My Name Is Joe (1998)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Duration: 105 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom / France / Italy / Spain / Germany
Directed by: Ken Loach
Stars: Peter Mullan, Louise Goodall and Gary Lewis
IMDb score:
7,4 (9.307)
Releasedate: 15 May 1998
My Name Is Joe plot
The film is set in the poorest area of Glasgow. There Joe Kavanagh is the trainer of Scotland's worst unemployed football team. Joe has been dry for just a year and is running with Alcoholics Anonymous (hence the title). In the meantime he is out of work, but tries not to interact too much with the Social Services people. During a potty job, he meets Sarah, a social worker. When the authorities arrive, she rescues him from the fire. She is charmed by Joe's unpolished character, and he is no less fond of her. But that's where the problems begin.
Reviews & comments
BBarbie
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- 12893 messages
- 7675 votes
A typical social-psychological drama by Ken Loach about a man's difficult struggle to escape from the fringes of society. In addition to the "honest" characters, the depressing sight of Glasgow (including huge potholes in the road surface) also contributes to the realistic quality of the film. Beautiful, convincing roles by Peter Mullan and Louise Goodall.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
My sixth Loach in the meantime and to this day after I, Daniel Blake his best production. Loach always succeeds in bringing raw, uncensored and unadulterated drama from the British underclass. The decay, hopelessness and despair of the desolate neighborhoods correspond to the lives of those who live in them. Joe is one of them, an ex-alcoholic with friends and acquaintances-criminals from the drug environment.
For the district health center of the region, it is a matter of mopping with the tap. Joe's life blossoms when he meets Sarah. You can see from everything that she has doubts about the relationship despite her disarmed love for Joe. He too has doubts, although he is head over heels in love. The environment you come from determines your future so much and it always comes across you even if you walk away from it. The film is a nice mix of romance (although it is certainly not a romantic film), here and there some humor (nice approach with the football matches and the retro jerseys, for example), but above all hard drama. And the Scottish roots must have ensured that no Hurst, Banks, Moore or Charlton walked around that potato field...
Joe sums it up perfectly. He is 38 and what has he already achieved? It's hard to survive in his new life. It reminds me of other Loach films like The angel's share, I Daniel Blake, but also Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur and also starring Peter Mullan. Not exactly touristy propaganda when you see the run-down neighborhoods too ...
Peter Mullan does a great job as Joe. He brings a believable character, although at times a bit too slick. Nice plot twist at the end with the relapse, well, nice, real anyway. Survival of the fittest it is. You should not expect too much help from the government. You're on your own anyway. Thick 4.0*!
Translated from Dutch · View original
Robi
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- 2536 messages
- 2530 votes
Ken Loach is highly regarded by me. A director who has made very nice films. Social dramas about the bottom of society. Poignant stories that are usually acted very beautifully and naturally. Actually, this film also falls into that category and my general description also applies to this film. Yet this film doesn't touch me like many of his other films do. I especially miss the credibility that makes it all seem a bit too artificial and almost too rushed. The story seems rushed and therefore lacks depth. If it had been an unknown director I would have given this film a pass. Three stars is also sufficient. But with Ken Loach it still feels like a fail this time.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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