JOE THE KING
Reviewed by Harvey Karten Trimark Pictures Director: Frank Whaley Writer: Frank Whaley Cast: Noah Fleiss, Val Kilmer, Karen Young, Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Austin Pendleton, Max Ligosh, James Costa
If Tolstoy were a moviegoer, he'd amend his introduction to "Anna Karenina" by saying "Happy families are all alike: they appear only on sitcoms. Unhappy families are different: they are depicted in serious films." Just as romantic poetry goes hand in hand with love unrequired, coming-of-age movies are inspired by people who grew up in unhappy homes. "Joe the King" is yet another entry into the "400 Blows" sweepstakes, the story of a poor kid from minimum-wage-earning, uncaring parents who, because of his background, is persecuted as well by his teacher and his job supervisor while he is unwittingly sent up the river by a well-meaning guidance counselor.
Frank Whaley, known principally as an actor ("Swimming with Sharks"), makes his debut in this somewhat autobiographical story which does not take home gold stars for originality or depth of screenplay. The picture does display a fine array of performers in supporting roles, highlighting a terrific appearance by 14-year-old Noah Fleiss in the title role of a down-and-out sad sack who cannot fit in with the gang and is given the barest affection at home. Yet despite the unfortunate way his life is turning out, he has a good heart which stands to become thoroughly corrupted by a mandated stay in a juvenile reformatory. His basic decency gives an audience every reason to care about him and to despise the people who are making his life a living hell.
Fleiss's interpretation of the role is on the money. The kid's a natural who gives a modulated performance in a drama that's well-directed by Whaley but unfortunately gives us no relief, no hope, and aside from a modicum of amusement that Joe's nerdy-looking friend Ray (James Costa) supplies, the picture is virtually devoid of humor or even some lighter moments.
Taking place in an upstate New York community (actually filmed in Staten Island) during the 1970s, the 28-day shoot opens on the 9-year-old Joe (Peter Tambakis) who is spanked on the bare bottom by his hostile teacher for lying about his father's occupation. Joe's dad, Bob (Val Kilmer), works as a custodian in the same school, perpetually threatened with dismissal for drinking on the job. Nor does Joe get much support from his working mother, Theresa (Karen Young), and his slightly older brother Mike (Max Ligosh) does not want to include him in his activities.
Five years later, the oppressive life takes its toll as the 14- year-old Joe (Noah Fleiss), now working illegally as a dishwasher in a greasy spoon, commits a steadily escalating series of thefts. He has logged into school tardy fifty-four times, has no interest in his subjects, and given the harsh environment in this shantytown can almost not be blamed for taking his anger out in antisocial ways.
Val Kilmer, who has deliberately gained some weight to develop a beer belly, is convincingly despicable as a drunk who, despite his physical violence and lack of any communication with the kid fails to make the boy hate him. In slight supporting roles, Austin Pendleton cements the lad's view of an uncaring society by cursing the kid while simultaneously buying a hot gold ring from him, and Ethan Hawke, who seems also to have filled out for the role, acts as the boy's only sympathetic ear--though for some strange reason he likes to take a seat behind him in an empty classroom while giving him advice.
The film is burdened by a redundant script, a one-damn- thing-after another syndrome, so that instead of demonstrating the collective effect of Joe's miserable environment, Whaley simply takes us from one misfortune to another. Despite this flaw, Whaley as director does a good job portraying the banality of life in a poor, ramshackle community during the late 1970s and can be thanked for giving Noah Fleiss a vehicle for that actor's intensely sincere performance.
Not Rated. Running Time: 93 minutes. (C) 1999 Harvey Karten
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