Killer Joe

Every once in a while, a movie comes along and you just don't know what to make of it. For me, that movie is Killer Joe. I saw it last night and when I left the theater, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. Parts of it were so, so very good while others (especially the last 20 minutes or so) were over-the-top ridiculous. I slept on it and I'm still thinking about it this morning (which I guess is a good thing??) but I still haven't made up my mind.

Killer Joe begins with Chris (Emile Hirsch), a two-bit drug dealer and general screw-up who decides the best way to pay off his $6,000 debt to his suppliers is by killing his deadbeat, junkie mom and using her $50,000 life insurance policy as the pay off. The beneficiary is his dimwitted little sister, Dottie (Juno Temple) so he decides to get his trailer park trash dad (Thomas Hayden Church) and his new wife (Gina Gershon) involved. They decide the best and easiest way to go about murder is to hire Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey), a Dallas detective who moonlights as a hitman. Of course, double crossing and, since this is based on a play from Tracy Letts (Bug, August: Osage County), general third act CRAZINESS (yes, it requires all capital letters) ensues.

Killer Joe is rated NC17, I'm assuming because there is an awful lot of nudity (mostly female, although if you didn't get your fill of McConaughey's backside in Magic Mike then you're in luck!) and even more random and extreme violence. That stuff doesn't bother me. It just seemed sort of out of place. I generally don't like to compare movies but there is a fine line that movies like this and Bug (which sports the same writer and director) walk between acceptable human drama and over-the-top crazy ridiculousness. I think Bug was a far more successful movie at walking that line. The really out there stuff that happens in the third act of Bug seems organic, growing from a natural place. Killer Joe, which has hints of this craziness throughout, just sort of randomly becomes too much at a certain point in the third act. It didn't feel natural at all and it also didn't necessarily serve the plot. Letts is a fantastic writer and of the three things I've seen by him (movie versions of Bug and Killer Joe and August: Osage County on Broadway), I've loved his ability to write characters and dialogue. I also love his gutsiness and the way his work always just GO FOR IT. Something about Killer Joe, the movie, which was also a play, just didn't jive for me.

It wasn't the fault of the cast, that's for sure. The thing that worked most about this movie, in fact, was Juno Temple's crazy adorable performance of Dottie with all her wide eyed innocence and sexual discovery. Temple has been the next big thing for a while now but lacked a big break out role. This performance can surely do it for her. The question is, will people see it and appreciate it? It's not the kind of movie that the average person on the street is going to enjoy, but I'm still hoping this movie benefits Temple's career in a big way. McConaughey is great as well. He's having a banner year and you can argue that this or Magic Mike (or both) are his career best performances. Emile Hirsch is great as well, and it's nice to see him back on the screen in a starring role. Church and Gershon are fine, although not stand outs.

Like I said, there are some fine moments in this movie. Just about every time Juno Temple is on screen, whether she is doing karate or twirling in the street, it's almost impossible to take your eyes off her. There was a particularly well shot scene involving Hirsch being chased by some goons. In fact, the whole movie is well shot and well directed and well acted. It's just that pesky third act that almost ruins the whole damn thing. I don't want to give anything away but believe me when I tell you, it's CRAZY.

Grade: C??? (I really can't decide)