Joe the King (1999)
- Starring:
- Noah Fleiss, Val Kilmer, (more)
- Director(s):
- Frank Whaley
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Joe the King
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, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 100 mins
Complete Cast of Joe the King
- Noah Fleiss - Joe Henry
- Karen Young - Theresa Henry
- John Leguizamo - Jorge
- Max Ligosh - Max Henry
- Val Kilmer - Bob Henry
- Ethan Hawke - Len Coles
- Austin Pendleton - Winston
- James Costa - Ray
- Director(s):
- Frank Whaley
- Writer(s):
- Frank Whaley
- Producer(s):
- Robin O'Hara, Lindsay Marx, Jennifer Dewis
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Mild Violence, Adult Language)
- 1999 - Sundance Film Festival - Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
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