Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Last Rites of Joe May (2011)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Joe Maggio
Starring: Dennis Farina, Jamie Anne Allman, Ian Barford
Running time: 106 minutes



Joe May is a low level aging hustler who comes out of a long stay in the hospital for pneumonia to find out that he has nothing left, with his car being taken away and his apartment being rented to someone else. As he tries to find his way back into a productive life, Joe strikes an unlikely friendship with Jenny, the new tenant of his old apartment, and her young daughter Angelina. Jenny lets Joe live with them in exchange for help with the rent. When Jenny’s boyfriend, an abusive police detective, gets too violent, Joe makes a decision that will have serious consequences.

This is a bleak but very compelling film. Dennis Farina is absolutely solid as Joe May. He makes that character of an aging hustler trying to hang on for dear life to finally find his deal come alive on screen. You have no problem embarking on that character’s trek through the later part of his life and you feel for him. Some of the supporting cast was also good, though there were a few weaker performances.

That last fight scene was not the best choreographed fight I have seen, but, overall, this is a very interesting character study brought to the screen by talented folks. I enjoyed it very much.
Rating: ««««

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