The Last Rites of Joe May (2011)
The Last Rites of Joe May (2011), directed by Joe Maggio, starring Dennis Farina and Jamie Anne Allman.
score
Synopsis
Now in his sixties, Joe is released from the hospital after a long battle with pneumonia and forced to confront the harsh reality of his legacy: everyone he knew had assumed he was dead, and life had gone on around him without missing a beat. Returning to his old neighborhood in Chicago's 'Patch' district, he finds his car gone, all his worldly possessions pawned by his landlord, and the apartment he's lived in his entire adult life rented out to a single mother and her eight-year-old daughter.
- Jay SilverCinematography
- Joe MaggioDirector, Screenplay
- Seth AndersonEditing
- Bill StrausProducer
About the film
The Last Rites of Joe May is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Joe Maggio. The film stars Dennis Farina (in his last role during his lifetime), Jamie Anne Allman, Ian Barford, Meredith Droeger, Chelcie Ross and Gary Cole. The film was released on November 4, 2011, by Tribeca Film.
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The Last Rites of Joe May is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Joe Maggio. The film stars Dennis Farina (in his last role during his lifetime), Jamie Anne Allman, Ian Barford, Meredith Droeger, Chelcie Ross and Gary Cole. The film was released on November 4, 2011, by Tribeca Film.
Plot
Leaving the hospital after a long stay there caused by pneumonia, Joe May returns alone to his Chicago neighborhood by bus and steps into a tavern, where he is greeted by a bartender with, "I thought you were dead."
His landlord thought likewise, renting out Joe's tenement apartment during his unexplained absence. Joe discovers a single mother and her young daughter, Jenny and Angelina, living there now. He respects their privacy and sleeps outdoors, unprepared for the frigid night in his thin leather jacket and risking a relapse of his illness.
After looking up his pal Billy in an assisted-living center, Joe accepts an offer by Angelina to share the apartment and rent. Leery at first of the little girl, he soon takes a liking to her, and she to him. He also takes an instant dislike to Jenny's boyfriend, an abusive police detective named Buczkowski.
In need of money, Joe seeks permission from a local crime figure, Lenny, to move some stolen meat. The scheme goes badly, Joe having great difficulty in carrying a heavy side of lamb by himself, with a hungry dog pursuing him through an alley. Cold, broke and lonely, he has little seemingly to live for, so when Jenny's boyfriend becomes violent again, Joe comes to her rescue, with fatal consequences.
Cast
Dennis Farina as Joe May
Jamie Anne Allman as Jenny
Ian Barford as Stanley Buczkowski
Meredith Droeger as Angelina
Chelcie Ross as Billy Tidrow
Gary Cole as Lenny
Matt DeCaro as Chevy
Phil Ridarelli as Landlord
Ernest Perry Jr. as Driver
Mike Bacarella as George
Rich Komenich as Seymour
Craig Bailey as Cab Driver
Roderick Peeples as Butcher Shop Manager
Brian Boland as Scotty
Release
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 22, 2011. The film was released on November 4, 2011, by Tribeca Film.
References
External links
The Last Rites of Joe May at IMDb
Text from The Last Rites of Joe May on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Rites_of_Joe_May
Trivia
- It premiered on October 28, 2011, a Friday.
- It runs 1h47 — a typical feature length.
- As of September 20, 2026, it is on no subscription service in Brazil — only to rent or buy on Claro video.
- This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosLast Rites of Joe May, The, Steppenwolf Films, Billy Goat Pictures, You've Faded Films, Incidental Films
- CountriesUnited States
- LanguagesEnglish
- StatusReleased
Where to watch
Cast
-
Dennis Farina
Joe May -
Jamie Anne Allman
Jenny Rapp -
Ian Barford
Stanley Buczkowski -
Meredith Droeger
Angelina Rapp -
Chelcie Ross
Billy -
Nathan Adloff
Doctor -
Mike Bacarella
George -
Brian Boland
Scotty May - Jack Bronis DMV Clerk
- Emily Brown Girl Walking Dog
-
Gary Cole
Lenny - Rock De Augustine Guy on Bus
-
Billy Dec
Hipster -
Matt DeCaro
Chevy - Billy Jackson Clubber
- Thomas Kosik Retirement Home Resident
- Don Kress Man at Deli
- Karen Kress Grocery Store Customer
-
Andrzej Krukowski
Pupeteer - Dave Osterman Grocery Store Customer
Quiz about this movie
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Crew
- Jay Silver Cinematography
- Joe Maggio Director
- Seth Anderson Editing
- Bill Straus Producer
- Stephanie Striegel Producer
- Lindsay Marcus Original music
- Joe Maggio Screenplay
Questions about this film
What is The Last Rites of Joe May about?
The Last Rites of Joe May: Now in his sixties, Joe is released from the hospital after a long battle with pneumonia and forced to confront the harsh reality of his legacy: everyone he knew had assumed he was dead, and life had gone on around him without missing a beat. Returning to his old neighborhood in Chicago's 'Patch' district, he finds hi…
Who directed The Last Rites of Joe May?
The Last Rites of Joe May was directed by Joe Maggio in 2011.
Who stars in The Last Rites of Joe May?
The cast of The Last Rites of Joe May includes Dennis Farina, Jamie Anne Allman, Ian Barford, Meredith Droeger and Chelcie Ross.
How long is The Last Rites of Joe May?
The Last Rites of Joe May runs for 107 minutes, or 1h47.
Where can I watch The Last Rites of Joe May?
The Last Rites of Joe May is available on Claro video. Availability changes often: the list on this page is the most recent we received.
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Page updated on 09/13/2026.
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