Finding Joe (2011)

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A bunch of people trying to tell us what Joseph Campbell was telling us. If you really want to hear the great man's message, do yourself a favor and watch any of these instead:The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell (1987) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093183Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (1988) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296362Mythos (1985) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389663Joseph Campbell: Sukhavati (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2341386Thinking Allowed: Understanding Mythology (1987)Finding Joe is just — and there is no other way to put it — boring.

Inspiring and insightful. It reveals a depth of the human experience that reminds us of our own personal "call to adventure"---to living our life in bliss, alive, and amazingly fulfilled.... and the journey we take in getting there. For example, if you remember back to a time when you were a teenager, when you we were all coming of age, seeking independence from our parents, and first striking out on our own. We may or may not have know what we desired in venturing out into the world alone, but we all felt that healthy sense of anxiety and yet a deep profound knowing inside that even though it may be scary, we must forge ahead and venture out in the world and create a life for ourselves. This is our journey, our common path that binds us together. It is expressed in our stories and movies over and over and over again, and provides the access to life fulfilled. It spoke to the voice inside me of my higher purpose, a sense of something bigger than myself, a sense of what we are all here for. A sense of fulfillment and trusting in this journey we call life.It was deeply moving and touches on the quiet truth that we all have inside, our highest and best selves longing to be unearthed and the story of it unfolding.

I hadn't heard of Joseph Campbell prior to seeing "Finding Joe" but after watching the movie, and being inspired, I'm looking more closely at his work. His quotes resonant with me on a spiritual and intellectual level. There are quite a few that stand out like: "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." "It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure." And "Follow your bliss," which is a staple of the documentary. The film's incredible message is perpetuated by these quotes and commentary by a wide variety of professionals and others inspired by Joseph Campbell's teachings. Deepak Chopra, Mick Fleetwood, Akiva Goldsman, Catherine Hardwicke and Tony Hawk are just a few of the people who offer their insight into the hero's journey.On a technical level, the film is beautiful. The cinematography is breath-taking. Each shot was clearly calculated and executed. For a documentary, the resolution is astounding. So it was aesthetically pleasing to watch "Finding Joe." The running metaphor of a separate narrative was also very clever and well-executed. On a more personal level, I really connected with the film and its message. It's one of those movies that ignites epiphanies, because everyone can relate to the film's concept. All of the speakers in the film act as mentors and the audience members are mentees. The people in the film expand on Joseph Campbell's philosophies and in doing so relay the message that everyone needs to hear: "Follow your bliss." Joseph Campbell was an extraordinary man who continues to inspire people and, with the help of this documentary, will continue to inspire people.

What stood out to me most about this film is the cinematography. I don't usually notice these things, but it really stood out. The shots were well executed, and allowed the message of the documentary to flow smoothly; with visual representations of the message. I had heard about the book The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and nothing but great things. Then, when I came across Finding Joe, and saw it was about the Hero's Journey, I was intrigued -- and pleased with what I found. Not only does it provide in- depth interviews from experts on both spirituality and success in life, but also delves into the workings of mythology, specifically the Hero's Journey, and the most fascinating aspect of this documentary -- how it applies to us. I really enjoyed this documentary and recommend a viewing!