CHILDHOOD’S END: JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO

People should absolutely seek this out. Great film that is just as uplifiting every time I see it.

Covering the junket of Larry Crowne, I ran into Tom Hanks, and told him that I love the film. His response: "I'll take it."

Joe is one of my litmus-test films. People who dismiss it aren't worth my time.

Regarding this:

I've always understood Waponi Woo to be a funhouse reflection of New York. Joe notes at one point that his traveling to an island to die isn't that odd since he's already lived most of his life on Staten Island. And it's significant that the Waponis aren't "natives": the mix of Italians (Angelica says the ship was a Roman galley), Gaels and Jews sounds just about right for NYC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Houx 

Covering the junket of Larry Crowne, I ran into Tom Hanks, and told him that I love the film. His response: "I'll take it."

What on Earth did he mean by that? And reading this reminds me that I need to check this film out, as well as Doubt. Does Moonstruck hold up well? I kind of want to see early Nic Cage, and Cher's always been a surprisingly good actress.

It means Tom Hanks is the GOAT and should star in more movies that aren't middling shit. Hanks4Lyfe.

I just saw both "Joe vs. the Volcano" and "Moonstruck" for the first time recently (in the past two years). I was too young to watch them when they were first released so I've been catching up. They're two solid examples of why the '80s and '90s were my favourite eras of film. Hollywood just does not make feel-good movies with such wicked dialog and endearingly quirky characters these days. I highly recommend re-visiting them if you haven't seen them in awhile. Great performances and inspired writing. I watched "Joe vs. the Volcano" with family (father, mother, and cousins) and it ended up being one of the best choices of a film to watch with relatives that I've ever seen. Wholesome and uplifting while at the same time clever and devoid of audience manipulation or annoying melodrama.

Re: "I'll take it."
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Spider 

What on Earth did he mean by that?

I remember reading an article at the time of the film's release (possibly Premiere magazine) that suggested that Hanks was kind of on autopilot for most of the filming. Maybe he was bummed about losing out on the Oscar for Big? I gather he doesn't feel he contributed much of value to Joe.

Watching Drew's interview with Hanks, he says "I'll take it." as well. My guess is that's his reaction to most people praising his work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerhead 

Joe is one of my litmus-test films. People who dismiss it aren't worth my time.

 

JVTV and THE FOUNTAIN are excellent litmus films, IMNSHO. Folks who don't like them...well, I'm sure they're fine people, but I don't wanna know them.

I first watched JOE in college, on cable...some week night I was avoiding homework, decided to give it a shot, and was entranced. I know the film's not perfect, but I don't care: there's such a sense of joy and love of storytelling, life and how odd we all are to it, that I just dig it.

Whenever I hear the name Joe, I always want to quote the Waponi: "Joe? Joe BANKS!?"

And Hanks delivery of lines near the end is just great. "I love you, too! I've never been in love with anybody before, either! It's great! I'm glad! But the timing stinks. I gotta go."

I love this movie. It's one of those movies that if I ever catch it on TV I'll stop what I'm doing and watch, at least for a little while. I almost convinced myself to learn to play the ukelele just so I could learn that one song he's playing while adrift on his luggage.

Also, ever since this movie, anytime I'm trying to explain any kind of injury or condition relating to the head, I do the sweeping hand over the head thing that Hanks does when telling Meg Ryan he has a "brain cloud". No one ever gets it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerhead 

I've always understood Waponi Woo to be a funhouse reflection of New York. Joe notes at one point that his traveling to an island to die isn't that odd since he's already lived most of his life on Staten Island. And it's significant that the Waponis aren't "natives": the mix of Italians (Angelica says the ship was a Roman galley), Gaels and Jews sounds just about right for NYC.

I like this interpretation.