David Gordon Green’s 2013 film “Joe” tells a story set in rural Texas, centering around an ex-convict named Joe—played by Nicolas Cage—who develops a connection with a young teenager, Tye Sheridan, coming from a troubled family struggling under the influence of his father, portrayed by Gary Poulter. Ronnie Gene Blevins takes on the role of Joe’s adversary, while Adriene Mishler appears as someone who might be Joe's romantic interest. Aj Wilson McPhaul is present in the cast as a friendly police chief. The film falls into the category of Southern gothic crime dramas and carries a somber atmosphere reminiscent of movies like “Mud” (2013) and “Winter’s Bone” (2010). An interesting detail about the production is that the actor who played the boy's father, an alcoholic, was actually a homeless man who had previously wanted to act. Despite his appearance, which suggested he was around 68 years old, he was only 53 when he tragically passed away on the streets of Austin shortly after filming wrapped. “Joe” portrays what some would consider the unpleasant aspects of rural poverty and is so bleak that it might be off-putting to some viewers. Certain people may feel the plot feels somewhat loose, but this seems intentional, as the filmmakers trust the audience to interpret events and draw their own conclusions. If you're willing to overlook these perceived shortcomings, there are worthwhile ideas to discover and occasional moments of hope. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 57 minutes and was filmed in rural locations near Austin, Texas, specifically Bastrop, Taylor, and Lockhart. The screenplay by Gary Hawkins was adapted from a novel by Larry Brown. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB