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Joe

Joe

Drama · Crime · 1970

After murdering his daughter's drug-dealing boyfriend, a wealthy ad executive stumbles into a bar and strikes up an uneasy alliance with Joe Curran, a drunken bigot with a bloodlust who works at a local factory.

Movie details

Joe

“Keep America beautiful.”

1970 Drama · Crime 1h 47m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

After murdering his daughter's drug-dealing boyfriend, a wealthy ad executive stumbles into a bar and strikes up an uneasy alliance with Joe Curran, a drunken bigot with a bloodlust who works at a local factory.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Joe?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Once Upon a Time in America

Once Upon a Time in America

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When a seemingly straight-forward drug deal goes awry, XXXX has to break his die-hard rules and turn up the heat, not only to outwit the old regime and come out on top, but to save his own skin...

Lord of War

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Coffy

Coffy

Crime · 1973

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Dark Blue

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Set during the Rodney King riots, a robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John G. Avildsen

Written by

Norman Wexler

Peter Boyle

Peter Boyle

Joe Curran

Dennis Patrick

Dennis Patrick

Bill Compton

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon

Melissa Compton

P

Patrick McDermott

Frank Russo

K Callan

K Callan

May Lou Curran

T

Tim Lewis

Kid in Soda Shop

E

Estelle Omens

Woman in Bargain Store

Court is in session

Put Joe on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.