RIP WILLIAM PETER BLATTY: THE EXORCIST. (1973) REVIEW BY SANDRA HARRIS.

THE EXORCIST and THE EXORCIST 3: A DOUBLE REVIEW BY SANDRA HARRIS.

Killer Joe DVD Review

It opened the 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival ,iconic director William Friedkin's lastest feature, Killer Joe giving another meaning to the Colenel's Finger Licking Good! Friedkin has arguably never made a bad film (let's just pretend Cruising never happened) and the seventy-six year old proves that he is still at the top of his game with his latest opus.

This pulpy Texan-noir follows the financially struggle, Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) who plots to have his mother murdered, in a harebrained scheme to collect $50,000 insurance money. After confessing the plan to his father (Thomas Haden Church), sister (Juno Temple) and step-mother (Gina Gershon), the family seek out the services of lawman-meets-hired killer, Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey).

Friedkin manages to capture the nerve shredding intensity (similar to that of his previous film, Bug) through his bold, atmospheric direction. From the onset, Friedkin hits us with the ominous sound of Joe's carefully timed lighter clicks, followed by shots of a rain-drenched, derelict trailer park and prescient lighting strikes. This gives us an early impression of the tense and brutal tale that is about to unfold. Friedkin does not hold back when it comes to depicting raw portrayals of violence and dark characters - possibly a device that may leave some viewers feeling somewhat alienated.

Fortunately, between these moments of intensity, Tracy Letts' screenplay presents us with several wonderful moments of darkly comic humour. These perfectly executed moments of deadpan humour and awkward fun provides light relief from the Killer Joe's dark subject matter, proving to be an unforgettable combination. Letts' screenplay may begin with a simple premise, but Killer Joe soon proves to be a highly original and often unexpected and frenzied ride. This is perfectly summed up in the films' outrageous, near-genius conclusion which proves to be both shocking and riotously humorous.

It is particularly nice to see that Matthew McConaughey has escaped from the world of romantic comedies and is once again proving what a wonderful actor he is. His underplayed portrayal of the sardonically smooth, Joe Cooper, is a career best and one of the sheer delights of Friedkin's film. Gina Gershon proves to be on fine form as Chris' trashy, no-nonsense step-mother bringing a convincing slice of Southern gumption to the role. Thomas Haden Church's deadpan comic skills also prove to be a highlight with the star excelling as the bumbling, beer-guzzling patriarch. Younger actors Juno Temple and Emile Hirsch are equally well cast with the pair both able to shine alongside the likes of McConaughey and Gershon.

Killer Joe is a magnificent example of modern-noir, with Friedkin proving to still be one of the most exciting figures in modern cinema. The director's latest feature proves to be one of the most energetic, brutal, tense and darkly comic pictures of the year, featuring an unforgettable career best performance from Matthew McConaughey.

Andrew McArthur

★★★★☆

Rating: 18 (UK)
UK DVD/BD Release Date: 5th November 2012 (UK)
Director: William Friedkin
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, Thomas Haden Church , Juno Temple

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Finger Licking Killer Joe Coming To DVD& BluRay November!

When Killer Joe arrived in UK&Irish cinemas it left some cinephiles feeling finger licking good for some of the colonel's favourite recipe and in November you will be able to bring home a box that's a DVD or Bluray box of the film.In Killer Joe Matthew McConaughey delivers what many are calling a career-best performance in this violent and darkly comic neo-noir thriller that marks a blistering return to form for “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection” director William Friedkin.

When small-time drug dealer Chris Smith finds himself seriously in debt to his supplier, he hatches a plan to have his estranged mother killed in order to claim the $50,000 life insurance due to be paid to his younger sister, Dottie. To do the job, he hires Killer Joe Cooper, a creepy, corrupt and crazy Dallas cop who Chris is informed moonlights as a professional hit man. Unable to pay Joe’s fee upfront, Chris agrees to provide a “retainer” in the form of Dottie, with whom Joe has immediately become besotted. However, following the murder of his mother, Chris’ plan begins to unravel in a series of unexpected twists involving the interference of his father’s new wife, Sharla, and the development of an unlikely bond between Joe and Dottie.

As pure, unadulterated entertainment Friedkin’s second collaboration with writer Tracy Letts (following 2006’s “Bug”) has it all – steamy sexuality, shocking violence, a compelling storyline, lashings of black humour and, most of all, a killer cast of actors all at the top of their game. McConaughey effectively shakes off his rom-com shackles once and for all, while Juno Temple delivers a scene-stealing performance in a movie likely to leave viewers both exhilarated and shaken at the same time.

Killer Joe is due out in UK&Ireland on November 5th, starring Emile Hirsh, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon.
Pre-Order/Buy Killer Joe On: DVD / Blu-ray

Killer Joe - William Friedkin Video Interview

To millions of cinephiles he’s the man who scared the living daylights out of them in the 1970′s with The Exorcist he also help make crime thrillers stylish and cool with French Connection. But since then its been quietly in the background waiting for his moment and this Friday it will arrive in the shape of Killer Joe, step forward William Friedkin and enjoy the video interview with the director himself.
Andrew caught Killer Joe last week at the Edinburgh Film Festivalfor The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse and heard nothing but praise for it, though I was munching away at Fried Chicken (though not long after it!).Its seems Friedkin has captured the films blend of dark twisted humour,sex, violence with such perfection that would give the old KFC Colonel a heart attack. We may have a scene or scenes that could be potentially be rated up next to the Blue Velvet and Killer Joe is certain to keep people talking long after they’ve seen the film.
Killer Joe stars Matthew McConaughy as ‘Killer’ Joe Cooper a Dallas detective who earns some extra cash on the side as a hitman who is offered a job by Chris (Emile Hirsch) a low life drug dealer. Chris wants his mother (Gina Gershon) knocked off so they can get his hands on her $50,000 life insurance however the problem starts as Joe requires a down payment. Joe has eyes on Chris sister Dottie (Juno Temple) and they use her as the retainer but from here the problems arise and everything is downhill.
Unfortunately due to things beyond our control we were unable to catch up with the director at Edinburgh Film Festival however our friends at HeyUguys (Thanks David!) have come to the rescue and shared their video interview with us. In the interview the iconic director chats about the film, about the sequels to his classic 1973 film The Exorcist but what we love about this interview is when he’s asked about the proposed tv series of the Exorcist his reply is a classic, enjoy!

Killer Joe will be released nationwide this Friday 29th June, Read Andrew's Review here.

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Director William Friedkin Interview for Killer Joe Published via LongTail.tv