The Last Rites of Joe May Poster

The Last Rites of Joe May 2011

★ 5.716 votes107 min📅 2011-10-28

Joe May (Dennis Farina) steps back into a world that has moved on without him after a grueling hospital stay sidelines the 60-something South-Side Chicago local.

Director: Joe Maggio

Cast

Dennis Farina
Dennis Farina
Joe May
Jamie Anne Allman
Jamie Anne Allman
Jenny Rapp
Ian Barford
Ian Barford
Stanley Buczkowski
Meredith Droeger
Meredith Droeger
Angelina Rapp
Chelcie Ross
Chelcie Ross
Billy
Nathan Adloff
Nathan Adloff
Doctor
Mike Bacarella
Mike Bacarella
George
Brian Boland
Brian Boland
Scotty May
Jack Bronis
DMV Clerk
Emily Brown
Girl Walking Dog

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Last Rites of Joe May (2011) about?

The film follows Joe May, a Chicago fixture in his sixties, as he leaves the hospital and returns to a neighborhood that has already written him off as gone. His old car, apartment, and even his name mean nothing to his former neighbors, leaving Joe to confront the hollow silence of a legacy that never truly mattered to anyone but himself.

Who directed The Last Rites of Joe May?

The Last Rites of Joe May was directed by Joe Maggio, a filmmaker whose work often explores the intersection of personal and communal struggles in urban landscapes.

Who stars in The Last Rites of Joe May?

The ensemble centers on Dennis Farina in the lead role, with standout work from Jamie Anne Allman, Ian Barford, Meredith Droeger, and Chelcie Ross.

Is The Last Rites of Joe May (2011) worth watching?

A quietly powerful character drama anchored by Dennis Farina's layered performance, The Last Rites of Joe May offers a thoughtful meditation on legacy and belonging. While it may not deliver high-energy thrills, its honest portrayal of quiet desperation and redemption makes it a compelling watch for fans of grounded, atmospheric storytelling.

How long is The Last Rites of Joe May?

The Last Rites of Joe May runs 107 minutes.

🎥 Trailer

About The Last Rites of Joe May (2011) — A forgotten man's second chance in Chicago's South Side

Joe May (Dennis Farina) steps back into a world that has moved on without him after a grueling hospital stay sidelines the 60-something South-Side Chicago local. The neighborhood no longer pauses at his name, his car has vanished, and his long-time apartment now belongs to a single mom and her young daughter. Joe's return isn't a triumphant homecoming; it's a raw reckoning with the quiet erasure of a life once lived loud.

Director Joe Maggio crafts a quietly devastating drama that lingers in the spaces between heartbreak and hard-won clarity. With a cast led by the indelible Farina, and supporting turns from Jamie Anne Allman and Ian Barford, the film probes what it means to be forgotten while insisting that second chances still carry weight. Shot through with the working-class grit of Chicago's 'Patch', The Last Rites of Joe May (2011) lingers like the echo of a blues number—melancholy, honest, and impossible to shake.