Joe the King (1999)

Kino

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Film.com's FREE movie of the week is "Love the Hard Way." Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Charlotte Ayanna star in this drama about a thief who falls for a curious, beautiful young woman. As their intimacy grows, a slick cop (Pam Greer) is closing in.

Rating: R

Release Date: Oct 15, 1999

Running Time: 93 mins.

Country Of Origin: United States

starring: Peter Tambakis, Harlee Ott, Camryn Manheim, Travis Feretic, Benjamin Stix, Ethan Hawke, Alice Blythe, Val Kilmer, Linda Key, Rob Bergenstock

director: Frank Whaley

Joe the King

Set in upstate New York, the story of a kid who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. Fourteen-year-old Joe Henry manages a fragile existence. He is a young boy coming of age in the 1970s amidst chaos: Joe's father is an abusive drunk, his mother is barely able to keep the pieces of her broken life together, and Joe is caught stealing and sentenced to juvenile prison for six months. Forced to spend time away from his family, Joe finally gets a chance to find himself and his family finally realizes how much the boy has sacrificed for their mistakes.

"Joe the King" isn't your usual coming-of-age tale. The movie's 14-year-old hero doesn't get the girl. His experiences growing up in the '70s aren't nostalgic. And his role models are non-existent. What makes Joe memorable is his tenacious spirit, something emphasized by this film's unsentimental approach to his vulnerability.

Frank Whaley, an actor making his writing-directing debut, has cast this indie feature with some stars, although the true standout is Noah Fleiss in the title role. From…