Hey Joe (film)

Hey Joe
Italian theatrical release poster
Directed byClaudio Giovannesi
Written by
Produced by
  • Carlo Degli Esposti
  • Nicola Serra
Starring
  • James Franco
  • Francesco Di Napoli
  • Giulia Ercolini
  • Aniello Arena
  • Gabriel Riley Hill Antunes
  • Giada Savi
  • Francesca Montuori
  • Donovan W. White
CinematographyDaniele Ciprì
Edited byGiuseppe Trepiccione
Music by
  • Andrea Moscianese
  • Claudio Giovannesi
Production
companies
Distributed byVision Distribution
Release dates
  • 25 October 2024 (2024-10-25) (Rome)
  • 28 November 2024 (2024-11-28) (Italy)
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian

Hey Joe is a 2024 Italian drama film directed by Claudio Giovannesi. It stars James Franco, Francesco Di Napoli [it], Giulia Ercolini, and Aniello Arena [it]. It premiered at the 19th Rome Film Festival on 25 October 2024 and received a theatrical release in Italy on 28 November 2024.

Premise

An American World War II veteran returns to Naples after 25 years to get to know his son.

Cast

Production

The film was announced on 19 October 2023, with James Franco, Francesco Di Napoli, Giulia Ercolini, Aniello Arena, and Francesca Montuori attached to star.[1] Franco had been approached for the film after meeting Maurizio Braucci [it], one of the film's screenwriters.[2]

Principal photography took place in Naples, Procida, Taranto, and Pizzo.[3][4] Filming was completed by December 2023.[5][6]

Release

The film premiered at the 19th Rome Film Festival on 25 October 2024.[7] It received a theatrical release in Italy on 28 November 2024.[3]

Reception

Camillo De Marco of Cineuropa wrote that the film "offers beautiful lyrical moments but characters that aren't studied in depth". He further wrote, "It is a shame that the script ... indulges in some simplifications and doesn’t manage to significantly deepen the characters, leaving the spectator with a feeling of irresolution that the consolatory ending doesn’t redeem."[8]

References

  1. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (19 October 2023). "James Franco to Star as U.S. Navy Sailor Who Fathers Child in Italy in Gritty Drama 'Hey Joe' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (25 October 2024). "James Franco on New Movie 'Hey Joe,' Being 'Grateful' for His Fall From Grace and the End of Seth Rogen Friendship: 'I Guess It's Over'". Variety. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b De Marco, Camillo (17 September 2024). "Claudio Giovannesi is directing James Franco in Hey Joe". Cineuropa. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ^ Popoli, Paolo (21 September 2023). "Napoli, Giovannesi gira il film con la star James Franco e via Foria si trasforma nel fronte del porto". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  5. ^ Sollazzo, Boris (25 December 2023). "Hey Joe: sul set di Claudio Giovannesi che dirige James Franco". The Hollywood Reporter Roma (in Italian). Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ^ Pasquini, Mattia (11 December 2023). "Hey Joe, finite le riprese del film calabrese con James Franco". Ciak (in Italian). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (20 September 2024). "James Franco-Starrer 'Hey Joe' Set to World Premiere at Rome Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. ^ De Marco, Camillo (25 October 2024). "Review: Hey Joe". Cineuropa. Retrieved 25 October 2024.