Review of Joe

Still a powerful movie that's hard to pull away from. This is not The Sound of Music by any means but a cold hard look at America in the late 60's. The anti establishment clashing with the old school generation of post World War II. In a weird ironic twist of fate Ad executive Bill Compton learns of his only daughter's Melissa (Susan Sarrandon) drug overdose on methamphetamine. Bill decides to go to his daughter's Greenwich Village apartment to gather up some clothes and personals while she's convalescing. Bill to his dismay, milling through the dilapidated filth ridden apartment, (pills and drug paraphernalia cluttered,) runs into Melisssa's drug dealing boyfriend who happens to say all the wrong things about his daughter, taunting the troubled man to no end which infuriates Bill to point where he grabs the druggie and bashes him against a wall till his skull cracks. Laying lifelessly on the floor Bill flees the apartment and ends up at a Tavern where a bald, overweight individual is mouthing off about Blacks and hippies and the sorry state of the world. Enter Joe Curran (Peter Boyle) who captivate you, the viewer, and drags you into his 9-5 factory working slob world. Meanwhile our shaken ad executive/ first timer of manslaughter in the first degree, has the look of someone who just killed someone for the first time. Joe in his intoxicated state sees right through Bill as he admits to killing someone and Joe says, "Your kidding?" Bill looks right back at a stunned Joe and takes the bold statement back by saying "Just Kidding!" But Joe is dubious and has this feeling about Bill as pleasantries are exchanged i.e. what do you do for a living etc... A few days later Joe and his simpleton wife watch the news about a drug dealer found dead in an apartment. A bell goes off in Joe's head as he realizes that Bill actually committed that act of violence. Joe is moved by that action rather than calling the authorities. Instead he looks up Bill Compton and reaches him at his Ad Agency by phone as per prior conversation that night at the bar. They meet at a bowling alley as classes clash throughout the rest of the movie. Bill with his important advertising executive position. Very distinguished professional, aged but handsome, tall and grey well reserved disposition and impeccably dressed. On the other hand we have Joe. The World War II veteran factory worker who is flamboyant, extremely uncouth due to his lack of education, making a meager salary, bigoted and hates just about everything from Blacks to Gays. Makes you wonder if Norman Lear got his Idea for the Television show All In The Family while watching this movie. I noticed the similarities when Joe tells his wife to be quiet during dinner. Despite the two men's backgrounds, Bill and Joe have a chemistry and a mutual admiration for each other as they both believe the world is going to the dogs. Joe invites Bill and his elegant yet snobbish wife Joan played by Audrey Caire to Astoria, Queens to Joe's Railroad styled tracked home. Joe's wife is preening in anticipation as the Royals (The Compton's) enter their home Joan is a pro at patronizing Joe's wife May Jo on her home, her drapes and unusual name. Joe boasts that not only does he have ginger ale in the house but he also has seven up to go along with the cheap scotch. After a gourmet meal of Chinese take out in the Curran's cramp dining area the men enter Joe's man cave full of bowling trophies and deer heads but Joe's pride and joy is his cabinet full of weaponry. Joe takes out a machine gun and says, "Your not supposed to have this it's illegal." Joe wants to make it quite clear that he won't tell a sole about Bill's involvement murder in his daughter's apartment. Joe summons Bill's Wife to the basement as Joe also reassures Joan that there's Nothing to worry about. May Jo tells Joan to her disdain that they should get together at her Manhattan upscale apartment real soon. The Compton's return to their luxury Central Park apartment as Bill pours some brandy for his wife and himself. Starts a fire in front of his elaborate fire place. Earlier that day at the Hospital, Melissa laying in bed relaxing has a visit from her girlfriend who breaks the shocking news that her boyfriend was murdered in her apartment. Melissa panic stricken gets dressed and runs out of the Hospital. Meanwhile at the apartment a soothing snort of brandy shared with the discussion of Bill's plight of the murdering of that no good hippie boyfriend is discussed as we hear noises from the other room as a devastated Melissa overhears the reality that her Father murdered her boyfriend . She runs out of the apartment as Bill tries to stop her without any luck . Melissa flees into the city night and Bill's is wondering what to do next. Don't worry cause Joe has a plan to find her with resounding results and an ending you'll never forget. Wonderful screenplay by Norman Wexler and kudos for his early work of cinematography/director by John Avildsen who is also famous for physical movies such as the Rocky and Karate Kid films. Great period piece which still resonates with today's social climate.