‘Joe Bell’ A Heart-Felt, Thought-Provoking Film

In the heartfelt drama ‘Joe Bell,’ the film tells the intimate and emotional true story of an Oregonian father who pays tribute to his gay teenage son Jadin, embarking on a self-reflective walk across America to speak his heart to heartland citizens about the real and terrifying costs of bullying.

‘Joe Bell’ is a truly moving and effective drama about the ramifications of bullying and what a father does after his son’s tragic suicide. There are quite a few moments that are really heart-breaking and yet, powerful.

There are quite a few moments that will move you to tears. A lot of the moving moments are helped by the great performances by Mark Wahlberg and Reid Miller. Most of their scenes together mainly take place on Bell’s cross-country walk when he envisions his recently deceased son.

‘Joe Bell’ also has an important message on the impact of homophobia and intolerance on individuals, families and society. During the first half of the movie, you can see that Wahlberg’s character was a bit displeased with his son coming out. And, later breaks down after his son’s death, realizing that he should’ve been closer during his son’s tough time.

This is a very emotional film that is a must-see during the Fall Film Festival. ‘Joe Bell’ is a beautifully well-done film and the incredible performances help keep this picture going.

The film also has a very powerful message about the impact of homophobia and how it can affect everyone in some way. During a portion of the end credits, you see images of the real Joe and Jadin Bell. So, while the festival is going on, make sure to check out this emotional feature film.

The cast: Mark Wahlberg (Scoob; Infinite) as Joe Bell; Reid MIller as Jadin Bell; Connie Britton (Promising Young Woman) as Lola; Maxwell Jenkins (Netflix’s Lost in Space) as Joseph Bell; Morgan Lily (2012; X-Men: First Class) as Marciel Blaine Maye (Son) as Boyd; Igby Rigney (F9: The Fast Saga) as Chance and Gary Sinise (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why; I Still Believe) as Sheriff Westin.

‘Joe Bell’ is written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurty (both writers worked on ‘Brokeback Mountain’) and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who also directed the indie flick ‘Monsters and Men’ and the upcoming drama ‘King Richard.’

This film has been in development for quite a few years. In April 2015, it was announced that filmmaker Cary Joji Fukanaga (No TIme To Die) would direct the film and the indie company A24 would produce and distribute.

In April 2019, the cast was finally formed and Fukanaga stepped down as director, but stayed on as a producer. After the world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, Solstice Studios acquired the film from A24. After the COVID delays, another indie company, Roadside Attractions, acquired the film.

‘Joe Bell’ is rated R for language including offensive slurs, some disturbing material, and teen partying and has a running time of 94 minutes.

The remaining show dates and times for ‘Joe Bell’ during the film festival are as follows: October 22 at 2:30, October 25 at noon and October 27 at 4:30.