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My Name Is Joe Reviews

1998

70
from 4741 members

Peter Mullan (ORPHANS, MISS JULIE) won the Best Actor award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for his performance as Joe Kavanagh, a recovering alcoholic in his late thirties. Like half the people in his impoverished Glasgow neighborhood, he's unemployed and struggles to get by between odd jobs and the dole, along with coaching .. Read more

Starring	David McKay, Peter Mullan, Louise Goodall, David McKay
Director	Ken Loach
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of My Name Is Joe
View all critics' reviews (6)
- Grim, compassionate account of deprivation, and the desperation of poverty, in which only the energy of Mullan's performance offers any optimism for the future.
- 30062
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
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Most helpful member's review of My Name Is Joe
View all members' reviews (33)
- - 20
  - 0
  Heart of Glasgow
  
  This film reverberates with echoes of Glasgow that travel brochures never talk about. Men just like Joe are everywhere and nowhere.
  
  It's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 3720
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Karin Grant
  - Glasgow, Scotland
  - 25 Mar 2004 at 23:18
Most recent members' reviews of My Name Is Joe
View all members' reviews (33)
- - 1
  - 0
  Grim but great
  
  Hard and uncompromising life-styles are portrayed in this typical Loach film. The story line takes you through the hopeless lives of some and the little crack ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 961822
- - a customer
  - Seaton
  - 07 Feb 2011 at 15:54
- - 2
  - 0
  Gritty drama
  
  Not one for a bundle of laughs , but the realism of the characters and their situation comes oozing through. Recommended for those who can understand Glasgow ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 907621
- - artflixfan
  - 1 review
  - Hertfordshire
  - 23 Jul 2010 at 11:01
- - 2
  - 29
  Incomprehensible accents
  
  Football, junkies, impenetrable Scottish accents... avoid.
  
  Report this review
- 868818
- - a customer
  - Hillingdon, England
  - 04 Mar 2010 at 15:43
- - 0
  - 0
  Brilliant.
  
  A gritty drama with a hint of a love story. The actors are individuals with a certain charisma and individuality about them. It also a goodish story. The fact ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 810440
- - me1me1me1
  - 24 reviews
  - Osmotherley, Northallerton
  - 14 Sep 2009 at 15:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Gritty as ever
  
  Ex-alcoholic, runs an ex-'users' football team, meets health visitor, player in the football team involved with gangsters, falls in love with health ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 806727
- - Bassman71
  - 460 reviews
  - Didsbury, England
  - 04 Sep 2009 at 09:50
- - 0
  - 0
  worth the watch
  
  worth the watch but nothing exciting, seen better simillar british films
  
  Report this review
- 787962
- - stuaet
  - 114 reviews
  - Stockport
  - 23 Jul 2009 at 10:57
- - 0
  - 0
  my name is Joe
  
  A good film and good acting
  
  Report this review
- 784513
- - a customer
  - Manchester
  - 15 Jul 2009 at 19:44
- - 0
  - 0
  cheer up
  
  not a film to give you an emotional lift, but very good all the same !! always look on the bright side of life .............
  
  Report this review
- 782664
- - oddball78
  - 2 reviews
  - Clitheroe
  - 11 Jul 2009 at 20:19
- - 0
  - 0
  a real film
  
  excellent story and acts. good ending, gives you a lot of hope and inspiration especially if somebody has got alcohol problem. I did lov it.
  
  Report this review
- 729979
- - a customer
  - Newcastle upon Tyne
  - 21 Mar 2009 at 08:56
- - 0
  - 0
  I thought it was very good
  
  you can really feel for this man ... sorting out his life ... trying t help others ... trying to balance everything.
  
  I recommend it.
  
  I was... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 726372
- - Janetgch
  - 60 reviews
  - Baldock
  - 15 Mar 2009 at 10:37
View all members' reviews (33)

- - 20
  - 0
  Heart of Glasgow
  
  This film reverberates with echoes of Glasgow that travel brochures never talk about. Men just like Joe are everywhere and nowhere.
  
  It's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 3720
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Karin Grant
  - Glasgow, Scotland
  - 25 Mar 2004 at 23:18
- - 12
  - 0
  Mullan is outstanding.
  
  For me this film delves into the soul of Glasgow and finds good people who are victims of poverty. Very moving in parts but also very funny which for me kind of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 16064
- - Graham Findlay
  - Peebles
  - 26 Aug 2004 at 11:32
- - 8
  - 0
  Painful but worth it
  
  I forget how awful and upsetting this film is in places because what stays with me is how much I love it. There are some fabulous performances here and some ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 293389
- - linh1
  - South Yorkshire
  - 15 Oct 2003 at 22:58
- - 7
  - 1
  My Name Is Joe
  
  Ken Loach films are not for everyone. Perhaps they are not for anyone at the end of a stressful day. There is no escapism or eye candy. The sharp end of working... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 294202
- - Liam
  - Halesworth
  - 27 Oct 2003 at 10:32
- - 3
  - 0
  A must-see for fans of Ken Loach
  
  Gritty drama. Superb acting from a cast of unknowns.
  
  Report this review
- 60230
- - George
  - Cheshire
  - 21 Dec 2004 at 19:00
- - 2
  - 0
  Gritty drama
  
  Not one for a bundle of laughs , but the realism of the characters and their situation comes oozing through. Recommended for those who can understand Glasgow ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 907621
- - artflixfan
  - 1 review
  - Hertfordshire
  - 23 Jul 2010 at 11:01
- - 1
  - 0
  Grim but great
  
  Hard and uncompromising life-styles are portrayed in this typical Loach film. The story line takes you through the hopeless lives of some and the little crack ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 961822
- - a customer
  - Seaton
  - 07 Feb 2011 at 15:54
- - 0
  - 0
  Good Scottish realism
  
  Gritty Scottish enjoyable film just went a bit lovey from time to time but made up for it with an unhappy ending
  
  Report this review
- 59099
- - Lee Arnold
  - Liverpool England
  - 14 Dec 2004 at 18:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Grim but you have to see it through
  
  Great piece of grim and tho' the scottish lingo gets a bit difficult at times, a great script - not too patronising of the working classes but still is to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 60474
- - Robert Miller
  - Plymouth England
  - 23 Dec 2004 at 09:15
- - 0
  - 0
  EXCELLENT
  
  Yet again Ken Loach strikes gold with this latest film set in the tough side of Glasgow.
  
  Another shining example of Ken Loach at his best.
  
  Report this review
- 70439
- - a customer
  - london
  - 07 Feb 2005 at 12:47

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Critics' reviews
- Grim, compassionate account of deprivation, and the desperation of poverty, in which only the energy of Mullan's performance offers any optimism for the future.
- 30062
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
- After coming into conflict over a young couple troubled by debt and drug-dependency, amateur soccer coach and... read more on Time Out
- 43170
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:13
- "...Appealing....Few proles are more attractive than [McMullan]..." -- Rating: B+
- 7440
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...[Mullan gives] a blustery, tender performance of exceptional immediacy..."
- 7442
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...[Mullan] gives a phenomenal performance..."
- 7441
- - Movieline
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...A sense of beauty and possibility..."
- 7443
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- My Name Is Joe
  
  Peter Mullan (ORPHANS, MISS JULIE) won the Best Actor award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for his performance as Joe Kavanagh, a recovering alcoholic in his late thirties. Like half the people in his impoverished Glasgow neighborhood, he's unemployed and struggles to get by between odd jobs and ...