new yorkers contemporaneous with this film will recall how reflective of it time it be and how well cast and crew capture america and new york city of that era . norman wexler script delineate the different worlds the various sub grouping live in and avildsen direction bring out phenomenal performance all around . peter boyle prodigious talent be on display a never before nor since . clearly it be the best character portrayal the always likable dennis patrick ever accomplish . what i will always remember about joe be the feeling of have be in a virtual state of shock come out of the theater . know that what the screen portray be seethe under the surface in neighborhood throughout the five borough of the city of new york . this film need to be remember .