DVDs

Joe

Joe (1970) DVD

Released
January 12
Directed By
John G Avildsen
Starring Susan Sarandon, Peter Boyle, Dennis Patrick

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A young Susan Sarandon and Peter Boyle (the dad from Everybody Loves Raymond) feature in this gritty drama highlighting the liberal/conservative conflict in late 1960s America.

Dennis Patrick plays a straight-laced Dad who accidentally kills his daughter’s hippy boyfriend after an argument, and seeking solace in a local bar meets an űber-conservative blue collar ‘regular Joe’ (hence the title), whom he drunkenly confides in.

The two form an unlikely alliance and, somewhat inexplicably, end up experimenting with the hippy culture they detest so much. Despite a genuinely shocking climax, the film quickly loses its way after the first third and never knows quite how seriously to take itself.

Well-received at the time, some eccentric touches of direction and unintentionally funny dialogue mean Joe has been mostly forgotten. It should probably stay that way.

Jack Arnott

Joe at LOVEFiLM

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