By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues
Photos copyright Tri Star Pictures
I was recently made aware of just how many movies and television shows the younger generation have never heard of, never mind seen. So to that end, we look back at some characters you really need to see before you kick the bucket.
Everyone knows Wil Wheaton universally and galactically as Wesley Crusher, former child genius, current time traveller, Sheldon’s nemesis and smiley host of Ready Room where he gets to meet all Trek series stars. But the man has had a long career which he detailed recently on the Michael Rosenbaum podcast Inside of You. He spoke of his career but in probably his most candid interview ever told of his deep familial issues which he has now spoken openly about in his new book Still Just A Geek.
Ironically it is deep family issues that form the core of one of his characters, Mafia boss’ son Joey Trotta as seen in the 1991 movie Toy Soldiers. Joey is a pupil at the Regis boarding school for troubled boys and one of a close knit gang of five. Everyone at the school has a father in a powerful position either an industrialist, politics or the military. Unbeknownst to them a terrorist group led by Luis Cali (Wishmaster Andrew Divoff) are on their way to kidnap one of the pupils to force the government to release his father from prison. The boy is removed so when he takes the school hostage, Luis uses the remaining boys to get his father’s freedom. He wires the school with explosives and establishes rooftop weapons capable of taking down any approaching helicopter. He wears a wrist strap with the detonator so there will be no delay in detonation in case the US soldiers somehow get in.
However he doesn’t count on the five boys who are trouble makers for Dean Parker (Louis Gossett Junior) . Joey is a rebel along with Billy (Sean Astin), Snuffy (Keith Coogan), Ricardo (George Perez) and Hank (T.E. Russell). They are not bad kids but don’t take to authority very well. It is a constant game of cat and mouse between them and the Dean. Only Parker and the Headmaster (Denholm Elliott) see the good in them and become father figures of a sort even if the boys don’t see it.
What we learn of Joey’s background is through scenes with his father, Mafia boss, Albert Trotta (Dirty Dancing’s Jerry Orbach, he tried to put baby in the corner don’t you know?) When Luis picks Joey’s file and realises who he is, he is shown respect. Joey says nothing, simply staring at the terrorist with a deep hatred. We learn that Joey hates his father deeply through the scenes featuring Albert himself. Upon hearing that his son is being held, he gives the order to tell the Cali family to release him immediately. His position as the head of the Mafia has somehow cost him the love of his son. His mother is never mentioned so we can only assume that she has passed. Albert confides in his closest friend that Joey hates him but with a hatred unlike the usual father and son butting heads. Joey loathes his father and everything about him. Maybe his father was being targeted and his wife died in the crossfire. Maybe Joey blames him for this and then being sent to the boarding school finished him completely. He could have seen that as a sign that his father didn’t want him around when all Joey needed was his father’s love. Whatever the reason behind it, Joey has all the family, love and security he needs in his four friends.
It is clear he is closest to Billy. They are inseparable and he will back each other up without question. Billy is the planner and schemer while Joey is the hot head that reacts there and then. Everyone has a brother from another mother and this pair have a bond that is literally falling off the screen at you. You want to be part of their gang because each boy compliments each other perfectly.
Toy Soldiers is a great action movie with a real heart to it. These boys will go the whole hog for each other. Billy convinces Joey to help collect information about the terrorists as Joey’s idea to jump a couple and steal weapons will only get people killed. Joey uses his talent for art to help compile vital information that Billy manages to get to the authorities and Dean Parker via a secret escape route the boys use to sneak into town.
But this balance act takes a tragic turn when Luis summons Joey and tells him he is being released. Confused, Joey learns it is because of his father who he realises has done business with these people who have murdered one of their teachers and almost executed five others when Billy almost didn’t get back in time for the hourly body count.
“Fuck you and fuck my father!” spits Joey defiantly demanding his friends go with him. Luis forces him to go. You just know that if Billy had been there then he would have made Joey use this as a chance to get out and help free them but tragedy strikes. Joey manages to knock out his guard and steal his weapon. Without thinking he runs outside and starts shooting. But it is in these final moments that we see Joey is just a kid. He cannot handle the weapon and as he is shot multiple times the helpless look on his face makes you want to reach out. Billy has to restrained as his friends watch Joey die before them on the steps of the school.
Joey’s death even today is heartbreaking. When Dean Parker has to collect the body and comes face to face with Luis who is shitting himself big time, the silent fury on Parker’s face for loss of one of his boy’s is riveting. Billy is totally devastated and the others try to bring him back to finish the plan. Billy chokes that if they say he has to do it for Joey, then he will puke. Hank stands firm and tells him he already knows what he has to complete the plan for. Joey is gone but he would fight to the end. They have battled the Dean for all this time so they have to take back their home, their family from these invaders. They thought they were invincible until Joey was taken so now they have to make sure he didn’t die needlessly. I think the fact this isn’t mentioned at all in the movie but what you feel as the audience is such good writing. The bonds of friendship impact all of us and we cannot help to think what if we lost our best friends. The term best friend never sat well with me because you tell your best friend things you wouldn’t tell anyone and often spend more time with them than your wife. The bond is more than that elevating them to brother without any doubt.
Family is more than just blood and Toy Soldiers reminds us of this through Billy and Joey who refused to leave his friends behind. Brothers from another mother always compliment each other, become the other half and show a fierce loyalty that defines what it is to truly be family. Joey Trotta will always be the epitome of this thanks to Toy Soldiers.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 