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Joe the King
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3

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  1. LeslieH.
    Aug 8, 2001
    8
    Great job by Noah Fleiss for his part, the story line was great, the presentation great. I think this was one of the best movies about a boy that I have seen in a long time, a real, down to earth story about how kids put up with life and their surrounding parts. I hope he plans to do another movie, call it Joe: The King Returns, Thanks.
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  2. philipw.
    Jul 10, 2005
    10
    One of my favorites of all time. dont care bout what other boneheaded critics would say but as for me the movie was moving and superbly uniformly acted. simlpe story but very true and very heartfelt. unforgetable!
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  3. ChadS.
    Aug 2, 2004
    8
    "Joe the King" reminded me of Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous" ("The Chipmunk Song" opens the film) because both films are set in the seventies, and yet the music, director Frank Whalley selects, the oldies but goodies music from Theresa's vinyl record collection, suggests that the seventies was the last innocent decade. Before MTV, Crowe suggested, as Alvin, Theodore, and Simon crooned over images of Southern California, was the notion that our youth culture wasn't so rigidly commodified, any music could describe the American landscape. In "Joe the King", Joe's mom controls the film's music. It suggests her girly innocence of what married life would be like. Happy. Johnny Ray and others of his ilk, serves as an ironic soundtrack to her life as a battered wife and haggard mother. There are times we forget we're watching a seventies period piece. Outside of the scene at a disco roller rink, there is no Fleetwood Mac, or Carly Simon, to suggest the "Me Decade". In particular, there's a scene, in which, corporeal punishment is administered by Joe's teacher (Camryn Manheim) when Joe lies about his father's occupation. Val Kilmer is scary as Joe's father, and Noah Fleiss as Joe, gets our sympathy without pandering for it. Since's Joe's friend looks so much like Paul Pfeiffer from "The Wonder Years", "Joe the King" can be read as the defunct ABC series, but with less wonder and more forget. … Expand
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    75
    Whaley's self-effacing but strongly etched and wrenchingly effective film.
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  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Edward Guthmann
    100
    This is a smart film, told in a minor key, that augurs well for Whaley's directing career.
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  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    Too much self-pity.
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