No Way Jose (2015) User Reviews

Not nearly as humorous, or as clever, as Goldberg thinks it is!

[Hellmant · 5/10 · 10 July 2015]

'NO WAY JOSE': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Adam Goldberg wrote, co-produced, directed and stars in this indie dark comedy flick. It was made on a budget of just $1 million and tells the story of a struggling musician, who's dumped by his fiancé; because she discovers a dark secret from his past. The film co-stars Ahna O'Reilly, Eric Siegel, Anna Belknap, Gillian Jacobs and Pat Healy. The material is not nearly as humorous, or as clever, as Goldberg thinks it is!

Jose Stern (Goldberg) is a 39-year-old musician, who's rock band can only get gigs at children's' parties. He's about to turn 40 and also wed his longtime girlfriend, Dusty (O'Reilly). While the two are in bed together, one night, Dusty learns a dark secret from Jose's past. What's worse though, is that he's been lying to her about it (since they met). So she dumps him, and kicks him out of their place. Jose sinks into even greater depression; and harasses his friends about it (Siegel and Belknap), while crashing on their couch.

I think I used to like Adam Goldberg, once upon a time, but now I think he's just annoying (in this film at least). He reminds me a little of Jay Baruchel; but Baruchel is much more gifted (and funny). This movie is kind of a pain to watch, if you feel the way that I do about Goldberg. His directing isn't bad, and he's still an OK actor, but his idea of comedy just doesn't work anymore.

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Where are all the men?

[pauldeg-37971 · 6/10 · 21 September 2019]

I gave this a 6 not because of Jose but because of the surrounding characters her gave the film some intelligence and reality. I just wanted to slap Jose around the ears. I don't believe you have to spend years with a woman to work out if you love her or not and this pathetic character has done that multiple times with no result. Yes kids can be messy and difficult and unpredictable but the love and joy that that come with them and someone you love, far outweighs what car or house you have or even how poignant you think your music is. Jose seems to me to be the most woefully inept version of a man that there is.

Not Funny

[larrys3 · 2/10 · 17 July 2015]

I'm sorry to say, as some reviewers have already noted, there is very little to laugh at in this Adam Goldberg led indie. It seemed like between the ad-libbing and inside jokes by the cast that they were probably having a better time than the rest of us.

Goldberg, who directed here and co-wrote the script with Sarah Kate Levy, stars as Jose Stern, a neurotic guy having all kinds of problems with past and present female relationships, as well as a career as a singer-songwriter that's now relegated him to entertaining at children's birthday parties.

One positive was that I thought Anna Belknap gave a strong performance as the highly intense Kate, wife of Jose's former band-mate Gabe. Also, in a bit part at the end of the movie, I thought the clown, portrayed by Steve Agee, was funny.

In summary, for me, there was more annoyance than laughter here, plus I thought the ending was just an "in your face cop-out" to the viewer.

Brutal

[gavin-grimm · 3/10 · 22 July 2015]

I'm not sure what kind of mid-life crisis Goldberg is having but this is 97 minutes of unwatchable rambling garbage through no real story line or anything interesting at all. It's very clear that the actors involved think their jokes are clever and funny but really they're all just laughing together and no one else understands a thing they're saying. I sincerely regret renting this, not so much for the $ I spent, but more for the wasted trip to RedBox. I shut it off at the 50 min mark while fighting back alternating yawns and nausea. I'd ask for my money back but I desperately want to avoid hearing or seeing Goldberg again. Ever. Steer clear.

Jose -- go away

[cekadah · 2/10 · 11 July 2015]

Flop is the first word I thought after seeing this movie.

Honestly I'm at a lose for words because Jose the main character in this story went from frustrated over aged rocker wannabe, to child molester, to chronic psychological neck pain patient, to inhibited boyfriend, to just a lot of talk with his fellow frustrated over aged rocker wannabe's.

And then the constant news feed of crime and violence in Mexico where Jose and his former but still attached girlfriend wanted to go for their honeymoon but she kicked him out because she discovered a long ago 'mistake' Jose got in trouble doing, and what was the purpose of the half-sister, and the pool woman?

The movie is like a balled up tangled string and all of Jose antics and talking can't undo the knots.

A visual catastrophe

[pixiopattle · 1/10 · 28 December 2015]

I'm writing this while the movie is running on Movie Central in Canada.

Gosh, this is terrible, terrible, terrible. I'm not talking about story or plot or acting: Just what the picture looks like. Yes, it's a low budget movie, but I've seen better -- much better -- visual quality in undercover documentaries and home movies shot on iPhones and GoPros. The framing of the shots in 16:9 is worse than bad (sometimes, half of the actor's heads were cut off horizontally -- one can tell that common top for concurrent release in 4:3, 16:9 or 1:2.35 formats was never a consideration), and often out of focus (ever heard of depth-of field or lighting control?). Shots and counter shots in dialogues lack integrity in terms of color, contrast and focus -- and, if it weren't for actors wearing the same cloths through the shots, one would guess that different scenes were hacked together.

In inside shots, one can see the overhead microphone boom reflected in the glass of the patio door -- which wouldn't be all that bad if the mike position was static, but one can see how the mike was pointed at the actors as the dialogue moves along between actors, and seeing such visual artifacts totally took me out of the movie. Yuck.

Oh, yes, and then there's tripod shot contrasted with jittery hand- held shots without steady-cam. It must be cool to say FU to an audience that is supposed to make work commercially viable.

As I said: Terrible, terrible, terrible. But, hey, if you happen to be a visual masochist, you actually may enjoy a movie that looks like a failed high school project. I hope Goldberg gets a chance to make more movies -- but he needs (and deserves?) much better people behind the camera and in the editing room, specifically, he needs people with a sense of aesthetics, and enough trained skills to create visually pleasing images. For all I know, it's eye candy that sells movies even if the story is bad, but the lack of eye candy kills any good story. Else, it's just a radio play.

In a nutshell: I believe that the people handling cameras and managing post owe it to the actors to make them look as good as possible -- which certainly hasn't happened here. That being said, nobody looks as bad (or out of focus) as much as Goldberg himself. The movie leaves me guessing if he wanted to commit visual suicide. Bad as it is, there were some (but not enough) good shots in the movie: The underwater shots in the pool consistently were very nice quality and better than the movie as a whole.

OK, the movie's over. Here are the culprits listed in the credits:

'A' camera operator: Mark Putnam

'B' camera operator: Jonathan Bruno

1st assistant 'A' camera: Michael Gonzales

2nd assistant 'A' camera: Alicia Pharris

1st assistant 'B' camera: Ludovico Isidori

Additional 'B' camera operator: Monika Lenczewska

Additional camera operators:Greg Cotten, Ian Benham, Nich Musco, Adam Goldberg

Additional 1st Assistant camera operators: Tyler Harrison, Justin Kane, Adam Dorris

Underwater camera operator: Boyd Hobbs (Kudos! As mentionend above).

Digital Imaging Technician: Michael Halper

Video Assist: Lou Spadaccini

Additional Video Assist: Jorden Kadovitz

Disturbingly uneventful?

[johnathanleigh · 2/10 · 16 August 2015]

Jose is a bearded man who plays in an indie rock band. He is encumbered by commitment and behaves like a 20 year old who fears commitment. The soundtrack is bland and also appears to be prepared by exactly who you would expect, a hipster bearded man who is too old, too proud and too distanced from audiences. Resulting in this vanilla, pretentiousness of music that did in no way compliment the film.

His relationship with his fiancé is frail and the chemistry is off. Their love story through the use of flashbacks is sloppy. The banter between Jose and his 'quirky friends' is even worse.

I am a firm believer in watching a film until the end to see whether or not it can redeem itself. When people say "Nothing really happens." This film is it, look no further. The self awareness in this film is hauntingly void.

I question who thought this script was a good idea. I question how he managed to get Gillian. This film left me so confused and unsatisfied. What a terrible way to end a Sunday night.

Goldberg delivers with a great cast and a few true gems

[MdlndeHond · 7/10 · 6 July 2015]

Jose lacks purpose and never committed himself fully to anything. He is singer in a band, Jose and the Joses, that plays at children birthday parties but refuses to write children's songs for example. He still borrows money from his sister who made moderate fame with You Tube make-up tutorials. When the real motives behind his name change to Jose come out and break up his relationship he has to re-evaluate his life. The movie works as an underdog character piece with pointy dialogue. It reminds slightly of Greenberg although less strong and slightly listless in it's execution. The performance of the cast alone is worth it though. O'Reilly and Goldberg deliver as a couple so do Siegel and Belknap as supportive friends. Being mediocre, it still has some true gems. Band membermGabe losing himself in solo is touching and Jose's conversation with his sister summer are truly phenomenal moments to name a few.

Log in just to say: this sucks

[Israel-Hechem · 28 December 2015]

Worst movie that i've ever seen, really, and i'm 48. OK you ask for 10 lines text. this is the worst movie not funny not interesting not even clever he thinks he is some kind of genius, and he is just dumb. Don't even try to watch this senseless movie. Who paid for the make of this corpse? This guy should work somewhere else, like a mcdonalds or 7 eleven Stop thinking you are funny Goldberg, you are the joke. Why you keep asking for ten lines? is not enough suffering whit this atrocious movie? God i hope he will never try to make another piece of garbage like this one. Respect yourself Goldberg and go back to your moms house and finish your high school. i hope you can find peace someday because this movie is a real fraud.

OMG!

[djmattn · 1/10 · 7 November 2021]

The story, so-called acting, soundtrack / music, unfunny dialogue, directing, cinematography, etc, etc Sucked major big time. Trgic, tragic, tragic, tragic and totally pathetic. AG and the rest of the crew actually paid themselves? Oy...

Love it

[alexanderreydman · 10/10 · 15 July 2016]

I am an immigrant, so for me "American" film industry kind of simple, predictable, boring, like pop music, it is product line, but for sure there is some diamonds, and No Way Joe is one of them. It is not for sale! There is amazing music! "coach" song - awesome! Lots of information to think about Good actors, good camera man.

I wish there will be more movies like this, and not "popcorn" movies that kills your time and then you leave with empty head and wont be able to recall after one year what this movie was about... This movie will leave something in your head and in your heart, for sure! Unfortunately people don't like to think, and movie with guy that jumps and shoot for 2 hours more popular than movies like "no way Jose" You can see it by rating and budget. But there is always people who not run after money, they make movies like this and make this world better! Love you guys!

Thank you!

No Way Jose

[studioAT · 1/10 · 26 October 2023]

I like Adam Goldberg, he was one of the best things about the far too quickly cancelled 'Joey' spin-off, but this isn't a great film.

The dialogue feels improvised but not in a good way, and comes across as winging it. The direction is ploddy and ultimately this is a bit of a dark and dirty film.

It's a real shame, because Goldberg is such a talent, there's nobody else like him working currently, but this passion project falls very flat indeed.

Hopefully he'll bounce back and his next effort will be better than this was. With the right script he could be marvellous once again.

Not good though.

Drudgery in viewing the trudging acting

[jim_flowers · 2/10 · 1 August 2015]

Drudgery in viewing the trudging acting. My title is nearly as obtuse as this movie! Goldberg's character Jose, nee Joseph Stern is on the lamb from a teenage misstep. He's currently a no talent musician who's band can get no gigs other than children's parties, where he plays unorthodox music, especially for a children's party!

After his wife to be, Dusty, who is all about getting married, signs up for the PTA at the local school, to whit she is forward a sexual offender app. She installs it on her phone, instantly, their residence is covered with a red dot, indicating a sexual offender in residence.

As it turns out, Jose, was previously convicted for statutory rape when he was 18 for having sex with a 17 year old. Not surprisingly, Dusty is not amused he has kept that a secret and packs his bags. The rest of the movie is an amble through Jose's neurotic mind and dysfunctional life and relationships.

Sounds like potential, right? Unfortunately, it's nothing, but potential wasted. As I tagged along on his aimless journey, I was looking for a map on how to get out of this pointless rambling maze.

If you have nothing better to do and you've seen everything on Redbox, by all means, pass this up.