Joe

****
UK Release Date: July 25th 2014

An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin.

Director: David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Your Highness, The Sitter)

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter

Nicolas Cage has been in some shoddy films of late, The older he gets, the worse they same to be. Not with Joe. It's arguably his greatest performance since the late 90's. Joe (Cage) is an ex-convict who's solemn, cold but looking to stay out of trouble. . It changes when young Gary (Sheridan) starts working for him. Joe can't let Wade (Poulter), Gary's alcoholic father, ruin his life any longer. Joe can't stand idly by and see others get hurt if he knows he can do something about it. Joe is consistently formidable. Cage, Sheridan and Poulter are all outstanding. All three bring out the strongest of emotions; you can't help feeling sorry for Gary, you'll be egging Joe on and the anger will flow whenever Wade (a.k.a G-Daawg) is on screen. The story is strong, never dipping or rising in level, and southern America, in a mostly sunset drenched heat, looks warm but feels chilly thanks to the lively camerawork. A bit of a kick in the teeth under the circumstances. Joe is an uncomfortable, mesmerising watch.

4/5