Joe the King (1999)

A destitute 14 year old struggles to keep his life together despite harsh abuse at his mother's hands, harsher abuse at his father's, and a growing separation from his slightly older ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Whaley

Writer:

Frank Whaley

Stars:

Peter Anthony Tambakis, Harlee Ott, Camryn Manheim

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Anthony Tambakis	...	Little Joe (as Peter Tambakis)
Harlee Ott	...	Dawn
Camryn Manheim	...	Mrs. Basil
Travis J. Feretic	...	Rory (as Travis Feretic)
Benjamin Styx	...	Little Ray
Alice June Blythe	...	Alice (as Alice Blythe)
Val Kilmer	...	Bob Henry
Linda Key	...	Mrs. Williams
Rob Bergenstock	...	Little Mike
Karen Young	...	Theresa Henry
Noah Fleiss	...	Joe Henry
Richard Bright	...	Roy
John Leguizamo	...	Jorge
Amy Wright	...	Mary
Michael Taylor	...	Man in Jerry's Apt.

Storyline

A destitute 14 year old struggles to keep his life together despite harsh abuse at his mother's hands, harsher abuse at his father's, and a growing separation from his slightly older brother. Petty thefts for food grow into more major takes until he steals a cash box from the diner where he works. Although Joe uses the money to pay off some of his father's debts and to replace his mother's records that his father smashed in a fit of temper, Joe gets no thanks...

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Plot Keywords:

diner | debt | money | theft | cafe | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and abusive situations concerning a child

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [Canada]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pleasant View Avenue

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$11,793 (USA) (15 October 1999)

Gross:

$59,014 (USA) (5 November 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

49th Parallel Productions, Forensic/291 Films, Lower East Side Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 93 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Sussex-Wantage Rams basketball T-shirt is featured. The film 'Daymaker (2007)' was shot in Sussex-Wantage and actress Catie LiTrenta played for the same junior high school team years earlier. She once sent a fan letter to Frank Whaley while residing in this town.

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Goofs

Although the film is supposed to take place during the 1970s, Joe is seen wearing a name brand underwear with the company logo on the waistband. This particular brand didn't produce that style until the late 1990s.

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Quotes

Bob Henry: You stink. I can smell your fucking shoes from here. I want you to take those, like i told you a thousand times before, and throw them in the fucking trash.
Joe Henry: Why don't you buy me some new ones?
Bob Henry: You're the big man, working man.

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Connections

Referenced in Return to Innocence (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Around The Town"
Written by Ray Davies

User Reviews

Touching

I've always been a huge fan of Frank Whaley, and I've always found him to be one of the most under-appreciated, really great actors to have emerged in the 1990s. Here in his directorial debut, Whaley paints a deeply moving portrait of a troubled family floundering at the poverty level. Young Noah Fleiss is absolutely heart-breaking as the morally corrupt child of an abusing father, played by Val Kilmer in his most earnest dramatic role. Whaley's movie, drawn from his own life, is a touching, moving indie that should have gotten better notice.