The was a Film about a man who made choice's and lived with the decisions.He didn't always understand the impact of his choice's on the people in his life.We all have older people in our lives that won't change with the times And this film portrayed us humans making the best of it. because 1. nobodies perfect and 2. we love our older friends and relative's. I fell the way the old man felt about his daughter some goof smacks her around it would be my duty to hurt him badly which i would happily do.Like i said in my opening this movie was simple it was a love story and we all know love is painful as much as it is joyful. yin and yang can't have a up without the down.If you are looking for a action packed MOB film this is not for you.this movie was like the soprano's if i had to compare it to something.Like that series showed TONY being a mob boss it spent a lot of time showing him dealing with his crazy mom and sister.
13 Reviews
Good movie about life
valleydreamin3 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is a good movie. The people who are complaining about it were probably just hoping it would be a shoot em' up mob movie. That's not what this is about. This is a story about life, love, mistakes, commitment and the lies we tell ourselves. I enjoyed this movie. There's some humor, some drama, some tears. Nothing wrong with that. This is the story of a man finding his way back into a world that is nothing like the one that he left. After having spent years in prison for being a crime boss he is returned to his home to die. His neighbor, Michael Raport befriends him and tries to take care of him despite being constantly hounded by the Fed's for his friendship with the man they sent home to die. I liked the relationship between Paul Sorvino and Michael Rapaport. They have a great on screen chemistry. Maybe not the most exciting movie you'll see this year but definitely worth the 1 1/2 run time.
I LIVE BY A CODE I CAN'T EXPLAIN
nogodnomasters8 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Mr Joe (Paul Sorvino) gets out of prison after spending 20 years as a mafia captain. He returns home to the Queens where he can not associate with his old gang. His main contacts are his daughter Rita (Renee Props) who is in her 40's and still single, and Bobby (Michael Rapaport) the neighbor who took over the family deli. He has a family and is honest.
Mr. Joe has a heart condition and his days are numbered. He was trouble adjusting to the fact he is not in charge of people and his daughter who has come out to him. The film is a drama and not a crime/action/mafia/thriller. Mr. Joe examines his life, and like most of us, adjusts to changes as we age.
Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.
Mr. Joe has a heart condition and his days are numbered. He was trouble adjusting to the fact he is not in charge of people and his daughter who has come out to him. The film is a drama and not a crime/action/mafia/thriller. Mr. Joe examines his life, and like most of us, adjusts to changes as we age.
Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.
Unexpected.
ozwillb1 January 2021
I admit I saw the Once upon aaa. title, then the cast, and assumed it was the same old... But with a spare afternoon, what the heck. How wrong could I be!! Simple, different, and strangely touching. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and reaffirmed the life lesson, don't assume anything.
possibly worst movie ever made
Diego_Flores28 July 2015
I cannot describe how awful this movie was. It amazes me that they were able to get good (note I say good, not great) actors like Michael Rappaport & Sorvino with a script that a first grader could have written after having watched Goodfella's once.
There is absolutely no arc to the story. Sorvino must have been trying to reclaim his goodfella's glory in order to agree to be in this turd.
Nothing more can be said except to avoid watching at all costs. Even if your a huge gangster movie fan (such as I) avoid this film. You and your PCP smoking neighbor could have written a better script in between digging through your mother's sofa cushions for spare change.
There is absolutely no arc to the story. Sorvino must have been trying to reclaim his goodfella's glory in order to agree to be in this turd.
Nothing more can be said except to avoid watching at all costs. Even if your a huge gangster movie fan (such as I) avoid this film. You and your PCP smoking neighbor could have written a better script in between digging through your mother's sofa cushions for spare change.
Woke before woke became a thing
mfd59111 March 2022
Who the heck wrote this garbage? So boring, the opposite of what a gangster movie. People watch gangsta movies to see gangstas not alphabet people apologetics. Turned it off as soon as the daughter came out, just another preachy woke movie.
A reflective view of Mr. Joe's past life and sins and his eventual acceptance of the current values of New Yorker's
Ed-Shullivan20 May 2016
Please ignore the bad reviews noted because the film lacked action and a mobster mentality. The film's theme is noted as a DRAMA/COMEDY and not as an CRIME/ACTION film. You negative reviewers please pay more attention and next time first read on IMDb what a films theme and story line are before jumping to conclusions. There is a vast difference between what a viewer expects to see, and what a film intends to deliver.
I for one enjoyed the film greatly and I was especially enthralled with Paul Sorvino's evolving emotions and heart warming scenes (and there were many) between Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport and Renee Props.
Paul Sorvino plays Joe Scoleri (he his called "Mr. Joe" to the neighborhood he has always lived in and is well respected) an ex-con who has just been released from a 20 plus year prison term for racketeering and attempted murder. Joe has one daughter Rita (played warmly by actress Renee Props) who makes sure that her father re-adjusts to life outside of the prison walls by spending lots of time with him. The fact of the matter is that Joe received an early release from prison due to his poor health and a very weak heart so his daughter Rita wants to make sure her father eats healthy and avoids any stress from his previous criminal way of life.
Mr. Joe's neighbour is a middle aged man named Bobby DiBianco (played superbly by Michael Rapaport) who has a wife and a pre-teen daughter. Bobby grew up in the house next door to Mr. Joe where Bobby's father owned a local bakery in Queens, New York. Now Bobby's parents have retired and moved to the sunny south of the state of Florida and handed over the family home and their bakery business that they worked their entire life to their son Bobby who shares his parents values, of working hard and respecting his elders.
This is most likely where I differ from the other reviewers who were expecting to see a mobster film. The story line is focused on how this ex-convict with a bad heart Joe Scoleri, is being closely monitored by his parole officer (played by Steven Bauer) named Ramirez weekly home visits where he is humiliated into peeing into a bottle for a sample of his urine to make sure he is drug free and where two FBI agents are speaking to everyone in the neighborhood with a view to making an imminent arrest when Mr. Joe makes his first foray into his past criminal activities.
Gradually we see how the influence of Joe's daughter Rita's chosen lifestyle and live-in companion, and Joe's neighbor who was a young man when Joe was first imprisoned affect his own mindset of past generations of the Italian values and most importantly, that respect and understanding are earned and not given for past reputations.
To some the film's ending may seem abrupt and leaving the viewer wanting more, but to me, it was a well written ending and deserving of a dramatic film with heart and lessons learned in real life situations. My only disappointment with the film was that one of my all time favorite actors, Chazz Palminteri, only had a cameo appearance playing Joe Scoleris' long time lawyer and friend who advises Joe that the world has changed and he has to get over his past way of life and enjoy the little time he has left (with his adult daughter Rita) on this planet due to his poor health.
It is a good drama and Paul Sorvino's acting is always worth watching. This film is no exception. I give the film an 8 out of 10 rating.
I for one enjoyed the film greatly and I was especially enthralled with Paul Sorvino's evolving emotions and heart warming scenes (and there were many) between Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport and Renee Props.
Paul Sorvino plays Joe Scoleri (he his called "Mr. Joe" to the neighborhood he has always lived in and is well respected) an ex-con who has just been released from a 20 plus year prison term for racketeering and attempted murder. Joe has one daughter Rita (played warmly by actress Renee Props) who makes sure that her father re-adjusts to life outside of the prison walls by spending lots of time with him. The fact of the matter is that Joe received an early release from prison due to his poor health and a very weak heart so his daughter Rita wants to make sure her father eats healthy and avoids any stress from his previous criminal way of life.
Mr. Joe's neighbour is a middle aged man named Bobby DiBianco (played superbly by Michael Rapaport) who has a wife and a pre-teen daughter. Bobby grew up in the house next door to Mr. Joe where Bobby's father owned a local bakery in Queens, New York. Now Bobby's parents have retired and moved to the sunny south of the state of Florida and handed over the family home and their bakery business that they worked their entire life to their son Bobby who shares his parents values, of working hard and respecting his elders.
This is most likely where I differ from the other reviewers who were expecting to see a mobster film. The story line is focused on how this ex-convict with a bad heart Joe Scoleri, is being closely monitored by his parole officer (played by Steven Bauer) named Ramirez weekly home visits where he is humiliated into peeing into a bottle for a sample of his urine to make sure he is drug free and where two FBI agents are speaking to everyone in the neighborhood with a view to making an imminent arrest when Mr. Joe makes his first foray into his past criminal activities.
Gradually we see how the influence of Joe's daughter Rita's chosen lifestyle and live-in companion, and Joe's neighbor who was a young man when Joe was first imprisoned affect his own mindset of past generations of the Italian values and most importantly, that respect and understanding are earned and not given for past reputations.
To some the film's ending may seem abrupt and leaving the viewer wanting more, but to me, it was a well written ending and deserving of a dramatic film with heart and lessons learned in real life situations. My only disappointment with the film was that one of my all time favorite actors, Chazz Palminteri, only had a cameo appearance playing Joe Scoleris' long time lawyer and friend who advises Joe that the world has changed and he has to get over his past way of life and enjoy the little time he has left (with his adult daughter Rita) on this planet due to his poor health.
It is a good drama and Paul Sorvino's acting is always worth watching. This film is no exception. I give the film an 8 out of 10 rating.
What a waste of time
richardgraham65111 November 2014
This was billed as a comedy drama, it was neither. It was 1 hour 41 minutes of shear boredom.
Bad acting, bad screenplay an all round bad movie. How this drivel got a 6.2 score is unbelievable.
Do yourself a favour and steer clear of this lemon.
This surely had to be a straight to DVD release as there is no way this thing could have done anything at the cinemas.
It is basically a movie about absolutely nothing.
The strained continuous crying scenes were pitiful to watch. The characters were one dimensional unconvincing, and just made you dislike them altogether.
Some of the more fantastic scenes involved character talking to each other without any audio other than music. Extremely annoying and must be just there to pad this rubbish out a bit.
Bad acting, bad screenplay an all round bad movie. How this drivel got a 6.2 score is unbelievable.
Do yourself a favour and steer clear of this lemon.
This surely had to be a straight to DVD release as there is no way this thing could have done anything at the cinemas.
It is basically a movie about absolutely nothing.
The strained continuous crying scenes were pitiful to watch. The characters were one dimensional unconvincing, and just made you dislike them altogether.
Some of the more fantastic scenes involved character talking to each other without any audio other than music. Extremely annoying and must be just there to pad this rubbish out a bit.
Great, unexpected
jimlacy200317 May 2015
Without knowing much beforehand with the title "Once Upon a Time.." I first expected some epic sweeping three hour movie (like "Once Upon a Time in the West", "Once Upon a Time in America", etc).
What it was instead a nice drama and part mobster movie with a nice sprinkle of humor. I don't normally like dramas but I liked this one.
Being Italian my self I liked the nice positive sentiment it had about traditional Italian ways. Kind of nostalgic even.
In the movies, particularly in mobster/gangster ones, you see a lot of Italians being violent, uncaring, and generally acting pretty stupid. But nothing could be further from the truth. Most Italians in America from "the old country" (the previous generation or two) are some of the most kind, loving, and sincere people you will ever meet. It's not about the "me", it's about family, friends, and making sure your guests feel welcomed, etc.
With out giving anything away, I liked some of contrasts pointed out about the old and the new ways, etc.
It's a little slow at points maybe, but not a very enjoyable movie if your into the occasional drama.
What it was instead a nice drama and part mobster movie with a nice sprinkle of humor. I don't normally like dramas but I liked this one.
Being Italian my self I liked the nice positive sentiment it had about traditional Italian ways. Kind of nostalgic even.
In the movies, particularly in mobster/gangster ones, you see a lot of Italians being violent, uncaring, and generally acting pretty stupid. But nothing could be further from the truth. Most Italians in America from "the old country" (the previous generation or two) are some of the most kind, loving, and sincere people you will ever meet. It's not about the "me", it's about family, friends, and making sure your guests feel welcomed, etc.
With out giving anything away, I liked some of contrasts pointed out about the old and the new ways, etc.
It's a little slow at points maybe, but not a very enjoyable movie if your into the occasional drama.
Once Upon a 90 minutes
artifection2 March 2021
Paul Sorvino plays an aging mobster released from jail after two long decades and earnestly struggles to find his place amidst a rapidly changing world. This isn't a gangster movie per say, it's not even Good Fellas in a retirement home, it's more of a retrospective character piece of what an aging mobster ripped from the pillars of power and left to be mostly forgotten would subsequently face when released after so long. And I guess it begs the question in all of its soul searching and kitschy "east coast neighborhood" dialogue was this move absolutely necessary? Sorvino and Rappaport certainly play their roles well but the movie feels like it's operating in some sort of invisible sandbox that unfortunately only superficially scratches the surface of its characters, leaving us with a fairly empty feeling after it's all over. One can't help but ask what was the point exactly? The largest character arcs are written and served on a convenient platter rather than developed organically. It's certainly a different take on the gangster movie and the refreshing aspect of that point ends right there, what it doesn't do is reinvent the character study, slogging along tiredly trying to find footing somewhere. If the directors point was to give us hyper realism then it certainly beats watching someone vaccum for 90 minutes, but I think the main point is lost somewhere in another movie. So you can't teach an old dog new tricks and criminals don't change...the end. It's not completely far fetched to understand that older adults who leave prison are certainly disenfranchised, thrust into a brave new world thats busy with distraction. But Shawshank Redemption did this concept better in 15 minutes than this could do in 90. It's not a horrible movie by any regard but it's certainly missing that something to set it apart.
Unwatchable
mmaki-7550813 July 2020
Old aged goodfellas
elliotjeory13 May 2020
A very mild gangster film but interesting drama. Despite not being a typical mafia movie I found it realistic and true to life. An ageing gangster is released from jail and is subject to strict conditions to keep his freedom. He has to deal with issues as the world has changed. There was a good story with his daughter who played a really good role. It also had a great cast and some old familiar faces such as Johnny roast beef from goodfellas. All in all a chilled out mafia melodrama which I found surprisingly enjoyable.
Heartwarming
janicecoffman28 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this movie because its the opposite of what I expected. I thought Joe would go back into the life, but he instead became a endearing father and neighbor. He was indeed a legend. Oh and I bawled like a baby at the ending, happy tears of course. I just wish Joe would have gotten to see his namesake grandson. I cheered him on when he went after the guy that caused Carmine's death, and assaulted his daughter. Bravo Joe ! Oh, and its sauce, not gravy...lol.
Paul Sorvino truly belonged in this role. Even though he's no longer a Capo, he was certainly a captain of his life. I give this movie 10 stars for the emotional value.
Paul Sorvino truly belonged in this role. Even though he's no longer a Capo, he was certainly a captain of his life. I give this movie 10 stars for the emotional value.
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