Review: http://www.worldofkj.com/article.php?i=789

It's undoubtedly edgy and vicious, but I almost feel like it needed to be longer and darker. It almost feels too abbreviated, too undercooked, to truly earn its admittedly ruthless climax. And the whole thing has a weird tone throughout, something I can't quite put my finger on - like it's half-heartedly going for a black comedy vibe but doesn't quite get there.

Still, though, it's brutally unflinching and McConaughey is terrific. I just wish it went further, perversely.

McConaughey needs to be in awards consideration for this though I see more of a Fassbender effect where he just gets the Golden Globe nom. This is truly his best role.

The last third of this film is a lot different than what is usually seen though I'm going to look at canned pumpkin more differently now than chicken.

Juno Temple is also quite strong and the context for the humor actually works. The last shot is also great for many reasons particularly in Joe's reaction and possible development of his character.

***1/2

I had to google Juno Temple as had no idea who she was. Ironically, she looks like Ellen Page in Juno.

It is kind of funny how Temple's biggest role before this year was probably Year One but now she has this and TDKR that have brought up her view to more audiences and shown more of her acting chops.

'Course, she's barely in The Dark Knight Rises, and very few are seeing this.

Though I suspect this (her performance in Killer Joe) will be a case where the right people see it, and her roles will begin improving in general. Similar to Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene and Felicity Jones in Like Crazy.

I was surprised to see Temple pop-up in The Dark Knight Rises. I really enjoyed her in Dirty Girl.

Just wow... Kudos to all the actors involved for tackling such roles and kudos for Friedkin for going full-steam-ahead f*cked up. Its disturbing how disturbed this screenplay is and its honestly disturbing how much I enjoyed it and laughed at it all. It really is hard to recommend this movie, but it will almost certainly remain the most memorable film experience I will have this year.
A-

Btw David, I find it amusing how our opinions on movies are seemingly a 50/50 split of being exactly the same or polar opposites...

"Would you rather me wear your face?"

it really is all the Academy needs to watch to give Matt an Oscar nom.

I love when Church grabs Hirsch during the final fight. "I've got him, Joe!"

So disturbing and hilarious.

I laugh at how Yahoo basically says that Matt's role in Magic Mike is essentially more award-worthy than his role in Killer Joe.

One of my favorite scenes this year

Amazing movie. McConaughey was such a bad-ass. The last half hour was perfect. A-

"- Was he alright?
- No. He was not alright. He set his genitals on fire".

Might be my favorite dialogue exchange of the year.

"You insult me again, and I'll cut your face off and wear it over my own"

I liked this quite a bit. I never liked McConaughey before but wow.

Awesome flick! Might very well be Matthew McConaughey's best performance. He's fantastic; both sexy and scary. A shame his performance has gone largely unnoticed. Juno Temple is great as well. The last half hour is just insane.

9/10 (A-)

Yeah, I liked it a lot and everyone was wonderful in it. The movie was definitely robbed for some acting recognition. As for the movie itself, it was incredibly entertaining. Not really as dark or disturbing as I expected it to be, but it was still damn good.

8/10

Equal parts hilarious, shocking and disturbing. The final half-hour is just nuts and my jaw dropped on several occasions. McConaughey delivers a career-best performance - he was terrifying - but the entire cast was great. A-

Yeah, let me jump on the bandwagon here too. It's Fargo's (though that's a masterpiece) deep fried, fucked up younger cousin covered in sleaze and grease.

It's also the best performance McConaughey's ever given. He's been on quite the roll lately and he manages to take it up another notch.

**** (A-)

Seen it again recently. Still fucking awesome.

Killer Joe

I tend to love films that are based on plays. They have long periods of gripping dialogue where actors really earn their crust. Much like how I loved Sleuth, this film excels in its dialogue. Matthew McConaughey was fantastic. Emile Hirsch was also very good, and while he hasn't promised much in his career so far, he sure is great at playing the piece of trash low life that we all despise. Gershon was pretty damn good, too. Haden Church was pretty hilarious. Good story, if a little predictable (I knew the life insurance policy would have a twist and I knew that Dottie wasn't the beneficiary), but a good atmosphere and fine performances. The only real complaint from me is in the special effects/make up department. The blood on Hirsch's face, even after getting kicked in the face dozens of times and then pummelled with a tin of tomatoes, was actually looking pretty good. He should have had some disjointed nose, or a torn off nose, or something a little more major than what can only be described as light blood staining. The film could have been harder for my liking. But the film had some great nudity and the drumstick fellatio scene was brilliant. Seriously, Matthew McConaughey is superb and he deserves recognition - his best performance by far. I am, however, undecided on whether I liked the abrupt ending. The first credits song is awesome.

B+