Joe Gould's Secret (2000)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Stanley Tucci

Writers (WGA):

Joseph Mitchell (books)
Howard A. Rodman (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Around 1940, New Yorker staff writer Joe Mitchell meets Joe Gould, a Greenwich Village character who cadges meals...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Book | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Ian Holm	...	Joe Gould
Stanley Tucci	...	Joe Mitchell
Hope Davis	...	Therese Mitchell
Sarah Hyland	...	Elizabeth Mitchell
Hallee Hirsh	...	Nora Mitchell
Celia Weston	...	Sarah
Patrick Tovatt	...	Harold Ross
Susan Sarandon	...	Alice Neel
Patricia Clarkson	...	Vivian Marquie
John Tormey	...	Harry Kolis
Jack O'Connell	...	Chef
Jerry Mayer	...	Minetta Bartender
Nell Campbell	...	Tamar (Hostess)
Ron Ryan	...	Jack
Allan Corduner	...	Francis McCrudden

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

104 min | Argentina:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | USA:R | Spain:T

Company:

Bohemian Productions

Quotes:

Joe Gould: Only the artist is free, Joe. Because he is single of purpose. He knows what he wants and wants only that. But this, frightens people, I don't know.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Edge of Outside (2006)

Soundtrack:

Nobody Knows When You're Down

Outstanding drama- two great actors- the mystery continues.

Starring one of the best actors in the world, Ian Holm; and Stanley Tucci, who also does a great job in this period drama based on a true story about one of the most unusual New York writers in modern history (Joe Mitchell), and his attempt to write a feature story on one of New York's most notable philosopher characters- a street person who is well-known in writer circles. Joe Gould claims to have written a massive volume that is the complete history of the world based on countless conversations he has heard from people- overheard in the street, and in conversations with friends and strangers. It is never revealed whether Gould really ever had such a manuscript, or if he was a total hoax- possibly somewhere in between. But the effect he has on Joe Mitchell (an actual top feature writer for the New Yorker during the 1940s), is profound. This is an outstanding drama- one of the best of a couple years ago (2000). <p>As reported on NPR after this film release, Joe Mitchell later unexpectedly stopped writing anything, and became a recluse himself. He would never reveal Joe Gould's secret to anyone. Now this film is inexplicably out of print on DVD, which adds a touch of irony to this important piece of American literary history.