MovieChat Forums > Streets of Laredo (1995) Discussion > Joey Garza's character

Joey Garza's character

posted 15 years ago by scarlettt666
9 replies | jump to latest

It is just not fair, he is the most interesting character in the movie and yet we know so few things about him. I think it would only add to the series if his character was better revealed, if we had been introduced to his past and see why he turned so bad. He is the inception of the action of the sotry, its crucial character and still he had so few scenes.That is the main weakness of the movie, if not the only weakness, as I think "Streets of Laredo" is truly a beautiful saga.
I just wonder if Joey makes bigger appearance in the novel, that just should be fair and logical.

Anyone else agree?

'Live every day as if it is your last one,because sooner or later you'll turn to be right' '

[–] xxjoseph23xx 15 years ago

I haven't seen the movie in quite some time, but have read the book more recently. Joey does, indeed, make for a great tragic villain. McMurtry bases the boy's conflict on his relationship with his mother, Maria, who he is both jealous of for doting over his affected siblings (blind Teresa, and demented Rafael), and for believing his mother is a prostitute, after she marries four men. I don't remember how many scenes Joey has in the movie, but know McMurtry's novel gives Joey Garza much greater detail, showing the depth of his hate as well as his love for pretty things (the telescope, watches, the Mauser rifle, etc.).

[–] dillem 15 years ago

In the book he's almost like a malevolent mythological character in some ways -- with his blond hair and blue eyes he's set apart from the rest of his family, and his love of lovely, shiny things makes him a bit like a dragon. He even has a cave where he stashes his treasures, just to hoard them, not to convert them into a more practical source of wealth.

[–] Yuna_Fantasy 15 years ago

Loved the way you describe him dillem because that is exactly as I see him. Everyone seems to be scared of him and the myth he has become, as you say almost like a dragon with his legendary cave. In the book I love the parts about his cave, I think he likes to take things from the people he's done away with, a reminder of the killing. I also love the scene in Mexico City, where he goes into the Cathedral and marvels at the beautya nd high ceilings, there is something about that I find quite profound.
I think he's a fascinating character and I love trying to get into his head and understand why does what he does, I suppose that is human nature when you don't understand something though ;)
But I will never forgive L.M for not including anything about his past! It's enough to drive you crazy lol

"Never bite into an apple without knowing what lies within..."

[–] cnfoxs 15 years ago

You're right, the novel makes him a much more sympathetic character, and gives far more of his history... A good bit of the events in the novel are from his point of view.

Good thing I had read the book, otherwise I would have had a completely skewed view of Joey and his personality. He is still fascinating in the movie, but so comic-book villainish that I was irritated.

"The twentieth century! The world has gotten very, very old."

[–] bear022013-588-696101 14 years ago

I agree 100%...the character was haunting and he was not on screen enough.

[–] ibrewer 12 years ago

I just read the book, and to answer your question, the book is very close to the movie. Joey Garza's character during his absence, when he is captured by the Apaches, is not written. The only character development takes place in his mother's remembrance, when he was a child and after he came back. When he came back he was ruined and cold. He didn't talk, so there was no development of his character. I like the fact that they did not change the story of the book like so many that Hollywood takes the liberties to do. You can't improve on Larry McMurty's writings either.
ICB

[–] star_in_the_zenith_79 11 years ago

Joey's past is revealed in a lot of detail in the novel. When he was little he was actually likeable, but apparently the abduction by the Apaches changed him completely. I don't really see how people thought of him as being a sympathetic character, I just thought he was a cold blooded murderer and a thief. I've seen sympathetic characters before even murderers but Joey killed because he liked too. Of course I know Indian abductions did change people, but I'm not convinced everyone who was abducted and lived with Indians became cold blooded murderers.

[–] Yuna_Fantasy 10 years ago

No it's not, what you just said is all that is in the book. It does not tell you what happened to him with the Apache, it's hinted something not good, but we aren't told, not even in the slightest. As to him being a sympathetic character, that really depends on you. I personally feel that someone that was once a 'normal' kid but then comes back as a cold bloodied, emotionless guy, that has mother and siblings issues to the extreme had something pretty nasty happen to him and I feel sympathy towards him because of that. That doesn't mean he is excused of his behavior, he's still a little s**t that kills people as has a ego the size of Africa to boot, and he deserves to pay for his crimes and misdeeds. But something drastically changed his personality, I think writing him off as nothing more than a cold bloodied killer is a little shallow.

"Never bite into an apple without knowing what lies within..."

[–] Bloodworth79 (5569) 4 years ago

Every time I saw joey I laughed...weak little kid with blonde hair who looks like a girl.
When the series first started and they showed joey I thought it was gus's daughter from return of lonesome dove.
And then you have his mother and George Carlin hoping he gets away?

Kid kills a judge and other people and they go take his mom and then stop the looking for him?

One second his mom is in jail, I though as bait, then the next scene shes free on the streets?

The casting of joey was all wrong