Yonkers Joe is largely concerned with the delicate balance between a crook's business life and his personal life--a balance the movie itself has trouble managing effectively.
50
Village Voice
Village Voice
Lahti burns through a thinly written role with a surprising level of warmth and humanity.
For all its attention to detail, Yonkers Joe isn't half as tough as it pretends to be. The real story of these bottom-feeders and the sad young man they exploit is a lot uglier than the movie even begins to let on.
25
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
Yonkers Joe is incoherent, succeeding neither as an exciting gambling ride nor a touching family story.