joe be first release in the u in the summer of 1970. despite respectable notice and reasonable box office and an oscar nom and it vanish shortly afterwards and remain forgotten about throughout the 1980 and before be enthusiastically reappraise and somewhat unjustly and in the u in the late 90 . thanks to this lengthy unavailability and it reputation have go on to see it place ( inexplicably ) alongside the like of michael winner original death wish . although revenge be a theme and a film about vigilantism this most definitely be not . the plot isn not worth synopsizing . it a flabby and hammy and bizarrely stagey ramble about an accidental murder and the unlikely relationship that blossom out of it . that relationship and the largely class base quirk of it two lead be exaggerate into ridiculous caricature while these two and and their situation and bear absolutely no relation to reality . almost everything about the film be cantankerous and begrudgingly antiquate and which make the whole thing completely fascinate . hippy be depict a snide and exclusive misanthrope and hard drug either make you sleep or dance around maniacally with lipstick on your face and and most young woman be prepared to have sex with stranger in exchange for marijuana at the drop of a fly . it very much a film of the 60 rather than the 70 and so why some industry luminary have begin to include it in retrospective conversation about the beginning of the hollywood new wave be a complete mystery . martin scorcese of all people even get involved and though probably only to give a nod to the dank and lavatorial hue of the grim urban cinematography and which almost certainly influenced taxi driver four year later . but joe seem very much like a furious tirade against the like of easy rider and bonnie and clyde and rather than a continuation of that same insurgent cinematic ethos . it isn not a film of any real artistic significance despite joe incontinent fury at everything in his world and it remain a story about absolutely nothing but it value a a cultural museum piece be unprecedented . shot on and around the street of new york city during the dark hour of the vietnam war and and at a time when america ( and and significantly and it cinema ) be be revolutionize to the horror of the old guard and the film end up and in it own completely oblivious and accidental way and say more about that period of history than numerous infinitely superior movie that directly endeavor to capture it . but a a film . despite a really surprising and effective shock end and this be basically a michael winner film and but not as well make . how do that tickle your fancy . incidentally and if you be and like me and a fan of spot arbitrary background lookalikes and then check out harold steptoe at 1 represent22 represent11 in the hippy art gallery .