Customer Reviews

Once in the Life [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally an opportunity for Titus Welliver to let his exceptional skills as an actor sparkle. His portrait of Torch, 20/20 Mike's dangerous, scared and increasingly suffering brother, is so intense and captivating, it makes you forget that you are watching a movie. I don't know why he has not been considered for an Academy Award; he certainly would have deserved it.

This is not an easy movie to watch, but the cast, the story and Laurence Fishburne's talent as a story-teller makes it a breathtaking experience for those who enjoy theatrical cinema.

I would suggest anyone take a look. You'll love the variety. The settings are real, there's lots of messages thrown at you with the camera, as well as a timelines through objects, clothes, cars. The point of views are essential and speaks to you or shall I say conveys a message. The dialogue asks you to entertain ideas, point of views, right & wrong and that middle ground, and even more.

It's exciting. It's a story and it's real.

The only other thing I will add is that if a person is not used to being around diverse groups of people, they might make the ignorant comment of saying certain things were unreal, such as a white boy and a half black half hispanic could share the same father, and live in the same hood. You might even question the head of the drug ring and if he would be amongs the people of the hood. But like I said, and like Laurence Fishburne said in, "Hoodlum," 'If you don't know, you don't know.'

But the things in the movie all come together to tell another hood story, but about ground men who were once in the life during their prime, and in the later years still run around trying to be in the mix of things. I wonder if Tony learned his lesson and will pull out, or if he will always be in the life, hmmmmm.

During a brief jail stay, two half-brothers, who have rarely seen each other while growing up, connect. One of them, called 20/20 Mike because he can sense people nearby, concocts a scheme in which the two of them will steal some dope from young couriers. The heist goes awry when Billy, the junkie brother, shoots the victims of the theft. The brothers hole up in an abandoned building, and 20/20 Mike seeks help from an old cell mate, Tony, whom he thinks is out of the life. It turns out that they have stolen Tony's dope, and Tony's boss wants the two thieves dead. Perfect dialogue without the typical clichés. This movie relied on the actor's talent and it was pulled off. Laurence Fishburne was superb at playing a career petty criminal. Titus Welliver is fabulous as Fishburne's junky half-brother. I think the best acting in this movie came from Gregory Hines and Michael Paul Chan, they paired perfectly as two of Calderon's henchmen. Great crime drama with very good acting.

Pretty deep movie, one of Laurence Fishburne best. Deep Cover is another movie you would enjoy with him in it.

Laurence Fishburne has displayed his talent as an actor in films since the mid 70's. He has memorable performances in the Matrix series and Apocalypse Now and less memorable in Cornbread, Earl, and Me. The point is he has done them and survived in the fickle world of film making.

Now Fishburne writes. This script is not to for the tender ear but if you want to take a walk in the world of the hoodlum and you want to take in style, this film is a delight. The characters are well developed and the plot pulls you right in the room with them.

Emmonn Walker and Titus Welliver put on very good performances as best friend and half brother. The fact that Titus is a white guy makes the half brother thing alittle humorous but it works really well.

The sets were downtown and colorful. The feel was beleivable but at the same time somewhat surreal. I loved the graffitti scenes while Tony was reciting poetry. It shouldn't have fit in a somewhat violent film about a drug steal gone bad; but it did.

Very fine film!

Mr. Fishburne is a great actor, doesn't get enough exposure. Majority of his films have substance and really leave you thinking about real life.

Perhaps that's why there were only 2 reviews until I decided to write this one. I suggest that Laurence Fishburne keep his day job. You may grow weary of listening to "Fish" trying to effect a hispanic accent. The story seems weak although Fishburne's acting is not. There are 3 things you may notice in this film. You might notice Tiger Chen who was cast in The Matrix Reloaded and was the last person to be killed by Neo in the Merovingian's mansion. Then if your memory is good enough you may remember a piece of poetry recited here that Fishburne also used in Deep Cover. Then if your memory is really, really good you might recognize Titus Welliver as Torch, who played a gun toting motorcycle club member in Biker Boyz. Other than those items I'm afraid this film is not very interesting. You've been warned!