The first image and a new synopsis have been released for David Gordon Green's upcoming southern thriller, JoeNicolas Cage stars as the titular an ex-con who "becomes the unlikeliest of role models to 15 year old Gary Jones (Tye Sheridan), the oldest child of a homeless family ruled by a drunk, worthless father."  Green delivered one of his best films in years with Prince Avalanche (click here for my review), and it looks like Joe will continue the director's return to form.  I'm curious to see how Sheridan's performance in Joe compares to his excellent work in Mud where he also plays a kid from a broken home who embraces a criminal as a role model.

Hit the jump to check out the image and synopsis.  WestEnd Films is handling international sales and will be shopping the films to buyers at this month's European Film Market.

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Here's the official synopsis for Joe:

In the dirty unruly world of small-town Texas, ex-convict Joe Ransom (Cage) has tried to put his dark past behind him and to live a simple life. He works for a lumber company by day, drinks by night. But when 15-year-old Gary (Sheridan) – a kid trying to support his family – comes to town, desperate for work, Joe has found a way to atone for his sins – to finally be someone’s hero. As Joe tries to protect Gary, the pair will take the twisting road to redemption in the hope for a better life in this tough, hard-hitting but incredibly moving story.