Joe Versus The Volcano

Summary

“I’m gonna hire you to jump into a volcano.”

In 1990 playwright John Patrick Shanley was able to convince Warner Bros. to allow him to direct. a script he had written called Joe Versus the Volcano. Shanley had written three films that had been produced. Moonstruck had been a critical and commercial success that had garnered numerous Oscar nominations. Five Corners and The January Man had only middling success. Shanley wanted to see his creative vision brought to life as he intended. With the backing of Steven Spielberg and Amblin, Joe Versus the Volcano was filmed with stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks attached a full three years before they would star in Sleepless in Seattle together. Joe Versus the Volcano was a critically divisive film. It has many surreal and fantastic elements that it expects the audience to accept at face value. That was a tough sell for critics and some audiences. The film was misunderstood by many when it was released but the film found an audience over the years. As for the playwright who wrote and directed it? John Patrick Shanley returned to filmmaking in 2008 with his film Doubt which was based upon his play of the same name. It was nominated for five Academy Awards. We can only hope that this encouraged those bold naysaying critics to reevaluate Joe Versus the Volcano.

The story of Joe Versus the Volcano is best described as a fable. Joe (Tom Hanks) works a soul-sucking job in States Island under fluorescent lights that cause him to feel ill. His boss (Dan Hedaya) is demanding and the job fills Joe with dread. Joe had at one point been a fireman and been much more brave. The job and anxiety it has caused him have led to Joe becoming a hypochondriac. He has visited numerous doctors to find out exactly what is wrong with him. When Joe visits with a Dr. Ellison, the doctor informs him that he suffers from a “brain fog.” The condition is explained to be completely undetectable but also fatal. He will dimply cease living in six months. Joe feels relief wash over him. If he is going to die, then he can live. He returns to his job and lets his overbearing boss know exactly what he thinks of him as he quits. He also asks out an employee (Meg Ryan) he has pined for on a date. Impressed, she agrees to the date. After a promising first date, she cuts off the relationship with Joe when he explains that he will die of a brain fog soon. In his apartment, Joe is visited by a wealthy man named Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges.) He explains that he has a special opportunity for Joe. There is a tiny island in the Pacific known as Waponi Woo. That island has a mineral that Graynamore needs in order to create specific superconductors. The mineral is only available to Graynamore if Graynamore can help the island find a man willing to heave himself into the island’s volcano as a human sacrifice. Graynamore explains that, since Joe is going to die anyway, why not live life to the fullest with his credit cards and a fully expense paid trip to Waponi Woo? Joe accepts the offer and begins his journey. Along the way he meets a life affirming limousine driver (Ossie Davis,) a struggling artist (Meg Ryan,) and her boat captain twin sister Patricia (Meg Ryan.)

Joe Versus the Volcano is an enjoyable and life affirming fable. It is a surreal film that has so many ideas it explores that it occasionally has moments that don’t totally work. There are more than a few inexplicable sequences that ask the audiences to just roll with what is happening onscreen. I watched the film with my wife and certain moments of the film made me nervous that my wife would lose interest. I am happy to report she did enjoy the film. Just like Joe is asked to let go and enjoy life, you need to have a similar experience to enjoy the film. Those that take the journey will find there is plenty to enjoy in the film’s strange sense of humor.

Tom Hanks is charming in the lead role as Joe. Hanks is the ultimate everyman and has no trouble portraying Joe. Hanks inhabits the role easily as Joe loses his anxiety and embraces life. Meg Ryan is great in her three roles. Why was she cast in three roles? I don’t know, but I like it. Ossie Davis steals every scene in which he appears as a wise limo driver. I was also happy to see Dan Hedaya, Abe Vigoda, and Nathan Lane in small roles.

Joe Versus the Volcano has a childlike quality to it that I admire. It’s an optimistic film that doesn’t worry whether or not its charms will come across to every viewer. Critics didn’t quite know what to make of it, but I think that as the years have gone by it has proven its worth. It is great that Warner Archive chose to give it a release.

Video

Warner have done a fantastic job on the transfer of the film using an MPEG-4 AVC codec in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt takes full advantage of wide angle lenses to fill the screen with as much detail as possible. The story of Joe calls for a dreary beginning that leads towards more and more colorful surroundings. The Blu-ray format brings out the best in the film. Its colorful palette shines on Warner’s disc. Fine detail is excellent. There are no print issues. Fans will be very pleased to have the film with such a great looking transfer.

Audio

Warner has provided a very capable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that capably replicates the original sound design of the film. The movie features the song “Sixteen Tons” performed by Animals lead singer Eric Burdon alongside the songs “Good Lovin” by The Rascals and “Mas Que Nada” by Sergio Mendes and the Brasil ‘66. The film features a whimsical score by the great Georges Delerue with Peter Gordon. There are no issues to report with the track. Fans will be pleased.

Supplements:

Trailer

Behind the Scenes featurette 

Music Video – “Sixteen Tons” – Eric Burdon

Overall Scores:

Video – 5/5

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – 1.5/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Joe Versus the Volcano is an enjoyable offbeat comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The film was critically divisive due to its fantastic and surreal writing that left some critics shaking their heads and shrugging their shoulders. I have no problem saying that those critics were wrong on their evaluations of the film. Optimistic filmmaking occasionally is confused for idiotic filmmaking. I think that was the case here. The movie is certainly strange but it is all the better for its quirks. The pilgrimage of Joe from anxiety filled worker drone to romantically entangled bon vivant should bring a smile to anyone willing to think outside the box. Warner Archive’s new Blu-ray features a great looking video transfer and solid audio. Recommended!