Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

SPOILERS THROUGH:I did not think this was a bad movie but neither did I think it was great. There were a few things I didn't like, one being the amount of plot contrivances. A lot of movies have that aspect but sometimes there's other things that are so well done it kinds of takes the focus off that aspect. Not here. There's a lot that just seems(for lack of a better term: "put on".) And the amount of bad things that keep Cropping up and happening just when one is over with almost makes that the focus of the movie.Then there's the amount of screeching and melodrama. And when Hush and Joe were fighting in the casino how come nobody even batted an eye except the kids? Wouldn't SOMEBODY have told them to be quiet? It's things like that which took away from my enjoyment of this movie. Then toward the end it got really tough. I mean every five minutes something would come up to make it seem like Joe and Hush were finished. After awhile it's tough not to think "Just get together already".The movie is not at all unwatchable. It's not what I'd call bad. But I'd only Give it a 5 or 6 or so for the reasons mentioned above. In terms of positives there were a couple of things that really stuck out. One was Sharon Stone in this role. When she lessened up on the screeching she was excellent and I wish her character had been a little-well-CALMER-because Stone is a really good actress when she's playing quality Roles and I think, though she brought some nice aspects to the role of Hush, she could have brought even more if the role had been toned down a bit.Now the SECOND and most important thing I liked was Billy Connolly as Joe. He created a lovely character and even though I didn't love the movie I did think he did a 10 of 10 in his portrayal of Joe. That was without a doubt the highlight of the movie.I kind of wish this movie had been either a straight out noir with quieter characters, more mystery, and less screaming or a sweet family drama. There seems to have been a lot of potential here because the storyline in general sounds somewhat intriguing. But there was a lot that seemed forced. The movie is not bad but was not great however the character of Joe is one that I'll remember and if one is going to see this movie they should see it for that reason. My vote for the movie overall is about average.

Not a great film, but not bad either. Cast are excellent and it's fun. Plus, except for a few swear words, you could watch it with adults. Billy Connolly is always entertaining. Imagine how great he'd be if he ever changed his hair do. Sharon Stone plays an over-the-top floozy (or is it floozie?) with too much makeup and too little clothing. No nudity, though. And if she seems different, Gil Bellows is a far cry from the Allie McBeal attorney. I recognised Ian Holm, but I couldn't recall from where. The British actor gives an incredible performance as a tough mobster who may have just met his match. Or not. And Jurnee Smollett is delightful as the daughter, who is a far better judge of men than her mom. Written and directed by Stephen Metcalfe, who manages to avoid annoying clichés until the very end. Then again, at least it has an ending.

"Beautiful Joe" tells of an irrepressible and likeable Irish florist who learns he has a brain tumor and decides to take a last blast road trip before his possibly fatal surgery. He falls in with and falls in love with a gambling woman with a checkered past and some troublesome underworld connections. With all the ear marks of a low budget indie, "BJ" moves from one sentimental moment to another with enough heart to make its journeyman execution easy to overlook. A fun but raggedy little romantic comedy which is as easy to like as it is to criticize. (C+)

A cute little film. I'm not familiar with this Billy Connolly, so I don't know if he really has that Irish brogue, or if he acted it. It was good, anyway. Sharon Stone continues to prove her acting range with a dramatic role (also with an accent). I had never heard of this film when it came on cable, but it was sweet. Worth catching the next time it comes on.