My Name Is Joe (1998)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Ken Loach

Writer:

Paul Laverty (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Two thirtysomethings, unemployed former alcoholic Joe and community health worker Sarah, start a romantic...

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Bowling | Soccer Football | Paint | Alcohol

Awards:

12 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Peter Mullan	...	Joe Kavanagh
Louise Goodall	...	Sarah Downie
Gary Lewis	...	Shanks
Lorraine McIntosh	...	Maggie
David McKay	...	Liam
Anne-Marie Kennedy	...	Sabine (as Annemarie Kennedy)
Scott Hannah	...	Scott
David Peacock	...	Hooligan
Gordon McMurray	...	Scrag
James McHendry	...	Perfume
Paul Clark	...	Zulu
Stephen McCole	...	Mojo
Simon Macallum	...	Robbo
Paul Gillan	...	Davy
Stephen Docherty	...	Doc

Also Known As:

Mein Name ist Joe (Germany)
Mi nombre es Joe (Spain)
My Name Is Joe (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some violence, sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Spain | Italy | France | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Alta Films

Trivia:

During the scene where the football team steal the strips from the depot, Gordon McMurray (Scrag) was stopped by suspicious police officers while running after the van, as he was well-known to them. The cameras were some distance away and director Ken Loach had to step in to explain he was part of a film.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The reflection of the boom microphone is visible in the television set when Sarah is talking with Sabine at the school.

Quotes:

Sarah Downie: Get out of my way! Leave me!
Joe Kavanagh: No. No. No, calm down. Just calm down.
Sarah Downie: Are you gonna hit me too, Joe?

Movie Connections:

References Casper (1995)

Soundtrack:

Down the Dustpipe

Another Ken Loach masterpiece.

I came across this film by accident on video, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality. Ken Loach is again at his best using little known or non-actors set in a British working class background. Joe is a reformed alcoholic on the dole in Glasgow, trying to pick his life up again. Loach's vision and understanding of life close to the limit is amazing.

For me, this is a "must see" film.