Customer Reviews

Who's Sorry Now? The True Story of a Stand-Up Guy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let's face it...as much as we hate Ralphie Cifaretto...you gotta love Joe Pantoliano...what a great story...

In a world where most actors are caught up in their own self-importance, Joey is a down-to-earth "stand up guy."

The book made me wish I was Italian!

I'm a little late weighing in here, I just bought the book earlier this year and just now got around to reading it. Anyway, as an Italian American with an extended family that "got off the boat" in Hoboken, NJ, and as someone who ran some of the same streets that Joey once did, I can totally identify with the way Joe Pantoliano grew up and with the cast of "characters" that comprised his family, friends and neighbors. The book was extremely entertaining and written in a way that had me laughing out loud more than once. It's admirable that Joey expresses no bitterness or self-pity -- I think this is partially because people of his generation, in that place and time, just accepted the fact that family was the way it was, you didn't sit around feeling sorry for yourself, you just dealt and made a life for yourself! Also, in spite of the dysfunctionality, there was love there for Joey and I guess he chose to focus on that, whether it's just a trait he's been blessed with or if a little therapy helped him get there, it's still admirable and wonderful that he is able to see that & rejoice in it. I can understand how someone not from this subculture would see his mother and some of the other people in the book as complete monsters or animals but remember their shortcomings didn't come from an intention to be cruel, it came from the difficulties they faced as largely uneducated immigrants or children of immigrants starting with nothing in a new land. They were people who were weak and maybe more corrupt than most but not totally evil. If they knew better they would do better, so to speak. It's also nice to see the real, un-glamorized version of what it means to be a wise guy -- no mansions, Mercedes or limos for these connected guys. All in all, I enjoyed the book and read it practically in one sitting, the way the plot flowed was a little bit uneven and the writing style was a bit weak in spots which is why I give it a four instead of a five. But the story itself and the way Joe's viewpoint really came through, make it a good read for anyone who is fan of his work.

My first introduction to Joe Pantoliano was in the classic film La Bamba in 1987 when he played the real life character of Bob Kean (Kuhn). My next introduction to Joe Pantoliano was the even more classic film of Midnight Run with Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin and here we are 15 years later and I see Mr. Pantoliano in just about every decent movie worth watching and to top it off we see him join the ONLY TV SHOW worth watching,(The Soprano's). The bottom line is Mr. Pantoliano is a well gifted man who comes from an amazing background and his story is well told with David Evanier who wrote Making the Wiseguys Weep (The Jimmy Rosselli Story). Thank you Mr. Pantoliano for your career, it is well worth following.

Ok, I may be biased. I was a fan of Joey Pants from way back but the truth is this book is a great read. I loved it. You can read an excerpt at his website if you want to check it out before buying - i did. [web page address] - cheers and enjoy.

My brother got me this as a birthday gift - not something I would have bought myself. I figured it was one of those books where someone is cashing in on their current fame. It wasn't - it is an inner glimpse at a totally disfunctional family that I couldn't put down. Joey Pants was always one of those actors you love to hate - after reading this I can see where he got his inspiration - his nutsy Mommy (I have to admit I get a little uneasy reading about a guy in his 50's who still refers to his mother as Mommy). From this I have great admiration for Joey now - it is amazing what he overcame - the very things that would have caused most people to give up and accept their existance - inspired him to seek a better life. Anyone wishing to see the day-to-day live of a Goomba growing up in Jersey should grab this - a great read!

I feel like I grew up with Joey Pants. His family is my family! I picked up this book because he played in one of my all time favorite movies, "Goonies," and I new his face, but not his name. He's just one of those kind of actors. I don't mind saying that I hate him in the Sopranos, 'cause who doesn't? But after reading this book, even I am proud of what he made of himself. And it has restored my faith in my own abilities. I now must write a book about my verbally abusive Italian-American man-hating mother. Although his family had problems, you still get the sense that in the end they all sit around toasting to love and family like the last scene in Moonstruck! It's a quick read and you'll love it!

Joey Pants' memoir is more than a great read about a celebrity -- it is an exploration of the lower depths and blissful heights of family life. The particular family described is Italian American, but anyone of any ethnic background who has survived and flourished in spite of, or even because of, a dysfunctional family will find its message universal.

The best part about this book is the author's unique voice. It's creative and to the point. The way he describes things carries the book.
The story itself is an interesting one, but it's more about his dysfunctional parents and their marriage than about the author. His mother is quite a trip. He had a rough time growing up but goofy as some of them were, his extended Italian family was a strong source of support and I think that's why he didn't drown in his parents' craziness.
This story is not about the mafia, although some people in it apparently have some bad connections. It's about a boy growing up in a close-knit, somewhat goofy family in 1960s New Jersey. And there's a lot of great insight into the family members and their peculiarities that makes it well worth the read.

How could you not write a book about someone like Joe Pantoliano? He is such a character and it is not suprising to me that he is one of the busiest 'character actors' in Hollywood. I loved the way David Evanier and Joe Pantoliano put Joey's story together. It was extremely Heartfelt and Truthful. My hat's off to Joey who wasn't afraid to let us take a journey through his life. And to David Evanier for putting up with Joey! Congratulations!

OMG...this book was SO GOOD. I am Italian so there is much of Joey's childhood that I can relate to. It was a wonderful book that I couldn't put down and helped me to laugh ALOT because I knew I wasn't alone growing up in such a strange family!! This is one of the few books I will read again!