenes and characters that appear to be random and unnecessary but there’s a chance that they are important elements from the novel that were not clearly developed on screen. It is hard to say unless you read the book.
Some of the characters have harsh southern accents and it doesn’t help that the dialogue overlaps but overall, the film was well executed due to its unique characters.
Nicolas Cage portrays the titular character who is an ex-con from the South working as head of a tree-poisoning operation in Mississippi. He seems to be known and loved by everyone in the small town.
While at work, 15-year-old Gary —Tye Sheridan known for his role in Mud— approaches Joe and his men eager to work. Joe notices the boy’s sincerity and recruits him into the business.
The two begin to form an unlikely friendship. Quickly, Joe learns about Gary’s home life and his drunk, abusive father Wade (Gary Poulter). The situation soon begins to take a toll on Joe, who struggles to suppress his violent side while trying to save Gary from his god awful drunken father.
Poulter surely stole the limelight in this one. Surprisingly, Poulter was a non-actor homeless man who was given the part after casting agents hunted for the perfect people on the streets of Austin.
Various other characters seem to be non-actors but Poulter’s performance appeared to genuinely come from experience and that’s what made him stand out. Sadly, Poulter passed away on Feb. 19, only two months after filming was over.
Sheridan and Cage’s performance were equally as honest and powerful. The most intriguing aspect is seeing Cage portray a character whose struggle is an internal battle. Cage brings down the craziness and for a moment you actually start to feel some sort of riveting feeling.
So why watch the film? Because the real treat lies in the acting. It is composed of an all-around solid cast.
