Beautiful Joe (2000)
5/10
Could have been better but Billy Connolly shines
15 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS THROUGH:

I did not think this was a bad movie but neither did I think it was great. There were a few things I didn't like, one being the amount of plot contrivances. A lot of movies have that aspect but sometimes there's other things that are so well done it kinds of takes the focus off that aspect. Not here. There's a lot that just seems(for lack of a better term: "put on".) And the amount of bad things that keep Cropping up and happening just when one is over with almost makes that the focus of the movie.

Then there's the amount of screeching and melodrama. And when Hush and Joe were fighting in the casino how come nobody even batted an eye except the kids? Wouldn't SOMEBODY have told them to be quiet? It's things like that which took away from my enjoyment of this movie. Then toward the end it got really tough. I mean every five minutes something would come up to make it seem like Joe and Hush were finished. After awhile it's tough not to think "Just get together already".

The movie is not at all unwatchable. It's not what I'd call bad. But I'd only Give it a 5 or 6 or so for the reasons mentioned above. In terms of positives there were a couple of things that really stuck out. One was Sharon Stone in this role. When she lessened up on the screeching she was excellent and I wish her character had been a little-well-CALMER-because Stone is a really good actress when she's playing quality Roles and I think, though she brought some nice aspects to the role of Hush, she could have brought even more if the role had been toned down a bit.

Now the SECOND and most important thing I liked was Billy Connolly as Joe. He created a lovely character and even though I didn't love the movie I did think he did a 10 of 10 in his portrayal of Joe. That was without a doubt the highlight of the movie.

I kind of wish this movie had been either a straight out noir with quieter characters, more mystery, and less screaming or a sweet family drama. There seems to have been a lot of potential here because the storyline in general sounds somewhat intriguing. But there was a lot that seemed forced. The movie is not bad but was not great however the character of Joe is one that I'll remember and if one is going to see this movie they should see it for that reason. My vote for the movie overall is about average.
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