Joe the King (1999)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Frank Whaley

Writer:

Frank Whaley (writer)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A destitute 14 year old (Noah Fleiss) struggles to keep his life together despite harsh abuse at his mother's (Karen Young) hands...

Plot Keywords:

Beating | Bare Butt | Underage Smoking | Underwear | Child Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Peter Anthony Tambakis	...	Little Joe (as Peter Tambakis)
Harlee Ott	...	Dawn
Camryn Manheim	...	Mrs. Basil
Travis J. Feretic	...	Rory (as Travis Feretic)
Benjamin Styx	...	Little Ray
Alice Blythe	...	Alice
Val Kilmer	...	Bob Henry
Linda Key	...	Mrs. Williams
Rob Bergenstock	...	Little Mike
Karen Young	...	Theresa Henry
Noah Fleiss	...	Joe Henry
Richard Bright	...	Roy
John Leguizamo	...	Jorge
Amy Wright	...	Mary
Michael Taylor	...	Man in Jerry's Apt.

Also Known As:

Pleasant View Avenue (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and abusive situations concerning a child.

Runtime:

93 min | Argentina:93 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Spain:13 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

49th Parallel Productions

Trivia:

John Leguizamo was originally set to direct the film, but after being cast as Jorge as well, as serving as executive producer, Frank Whaley stepped in as director as well as staying on as a producer.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the film is supposed to take place during the 1970s, Joe is seen wearing a name brand underwear with the company logo on the waistband. This particular brand didn't produce that style until the late 1990s.

Quotes:

[spanking Joe violently, making it personal]
Mrs. Basil: Just like your father...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Return to Innocence (2001)

Soundtrack:

Around The Town

The dethroned king

This movie came as a total surprise the other night. Intrigued with the prospect of watching Frank Whalley's take on the film, we decided to watch and it paid off royally. Mr. Whalley has learned his lesson well, both in front, and behind the camera. Frank Whalley is a man capable of getting a lot out of his cast, having been in that position 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, where compassion for his state in life would have worked better. As he grows, he becomes a 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.

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 a young talent to watch. 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 teacher and Camryn Manheim is the horrible one.

"Joe the King" deserves a viewing because of the excellent direction of Frank Whalley.