10 Best Movies of Joe Anderson
Born in 1982, British actor Joe Anderson is also known as a singer. He has an extensive career in film, television, and stage. It is no surprise that Joe has made a name for himself in acclaimed movies such as "Becoming Jane" (2007), "Across the Universe" (2007), "Control" (2007), and the gripping horror film "The Ruins" (2008).
Through these movies, Joe has shared the screen with accomplished actors such as Anne Hathaway, Sam Riley, James McAvoy, and veteran actor Al Pacino. Joe Anderson's proficient acting skills easily align him with his famous co-stars. Want to explore further? Dive into our selection of Joe Anderson's top ten movies below!
1. Across the Universe
Julie Taymor directed the jukebox musical romantic drama "Across the Universe" (2007), inspired by Taymor, Dick Clement, and Ian La Frenais. Joe Anderson's role in the movie also revolves around the Lennon-McCartney song. The movie cleverly weaves in 34 compositions originally written by members of The Beatles.
Set in the 1960s, the story follows Jude Feeney, a shipyard worker in Liverpool who travels to the United States in search of his World War II-raised G.I. father, whom he has never met. The term G.I. refers to United States Army and Air Force personnel. Before his departure, Jude promised his girlfriend, Molly, to maintain their relationship.
When he arrived, Jude met his father, Wes, a janitor at Princeton University. While there, he befriends a lazy student, Max (Joe Anderson), who invites him to celebrate Thanksgiving together. Through Max, Jude is introduced to Max's family, including his younger sister, Lucy.
Max, who is initially lazy, eventually leaves college and becomes a taxi driver. Meanwhile, Jude embarks on a freelance art career and a romantic relationship with Lucy.
Despite Max's initial disapproval, he eventually gives his consent to their relationship. The trio navigates a tumultuous life, meeting new acquaintances such as Jo-Jo and Sadie, while still fulfilling their roles as musicians.
2. The Crazies
The Crazies (2010) is a horror film remake of the 1973 film of the same name. This movie follows a tense scenario in a fictional town called Lowa, which is gripped by a biological infection that turns its residents into merciless killers.
One day, Sheriff David Button is watching a baseball game, savoring the moment. His joy is shattered when a local named Rory suddenly enters the field with a gun in his hand. Seeing Rory's threatening actions, David reacted quickly by shooting him.
Meanwhile, Judy, David's wife who is also a doctor, begins to notice a change in behavior in other townspeople, especially Bill. In accordance with her fears, Bill, acting in unpredictable ways, savagely burns his wife and child.
David and his deputy, Russell (Joe Anderson), begin an investigation after finding the body of a pilot in the swamps. A few days earlier, they found the wreckage of a military plane submerged in the river.
Becoming suspicious of the river's contamination from the crashed plane, David speculates that this may relate to a change in behavior among the townspeople. He embarks to find a solution to stop the threat from spreading.
3. Control
Control (2007) is a biopic depicting the life of Ian Curtis, lead singer of 1970s British post-punk band Joy Division. Adapted from Deborah Curtis' memoir "Touching from a Distance," the movie involved people with close ties to Joy Division in its making.
The title "Control" (2007) refers to Joy Division's song "She's Lost Control" and reflects on Curtis' struggle to manage her own life, which was derailed by her battle with epilepsy and the side effects of medication.
In the movie, Joe Anderson acts as Peter Hook, Curtis' bandmate in Joy Division and bass player. The inception of Joy Division dates back to 1976 when Hooky, Curtis, Bernard Sumner, and Terry Mason attended a Sex Pistols concert.
Inspired by the show, they formed Joy Division in 1977. The band caught the attention of Tony and Rob Gretton in April 1978, which led to the signing of a contract with Factory Records.
However, in December 1978, Curtis suffered a seizure after their first show. He was diagnosed with epilepsy, which resulted in medication-induced mood swings and drowsiness.
4. Becoming Jane
Becoming Jane (2007) is a biographical romantic drama that offers a glimpse into the early years of famous British author Jane Austen and her enduring affection for Thomas Langlois Lefroy.
Jane Austen, the youngest daughter of Reverend George Austen, resists her parents' expectations of finding a suitable husband, and chooses to pursue a career in writing.
One day Jane meets Thomas Lefroy, a promising but notorious lawyer sent by her uncle to the village. Their initial meeting leaves an unfavorable impression on Jane due to Thomas' apparent arrogance.
However, through their disagreements and heated debates, an unexpected attraction grows between them. Eventually, their feelings deepened into love. Along with her brother, Henry Austen (Joe Anderson) and Eliza, Jane's journey takes her to London to reunite with her other brother, Edward.
There, they meet Judge Langlois and get his approval to unite them. In the midst of this exciting time, Jane wrote the manuscript that would later become "Pride and Prejudice".
Unfortunately, their plans fell through when Judge Langlois learned of Jane's modest financial background. His blessing was revoked, as he sought to prevent Thomas from a life of financial hardship by refusing the marriage.
5. Horns
Horns (2013) is a captivating blend of fantasy, mystery, and comedy, adapted from Joe Hill's 2010 novel. The movie stars a talented cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Joe Anderson, Max Minghella, Juno Temple, and Kelli Garner.
Among the cast, Joe Hill acts as Terry Perish, a supporting character who is the older brother of the movie's main character, Ignatius Perrish, fondly called Ig.
The storyline revolves around Ig, whose life experiences a sudden and devastating change with the murder of his girlfriend, Merrin. What makes matters worse is that Ig finds himself accused of her murder, pushing him into a vortex of social isolation and labeling him as a deviant and evil killer.
Amidst the chaos he experiences, Ig undergoes a strange physical transformation: a set of powerful horns emerge from his forehead.
This newfound feature gives Ig an extraordinary ability-the power to force others to confess their most deeply guarded secrets. Truths that were once hidden, fueled by evil intentions and hidden agendas, were now revealed by Ig's influence. Therefore, armed with this unusual power, Ig embarks on a mission to uncover the identity of Merrin's true killer and seek justice.
As the narrative unfolds, this movie delves into the depths of human nature, exploring the consequences of digging for hidden truths and the pursuit of redemption.
6. The Ruins
The Ruins (2008) is the perfect movie for those of you who enjoy movies with a survival theme. The movie, starring Joe Anderson, tells the story of a group of young people trying to survive from the carnivorous plants that lurk within the confines of a Mayan archaeological site.
The story begins with Jeff, Amy, Eric, and Stacy embarking on a vacation in Mexico. Along the way, they meet Mathias (Joe Anderson), who is searching for his brother, Heinrich.
Following a trail of clues, they discover that Heinrich's last known location leads to the remains of a Mayan ruin, located in the heart of an isolated jungle. Brought together by a similar goal, they set out on an expedition.
Upon arrival, their paths cross with Mayan villagers, who brandish an assortment of weapons. Mathias attempts to explain the purpose of their visit, but language barriers make it difficult to communicate clearly.
The course of events takes a drastic turn when Amy accidentally steps on a nearby plant. The villagers who see it are concerned as it is later discovered that the plant is a flesh-eater.
This movie is not only immerses its audience in a suspenseful story, but also delves into the complexities of human relationships in the most desperate of situations.
7. Copying Beethoven
Copying Beethoven (2006) is a drama film that presents a fictionalized depiction of Ludwig van Beethoven's glory and heartache at the end of his life. In this movie Joe Anderson acts as Karl van Beethoven, Ludwig van Beethoven's nephew.
The story begins when Beethoven successfully completed his Ninth Symphony in 1824. During this time he suffered from loneliness, personal trauma and deafness. Beethoven was then assisted by a new copyist named Anna Holtz.
Anna was engaged to complete the composition of the symphony score for the first performance. Although still a student, Anna was so experienced that she was able to correct Beethoven's mistakes.
Beethoven was skeptical at first, but the student's abilities eventually won him over. Unfortunately, just because Anna was a woman, she was often considered worthless by her surroundings.
Against all odds, Anna proved to Beethoven that she could be relied upon. Anna proves herself to be Beethoven's friend, protégé, and even heir.
8. The Ballad of Lefty Brown
Set in 1889, this movie tells the story of Lefty Brown, a lawman who struggles to uphold justice alongside his partner, Edward Johnson. The two take contrasting approaches in dealing with criminals, with Ed leaning towards a harsher and more brutal form of punishment.
Ed, who has just been elected as a senator, prepares to move to Washington with his wife, Laura. However, Laura expresses her reservations over Ed's decision to entrust the management of his ranch to Lefty.
Tragedy strikes when Ed is fatally shot in the head by a sniper, resulting in his instant death. Lefty, who survived the attack, brought Ed's body back to the ranch. Subsequently, Lefty became thirsty for revenge.
Lefty's quest for revenge is intercepted by Marshal Tom Harrah, who is concerned about Lefty's welfare and potential legal issues. On his journey, Lefty meets up with Jeremiah Perkins, who is enlisted to accompany him.
In time, Tom joins the two, forming a trio united in their quest to uncover the identity of Edward's killer - a man named Frank Baines.
9. Hangman
Hangman (2017), an American crime thriller, features a cast that includes Joe Anderson, Al Pacino, Karl Urban, Sarah Shahi, and Brittany Snow. The movie tells the story of a detective's relentless pursuit of a serial killer who commits murders based on a children's guessing game known as Hangman.
Reporter Christi Davies accompanies Detective Will Ruiner to the murder scene where a teacher is horribly murdered and left outside her school, with the letter "O" carved on her chest. The intrigue deepens when Ruiney's badge number is also found engraved on a desk.
Further investigation reveals that the victim, Carrie Cooper, had an affair with someone named Joey Truman. A search of Cooper's apartment yields a grim scene with traces of blood and BDSM equipment in the closet. The blood in her apartment was traced back to a criminal named David Green.
The pursuit of David is immediately started, but one victim is already killed again in a terrible condition. This victim was crucified, their body marked with the letter 'N', a pig's head placed on top, and a cryptic riddle left behind. In this movie, Joe Anderson plays Hangman, the serial killer who masterminded this horrific crime.
10. High Life
High Life (2009), a Canadian film adaptation of the stage play by Lee MacDougall, presents a comedic heist story that provides a contrasting perspective to the consumer-driven ideals of the 1980s.
Set in 1983, High Life (2009) follows the journey of Dick, a janitor working at a hospital. His routine life changes when his sociopathic former cellmate Bug makes an unexpected visit to his workplace, resulting in Dick losing his job. Struggling financially, Dick devises a plan to rob an ATM to regain his self-respect, as he tells Bug.
In his endeavor, Dick seeks guidance from Donnie (played by Joe Anderson), a charismatic individual with a penchant for criminal activity. The group leader, Billy, also contributes to the planning.
Although they have agreed to take a non-violent approach, their heist does not go as planned. A series of complications arise, challenging their loyalty to each other.
Joe Anderson's filmography covers a wide range of premises and genres, with many movies appealing to fans of suspense. Among our ten recommended movies, several fall into the horror, thriller, and mystery categories. With this diverse selection, there is likely to be something that piques your interest. Do any of these films stand out as your favorite?