Joe Bell Movie Review

‘Joe Bell’ is about Mark Wahlberg’s character, Joe Bell, on a crusade against bullying, particularly toward people who come out as homosexual, as his son Jaidn (Reid Miller) had. Jaiden was trying to tell his father what he had been going through for the entire school year thus far. Joe tuned him out. ​

Now, starting from his home in Oregon, Joe walks alone across the United States to bring awareness to the subject. He does this because he finally witnessed on his own what Jaiden had been talking about. He doesn’t want other parents to make the same mistake he made, in ignoring their kids as he had. He hopes to make a difference.
The “Brokeback Mountain” writing team of Larry McMurtry (who we lost this year at the age of eighty-four) and Diana Ossana have created a good script. It does an excellent job of bringing certain events to light in the teen’s life that lead to Bell making the decision to take on this journey. How and where certain moments in Jaidn’s life are used, don’t always hit the mark.

At the beginning of the film, we watch Jaidn attempt to speak with his father about something he’s going through at school. He tells Joe about the painful bullying that has been happening to him. At first, this feels like a chore to the father, who’d instead prefer to watch television, but he listens. However, his response isn’t exactly what the boy was hoping for. Since the television awaits, Joe thinks of a quick response. Instead of jumping up in his child’s defense, ready to go to the school and raise hell, he offers pointers on how to fight. Well done, dad.

We learn more. Bell’s oldest son is tortured by everyone, from the students to their parents. Jaidn turns to his school principal, Mrs. Swift (Cassie Beck), for some relief. He tells her about the attacks in the boy’s shower that keep happening. That they’ve put a snake in his locker and call him a f*ggot, about the many other things he has to put up with on a daily basis. She tries to help Jaidn by suggesting HE seek therapy. One of the best lines in the film is when he says back to her, “I don’t need therapy; they do.’ Her only suggestion after that is that he switches schools.
Believing perhaps that his son had been exaggerating his circumstances, Joe’s alarmed. Along with his wife Lola (Connie Britton), he had been in the office when the principal said this. They were also at a football game when projectiles and slurs are thrown at Jaidn. He finally sees the actual problem, his lack of support. Lola had hinted that Joe needs to get more involved, but the person he has made a priority is himself.

Warning. You don’t want to know everything about this true story before going in. Please try and avoid everything that gives you information about the real “Joe Bell.” Don’t look for what you don’t know because, at forty minutes in, the reason this movie was made is revealed. Had they waited a little longer to drop this bombshell, it would have been better for the film overall. And this isn’t the only announcement in the movie.

Wahlberg is fantastic. Suppose you can forget what has been in his past or not consider what he has done and said as a younger man. In that case, Wahlberg makes the perfect casting choice for director Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men, upcoming King Richard). His look and demeanor fit the character very well. You may have heard he gives, what I’d call, his best performance to date. This is true. However, with that said, Reid Miller blew him away. I make this pronouncement because while watching his portrayal of Jaidn, you’d swear Miller actually IS Jaidn. Though it didn’t always meet its goal, I hope the LGBTQ community sees this for all it intended to do. Though it might not have offered the best lens to view it, it’s another story of pain that may bring a mirror to the faces who cause it.

*ONLY in Theaters on July 23