'KILLER JOE'

'KILLER JOE' (NC-17) (3 STARS)

Written by Tracy Letts
Directed by William Friedkin
Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon, Juno Temple

I love that Matthew McConaughey is shedding those dumb, romantic comedies and is now looking for roles that are deeper and can showcase his under rated acting talents. McConaughey has always been a sexy, funny and charming screen presence but the man can also act. Look at character type roles where McConaughey stripped himself of the hunk stereotype. Like 1992's classic "Dazed and Confused" where he dissapeared into his role and played someone other than Matthew McConaughey. Now in 2012 he has found his THIRD deep and wonderful character role where he dissapears into the character he is playing.

McConaughey is brilliant and subtly effective as a charasmatic but deep down very evil killer in "Killer Joe". It is a story based on the stage play by Chicago's own wonderful playwright Tracy Letts. This is the second Lett's adaptation directed by the legendary William Friedkin. Friedkin was the explosive director of "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist" and he has directed stage adaptaions early in his career and now with Letts. Friedkin lost his greatness with a lot of bad choices in movies and "Killer Joe" is his best movie since one of the best cop movies ever made, 1985's "To Live and Die in L.A." It is a deranged, very violent, sometimes sick but hilarious crime movie. It is like film noir in a trailer park and reminded me of a mix of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Double Idemnity".

Friedkin directed Lett's "Bug" a few years back and it was an intense and very well acted but claustrophobic movie. I like "Killer Joe" better because there is more room to breathe and a more wonderful, twisted sense of humor. McConaughey plays Joe who is an ex-cop who is now a killer for hire. When McConaughey first shows up he owns the screen and gives off a cool, detached but somehow charming demeanor. He is hired by Chris Smith to kill Chris's mother and then cash in on her insurance claim. His father Ansel and stepmother Sharla are in on it too. Chris can't pay Joe off the bat but Joe demands he take Chris's virginal sister Dottie as his retainer. From there the movie is set and the double crosses, outlandish scenes and extreme violence can start!

The Smith family is Southern Gothic at it's best and they are incredibly stupid and real rednecks. The acting of the family is brilliant as Thomas Haden Church is brillantly funny as Chris's father. Emile Hirsch as Chris gives the best performance of his career. Gina Gershon is still sexy even though her character is made to look ugly and is humiliated in one scene. I also loved Juno Temple (Dark Knight Rises) as Dottie, she makes a huge first impression in her first big role. Friedkin does a great job at getting the Gothic tone down and the movie struck me as very original, especially after the terrible "Total Recall".

The movie is not for the squeamish for the last half hour with all the twists and depravity can get downright nasty. There is a scene involving oral sex that will never make you look at oral sex in the same way again. The movie also made me laugh out loud throughout and I haven't done that much this year. I love this kind of sick, twisted crime film and the Smith family knocked me out with their stupidity. Matthew McConaughey again gives one of the best performances of the year and by doing very little actually except making us believe Joe is cool even though he might be pure evil. With his hilarious District Attorney in "Bernie", his Oscar caliber performance in "Magic Mike" and now this he is having a career year that any actor would be jealous of.