Product Details

• Actors: Rob Bergenstock, Alice Blythe, Richard Bright, James Costa, Lori Eastside
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Vidmark / Trimark
• VHS Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000038I11
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,550 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

Actor Frank Whaley ("Swimming with Sharks," "The Doors") wrote and directed this personal, unsentimental movie about a young boy (well played by Noah Fleiss) in a dysfunctional family who finds his life spinning out of control; it's easily the best work he's done yet. The movie's not perfect-the built-in poignancy of a poor boy's need to rise above his family's problems is a simple device, and the narrative seems to leave out important details-but there's a low-key richness to Whaley's storytelling that's stirring. The director also brings out some less histrionic performances from actors who have seemed a little damaged lately (Val Kilmer, John Leguizamo). The movie has an odd, shifty tone, and it's all the better for it. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Bittersweet Tale That Haunts You, May 24, 2000

By 

Sheldon Alquist (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joe the King (DVD)

Joe the King is a tale of a young lad virtually abandoned by society and family. The father (Val Kilmer) is an abusive, alcoholic; the mother is a passive female who allows the abuse. In essence, she has given up. The older brother is in the same mess. All he has going for him is the fact that he is a year older, and is, perhaps, more attractive. Joe, for the most part, seems more like a little hobo (or to some, perhaps, a modern Artful Dodger).

This movie will carry you through many emotions, and most will be painful...even down right depressing. Fleiss plays his part perfectly. His facial expressions and body language can make you laugh in one moment; make you want to cry in the next.

The opening scene was difficult for me. A younger Joe has his pants pulled down and is paddled by his antagonistic teacher. I don't think this would have really happened during the time frame of this movie, but I did flash back to the many times I had to hold my hand out for a swat with a wooden ruler.

While Joe tries to work at a legitimate job, he finds it ever too tempting to start stealing. Joe is going to pay off his alcoholic father's debt and replace his mother's record collection; it was destroyed by the father during a drunken rage. Joe never uses the money for his own gain.

You will find yourself 'rootin' for Joe. You don't want him to get caught. But a meddling school counselor (Hawke) upsets the scheme, ultimately leading to the arrest and conviction of Joe. The counselor thinks he is helping. HA!

Prior to Joe's departure to the juvenile facility, the father delivers a rather touching dialog. But, too little, too late.

Many people may find this movie too much of a downer. You want a happy ending; it is not there.

If you are a male 25 or older, and if you had an abusive, alcoholic father...if you were ever tempted to steal something...if your boyhood days were tough and you lived on the edge of what could have been 'normal' but was in fact hell...if you've loved and lost, then you will probably enjoy this movie. I think it's a great movie, but then, again, I could see a lot of myself in Joe; I just never got caught. I recommend the DVD version, simply for the exceptional narrative.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars joe the man, January 16, 2003

By 

paul kelly (remlap, al United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joe the King [VHS] (VHS Tape)

this movie was wonderful, NOAH FLEISS ,whom i never heard of before, was perfectly cast in this film about a boy who has nothing but himself. well thats not entirely accurate, he lives with his mom,dad and older brother, but no-one realy knows he is there. the family has nothing, Joe's father (val kilmer) is an abusive drunk who used to be the school janitor, and Joe was embarased by his job, his mom is to busy to even care about Joe, and his older brother just doesnt want him hanging around him. so what is a guy to do, in this case Joe desides that stealing is his answer, he is not a bad kid, he just does bad things and has no role model to keep him straight.
this was actor Frank Whalley's directorial debut, which he also wrote. supposed to be semi auto-biographical.
i was so impressed with this movie that i went out and bought it. and i want to find out all i can about Noah Fleiss (a definite star of the future) who plays the part perfectly.
the critics didn't like the movie too well, but it did win awards at the sundance film festival, so it cant be that bad.
near the end of the film, something happens that makes you stop and pay attention, and look at your own life, because sometimes you only get one chance.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome movie with breakthrough performance!, July 18, 2002

By 

T. Francois "tfrancois" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joe the King (DVD)

Remember this name: Noah Fleiss. This young kid gives such a mesmerizing, true-to-life performance you almost forget you're watching a movie and become totally engrossed in the life of this kid, who is at the center of this movie. This kid lives the most dismal, sad life and does not complain once to anyone. He just tries to live day by day and get through his meager existence by claiming little "victories" where he can. You just can't help but really feel for this kid down to the core of your being. A must see! Good performances from the supporting cast round out the movie as well.