Dennis Farina is Absolved in ‘The Last Rites of Joe May’

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CHICAGO – The Chicago born-and-bred actor Dennis Farina has had many opportunities in his career to distinguish himself in a variety of roles, but never has he carried a film as well as his turn in the recent “The Last Rites of Joe May.” Farina imbues the title character with raw emotion, feral toughness and a touch of fear.

What is distinctive about Joe May is that he is cut off from the world temporarily, and when he returns nobody misses him. To have lived with no connections of family, friends or colleagues is an intriguing notion to begin a story, and writer/director Joe Maggio puts the title protangonist through a road-to-Mount-Calvary situation that has the nobility of the King of Kings. This film is an exceptional character study, with the supporting cast providing a treasure trove of their own quirks, that Farina plays off on like a fine musical instrument.

Joe May (Dennis Farina) is a small-time Chicago hustler who is discharged from the County Hospital after a seven week struggle with pneumonia. When he emerges into the brutal Chicago winter, he finds that most of his contacts thought he had died. Even his landlord had shut him out, canceling the lease on his apartment and selling all his furniture. Joe discovers this when he finds the new tenant, Jenny Rapp (Jamie Anne Allman), taking a shower. She has a daughter Angela (Meredith Droeger) and no intention of leaving the apartment. Joe May is now homeless.

In Cold Chicago: Dennis Farina (Joe), Meredith Droeger (Angela) and Jamie Anne Allman (Jenny) in ‘The Last Rites of Joe May’
Dennis Farina (Joe), Meredith Droeger (Angela) and Jamie Anne Allman (Jenny) in ‘The Last Rites of Joe May’
Photo credit: Tribeca Films

Trying to figure out what to do, Joe walks the neighborhood streets of Chicago in a thin coat against the cold winter. Jenny and her daughter see him on those streets, and take him back to the apartment, and they agree on an arrangement so he can stay there. This angers Jenny’s boyfriend, a police officer named Stanley (Ian Barford). and the physically abusive relationship becomes more apparent. Joe had ingratiated himself with the child Angela, and becomes somewhat of a protector in his new situation. But with no money, prospects or friends, this last rite of Joe May will be his greatest life challenge.

Dennis Farina is sensational, playing a emotions that range from his familiar tough guy terrain to a delicate vulnerability in old age and loneliness. He honestly becomes the character of Joe May, and knows instinctively how to carry both the dignity and blight of the role. This is a late career, defining moment for the ex-cop turned actor, and he relates every moment in the journey with a nuance and passion that brings the once-thought-dead Joe May truly back to life.

The supporting players are well-cast and crucial to Joe May’s re-emergence. Jamie Anne Allman is a revelation, downplaying her natural vivaciousness and creating the Jenny character as both a hero and victim. The child actor, Meredith Droeger, has an organic relationship with Joe, and displays depth in a difficult role. The old and the new are present in Joe’s fellow street hustlers. Billy (Chelcie Ross), is Joe’s old small-timer, but is content in his retirement home. Lenny, played intuitively by Gary Cole, is the son of a former neighborhood boss (and Joe’s colleague) who now runs the hustle and literally throws Joe a bone.

The city of Chicago has never looked better on film, only because director Joe Maggio eschews the traditional looks of the city and goes into the neighborhoods. Highlighting the long, flat and cold boulevards that take up most of the real estate in the sprawling prairie town gives the film a truth that 500 shots of Wrigley Field can never provide. Joe May is Chicago, and as he trudges down the gray sidewalks during winter, Chicago also becomes Joe May.

His Kind of Town: Dennis Farina on the Chicago Streets as the Title Character in ‘The Last Rites of Joe May’
His Kind of Town: Dennis Farina on the Chicago Streets as the Title Character in ‘The Last Rites of Joe May’
Photo credit: Tribeca Films

There is one small negative to the story, and that is the boyfriend of Jenny, the police officer Stanley. He is played narrowly, an unmotivated angry and abusive man. His character is so repulsive, there is no indication that any woman would stay with him. This could be a statement about the nature of physical abuse in a relationship, and the psychological inability to break away, but angry all the time made Stanley the weak link in the narrative, even when setting up the inevitable confrontation with Joe May.

The film is the shining moment for Dennis Farina in a substantial career. At this point in his life, he challenges as an actor all the sadness, the weakness and most importantly the one last moment of pride for a forgotten man. Because of that, Joe May becomes unforgettable.

”The Last Rites of Joe May” has a limited engagement at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. For showtimes and information, click here. The film is also available through Video on Demand. Check television providers for availability. Featuring Dennis Farina, Gary Cole, Jamie Anne Allman, Meredith Droeger, Ian Barford and Chelcie Ross. Written and directed by Joe Maggio. Not Rated.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2011 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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