Joe Versus the Volcano

1990

Director: John Patrick Shanley

Distributor: Warner Brothers

Key Elements: Story – Lines – Characters – Message – Visuals – Symbolism – Music

My Review:

We saw Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan together in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, but most people don't know about this one. But even though it was a critical failure, this quirky little fable is one of my favorite.

When I saw it, I was at a place where I just didn’t want to deal with the reality of my life. This movie offered a light-hearted, dry humored, fantasy escape. The score is a delicate lullaby for a tale that plays out like a bedtime story.

Joe is a man who rediscovers his heart when he rejects his stagnant life and takes a risk. Along the way, his eyes are opened to the beauties of life.

The scene where Joe tells off his boss is energizing.

The conversation he has with Angelica is one of the best arguments against suicide I’ve ever heard.

And the scene where Joe watches the moon rise is amazing. At that moment Joe is dehydrated and just barely holding on because he's sacrificed himself keep the unconscious Patricia alive on their little raft. When a glimmer of light catches Joes eye, he stands to witness an enormous full moon rising up from the ocean horizon. Spellbound, Joe whispers a prayer of thanks, telling God he had forgot how big He was. This scene is the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in a movie. I’ve got the still as the background on my cell-phone.

Keep your eyes open for the crooked road motif.

Love this one.

Clip:



Quotes:

• You have some time left, Mr. Banks. You have some life left. My advice to you is: live it well.
• Been working here 4 and a half years. The work I probably coulda done in 5 or 6 months. That leaves 4 years left over. Four years. If I had them now, they’d be like gold in my hand. …I should say something …This life. Life - what a joke. This situation, this room. …You look terrible Mr. Waturi. You look like a bag of shit stuffed in a cheap suit. Not that anybody could look good under these zombing lights. I - I – I can feel them sucking the juice out of my eyeballs. Suck, suck, suck, suck, suck *sluuuurp* Three hundred bucks a week. That’s the news for three hundred bucks a week, I’ve lived in this sink, this used rubber. …Don’t you think I know that Frank? Don’t you think I am aware there is a woman here? I can smell her like a flower. I can taste her like sugar on my tongue. When I’m 20 feet away I can hear the fabric of her dress when she moves in her chair. Not that I’ve done anything about it. I’ve gone all day, every day not doing, not saying, not taking the chance. For 300 dollars a week. And Frank – the coffee – it stinks. It tastes like arsenic. These lights give me a headache. If they don’t give you a headache you must be dead. So let’s arrange the funeral! …you’re not telling me nothing. …why, I ask myself, why have I put up with you? I can’t imagine. But I know its fear – yellow freaking’ fear. I was too chicken-shit afraid to live my life so I sold it to you for 300 freaking dollars a week! You are lucky I don’t kill you. You are lucky I don’t rip your freaking throat out! But I’m not going to! And maybe you’re not so lucky at that. Cause I’m going to leave you here Mr. Wahu Waturi. And what could be worse than that. …Deedee…How about dinner tonight?
• No. But there are certain times in your life when I guess you're not supposed to have anybody, you know? There are certain doors you have to go through alone.
• Do you ever think about killing yourself?
  - Why would you do that?
  Why shouldn't I?
  - Because some things take care of themselves. They’re not your job, maybe not even your business. …Lis-listen to me. If you have a choice between killing yourself, and doing something you’re scared of doing; why not take the leap and do the thing you’re scared of doing?
  You mean stop taking money and leave L.A.?
  - See you know what you’re scared of doing. Why don’t you do it? See what happens?
  You must be tired.
  - I don't mind talking.
  Well I do. This is one of those typical conversations where we're all open and sharing our innermost thoughts. And it's all bullshit. And I lie. And It doesn't cost you anything.
  - Look, I don’t know you. I don’t think I know anybody. You’re angry. I can see that. I’m very troubled. I’m not ready to-- there’s only so much time - if I use it well. So I’m here. Talking to you. I don’t want to throw that away.
  I have no response to that.
  - Then maybe you should take me back to the hotel.
• I've always kept clear of my father's stuff ever since I got out on my own. And now he's pulling me back in. He knew I wanted this boat and he used it and he got me working for him, which I swore I would never do. I feel ashamed because I had a price. He named it and now I know that about myself. …And I could treat you like I did back out on the dock, but that would be me kicking myself for selling out, which isn't fair to you. Doesn't make me feel any better. I don't know what your situation is but I wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but because we're on a little boat for a while and... I'm soul sick. And you're going to see that.
• My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement.
• Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life.
• Take me…to…the VOLCANOE!
• Because I have wasted my entire life and I’m going to die. Now I have the chance to die like a man and I’m going to take it. I gotta take it!
• What? Are you afraid of the commitment? You’re going to have to love and honor me for about 30 seconds. You can’t handle that?
• Patricia, I want you to listen to me; these are my last words: I gotta be brave. I gotta jump in. Goodbye.
• Nobody knows anything, Joe. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life.
• I saw the moon when we were out there on the ocean; shining down on everything. I’d been miserable so long. Years of my life wasted. It’s been a long time coming here to meet you. A long time, on a crooked road. …Did I ever tell you, first time I saw you, felt like I’d seen you before.
  I tell you one thing, though. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we're gonna take this luggage with us!

Stills: