Joe is a quiet, subdued drama that always bubbles with an undercurrent of potential danger. Cage judges his performance accordingly, dialling back any instincts that may have usually pushed him towards his customary manic energy. Joe Ransom is a tortured man with a murky past and a history of trouble with the law, but he is also a man with his own moral code. The relationship he strikes up with Gary, a local 15 year old drifter who he hires to work with him, is a triumph, rich with subtlety and nuance. Tye Sheridan is great as Gary, a role that is admittedly similar to his turn as Ellis in the excellent Mud, but the chemistry he shares with Cage helps distinguish this role as all its own. Gary's abusive, alcoholic father Wade is the ostensible villain of the piece, and the actor Gary Poulter, a real life homeless man with only one other acting credit, gives a revelatory performance. The film gained a small amount of press when it was revealed that Poulter died in a shallow body of water before the film was even released, after years of struggling with the same alcoholism that affected the character. Unfortunately, chances are most people won't have even heard of Joe. It received a very limited theatrical release and grossed a measly $373,375 in the States, despite a large amount of critical support and excellent write-ups. Hopefully in years to come it can amass a following on home video but as of right now, not a lot of people have seen it and that is something that should be rectified as soon as possible.
