Joe the King with Noah Fleiss: DVD Cover

    Joe the King Director: Frank Whaley Cast: Noah Fleiss, Val Kilmer, Karen Young, Ethan Hawke

    DVD - Letterbox / Stereo / Dolby 5.1 Learn more

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    • DVD Release Date: 02/15/2000
    • Original Release: 1999
    • Rating: Rated R
    • Sales Rank: 35,449

    Viewer Rating: (2 ratings)

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    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
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    Scenes

    Scene Index

    Side #1 --
    0. Scene Index
    1. Main Credits [5:00]
    2. Storm [3:17]
    3. Late [5:05]
    4. Roller Rink [5:36]
    5. Music [2:31]
    6. Lockers [3:58]
    7. Wish [3:45]
    8. Destruction [5:20]
    9. Guidance [4:39]
    10. Crook [4:43]
    11. Nothing [4:38]
    12. Revenge [4:18]
    13. Thievery [4:21]
    14. Spoiled [4:12]
    15. Rare [3:36]
    16. Questions [4:37]
    17. Calling [2:45]
    18. Alone [3:17]
    19. Leaving [2:28]
    20. Last Meal [4:07]
    21. Time [5:29]
    22. Apology [4:17]
    23. White Cloud [3:37]
    24. End Credits [4:39]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    Actor Frank Whaley makes his directorial debut with Joe the King, a downbeat drama about a 14-year-old boy coming of age in an abusive and uncaring environment. When he was nine, Joe Henry (Noah Fleiss) lied to his friends about his father's job because he was ashamed that his father was the school janitor; in turn, he was humiliated in front of his class. Five years later, things are much worse; his father (Val Kilmer) has become a violent alcoholic who can't hold a job, while his mother (Karen Young) is harsh and unloving. Joe works illegally as a dishwasher to help support the family, but resorts to petty theft when it's clear his salary alone won't pay his father's debts. Eventually Joe attempts to steal the restaurant's cash box to get his father out of the red -- with tragic results. Whaley, who claims this story is "loosely autobiographical," assembled a strong cast for his first turn behind the camera, including Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, and Austin Pendleton. Joe The King premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

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    • Ratings: 2Reviews: 2

    Joe the Kingby Anonymous

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    March 04, 2008: by dane youssef Frank Whaley's "Joe The King" has been called by the filmmaker himself "semi-autobiographical." And such a story about so much pain and misery just makes to almost want to see it just to see how thie guy got where he is today. It so damn downbeat, you have to ask yourself, "How does all this turn out? This poor little guy... Is there a happy ending?" Like a lot of actor-helmed vehicles, this one is loaded with big name walk-ons. They work, but at the same time, they disapoint. None of these characters are on the screen enough to make enough of an impact. "Joe The King" is chock-full of trite and truths to life--the lead that seems to be born into the hard-luck life, the abusive, alcoholic loser father, the weak-willed, weak-spirited, whimpering mother who doesn't care if her husband pounds on her kids as long as he doesn't pound on her, the guidance counselor who's all thumbs--aren't they all? Not just a cliche' in movies, but what guidance counselor has ever been worth in damn in life? Was yours? There is a moment where it is "Careers Day" in an elementry class where it is revealed that Joe's dad is the janitor. He is ridiculed an lashes out (very mildly) at an obnoxious litle teacher's pet and the Dickensian teacher drags Joe and spanks him in front of the entire class. The knife is further pushed and twisted when she makes the whole thing personal by muttering angrily so he can hear, "Just like your father..." Whaley is clearly dealing with old wounds and knows how to use them so they feel fresh and make you cringe (or worse, relate). The movie is full of downbeat moments and times where life shows it's ugly face. It seems as if God is very skillfully finding ways to torture Joe... and then skewering it further in smaller ways. In a moment of desperation, Joe attempts to do what his parents can't seem to... save the day. Joe is not only starving, he descends into petty theft. Then takes it even further. He attempts to dodge his father's outbursts and reach out to his brother, who is trying to eke his way into the "in-crowd" and doesn't want Joe's jinx streak to rub off on him, even to the point of at one point getting out of bed and going to go sleep the closet to get away from his brother's sad vibes. But "Joe The King" is not just one long crying jag. There is humor, sweetness and tenderness. People may differ about the nature of the ending, but in the strangest, saddest way, it offers some hope. The children swear in the tradition of "Stand By Me," the child-abuse or disregard in the tradition of "Radio Flyer" and the atmosphere is reminsent of many other films about working-class life. Unlike "That '70's Show" or "Detroit Rock City" or "Dick," this movie doesn't feel like it belongs solely in the era. It takes place in the 1970's to be sure, but a story like this feels timeless. Lead actor/title character Noah Fleiss gives on the the best performances he's probably ever given, although how many movies has he really made? And how many of them really have allowed him to shine? This is definately the one. Val Kilmer gives a just plain awesome turn as Bob, Joe's stinking, deadbeat drunk of a dad who's one of the biggest problems in Joe's life. He owes money to more than half the town. He dodges his creditors like bullets, drinks himself into...

    Joe the Kingby Anonymous

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    September 17, 2002: So true... Sad reality we all live in. Times do gt better though.