In order to settle this debate, I will attempt to break down all of the fight scenes that Joe participates in and analyse his role in all of them. If anyone wants to imply that Joe is the violent, feral one of the entire group please think about how each one of Joe’s kills is done in response to something, either because they hurt his family first or to protect his family before they can be hurt. Throughout the entire movie, Joe does not initiate any kills.
1. In the first fight scene, the kill floor, Joe doesn’t charge at the enemies on front of him like everyone else does. He runs towards Nicky, to fight at his side. Nicky shoots first, Joe finishes the kill. While Joe does this, Nicky already pulls out his sword to finish off another merc.
2. They kill the guards in the van together, but Joe was being completely civil up until they peeled him away from Nicky. “I need to know he’s okay” is said in such a pleading way like he is still trying to negotiate with his kidnappers. He is hoping that they will let him check on Nicky, because his first thought isn’t to kill or to be cruel. He is trying to avoid any unnecessary casualties. Here, he has no intention of starting a fight until they insult him, Nicky, and pull them away from each other.
3. In Merrick’s lab, Joe is always right behind Nicky. Nicky disarms, stuns, and Joe finishes them off to protect the others in front of him. He has everyone’s back, he is preventing his family from being killed. You will never notice Joe in front of them, leading the charge or even as much as shooting first. His place is always behind Nicky, who is in charge of delivering the first blow. (As a side note, he doesn’t even secure ammo and guns for himself, it’s Nicky who always hands them to him).
4. In the fight against Keane, Nicky is the one to fight back first. Nicky is the one to pin Keane down and throw punches. Joe is just trying to get Keane’s attention on him, to protect Nicky. I don’t think there is anything else I have left to say about the scene when Joe kills Keane. I have already said that anyone could have killed Keane. The purpose was to clear the room of all the guards, Keane included. However, not only was Joe the closest, but just earlier he had to witness the love of his life be killed in front of him by this man. Of course it is personal, and of course it should be Joe who ends Keane’s life. In no way does that make him the violent one, especially since his line is delivered so softly and concisely. He is not yelling, he is not seeing red. He is calm and composed, and his role is that of the protector. His kill is an act of retribution - as he says so himself - not unjustified violence.
5. When he jumps in through the window, he does shoot at the room, but he almost instantly finds cover behind the desk. That’s because the purpose of this manoeuvre wasn’t to clear the room for the team. He served as a distraction for the guards in the room and Keane, so that Andy and Nile can come in and attack from both flanks (having the element of surprise could have easily helped him clear the room in this instance).
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