In 2013 he also starred in Joe , an independent crime drama film directed and co-produced by David Gordon Green , adaptation from Larry Brown 's 1991 novel of the same name . In this film Nicolas Cage is a tormented man who hires a 15-year-old boy ( played by Tye Sheridan ) and protects him from his abusive father . The film premiered at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 30 , 2013 , with a subsequent screening at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival . It was a box office flop , grossing only $ 2.36 million from a $ 4 million budget , but received critical acclaim from critics , who praised Cage 's performance and Green 's direction
70th Venice International Film Festival
70th Venice International Film Festival
Nicolas Cage