On Demand Weekly

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand and from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY (Tribeca Film).

Click Here For On Demand Weekly's Exclusive Interview With Dennis Farina

THE LAST RITES IF JOE MAY
By Sidney Falco

There are certain films, grand in scope (and budget) that aim for greatness and ultimately fail on an emotional level. And then there are films, smaller in scope (and budget), that aim for a similar greatness, but end up with mild emotional results. THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY is one of these films; it is a straight-forward narrative tale about an over-the-hill hustler, played by the talented Dennis Farina, who wants to have one last shot at redemption.

Dennis Farina / THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY (Tribeca Film)

Written and directed with simplicity by Joe Maggio, the film is reminiscent of films such as Vittorio DeSica’s UMBERTO D, and Louis Malle’s ATLANTIC CITY, most notably the latter film (which it never comes close to on a character or story level). Simplicity is the film’s strength; it is also its weakness. The script never really transcends the story – there is very little subtext in the film – what you see is what you get – and what you don’t know, eventually you find out.

Farina, a very complete actor in demeanor, makes all the right choices: he never over-sells himself as someone flashier (though you want him too). It’s a measured performance. Yet, the film, as well as Farina’s performance, lack any type of humor or dark comedy – a missed opportunity by the filmmaker – to counter the bleak setting, cold weather and dreary tone of the film. Granted, one could argue that this is not that type of film, but it’s gritty urban setting and shades of grey characters are nothing but tragic. The film’s a downer, and not in a good way.

There is nothing in the dialogue, nor the direction, that give Joe that extra bravado that we, the audience, long for. Dennis Farina’s face has the history, and his body language the rhythms (and the voice – no one can curse like Farina), but what comes out of his mouth is static and clunky (an attempt to hustle a slab of beef is meant, I think, to serve as a mild attempt at humor and characterization).

Dennis Farina / THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY (Tribeca Film)