Dirty Movie Club: Joe Versus the Volcano

[kid cue]

i finally finished watching this today. it took about 4 separate viewings because i kept falling asleep (not because i was bored, but because i've only been able to put it on at really late hours).

i really really liked it -- the first half hour was like Brazil meets Ikiru meets Sleepless In Seattle (or some other Tom Hanks romantic comedy). and i was impressed that the film kept up its wry/meta tone to the very end. it was the only thing that made the big mortality theme convincing, especially given the genre it was twisting up.

i loved the implications of the three Meg Ryans, as if there was nothing necessarily special about the blonde one--Joe could've easily fallen in love with someone else, if only he'd opened his eyes.

finally, i actually thought the island sequence clinched the preceding hour or so. when it came it was suddenly hurtling towards the end of the film, and even though we'd been expecting these scenes all along, they felt dreamlike, like an expressionistic portrayal of the shortness of life. i loved that the camera never dwelled on either the island weirdos or the burgenoning love b/n those two. it kept the focus on Joe's impending 'death' and made one question whether it (what we saw of his life & relationships in the film so far) had all been worth it.

oh, and i thought the part with the giant moon was pretty moving. anyway, thanks for the rec, what a strange & wonderful film.

[jOHN rODRIGUEZ]

I have not been able to get a copy of ANY of the three up for viewing.

I am in hell.

Did you guys set this up like this on purpose? ;>)

[patrick]

i watched this one this past weekend, and like most others liked it...

i loved the start with the whole hating work thing. the visuals and whole gag with the flouresent lights are something most can relate to in terms of how we actually percieve work sometimes i bet. also get a new humurous take on living your life like you are going to die the next day...

then the end was super cheesy and i got a bit bored then, but still watchable because of the good parts (tom hanks on the raft the first time around )

[Tom]

I saw this a while ago now but forgot to post loller.

I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I dunno. I think it's meg ryan. The thought of watching a movie with her in it makes me groan, but once I'm watching, I kinda like her.

I agree with those saying the first half of the film was great. I could have watched more of the same for the duration of the film quite happily.

[grady]

The director of this film had only made one film, Joe v the Volcano. Now he's getting ready to start production on another film, his first in 15 years.

link

[Rog]

i enjoyed it.......

[Aaron Contreras]

Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life.

Great fucking movie.