Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tough watch, great gambling film, May 18, 2009
Aside from the premise that gets repeated everywhere about this being a father/challenged son film, I looked at this as more a gambling film. Once you watch the special features, it was apparent that was the primary intention anyway.
One solid performance by Tom Guiry (who I remember most from Black Irish movie) and a slew of normal performances by everyone else lead up this film about cheats and hustlers making a buck. Chazz as the father, takes over the care of his challenged son that he has essentially ignored for years. Through their trials and difficulties, we see them become closer, all whilst cheating everyone they come across. The filmmakers stressed the importance of the viewer liking the leads, but they were all cheats so it didn't work as well with me.
The special features make this three star film a four though.
15 minute making of documentary; extremely dry and slightly informative.
8 minute documentary on the technical consulting by "Fast Jack"; more touching than the movie, as the old guy gets choked up talking about his past - if you skip the rest, even the movie at least give this a watch.
5:30 minute clip on the look of the film, sets, lighting, etc.
7:30 minute clip on the premier footage and more interviews
But the best: a 6:30 minute look into the moves used in the film...wow. They review the slights of hand and tricks used in dealing cards and playing poker. I watched it in slow motion a few times just to try and figure out how in the heck they were pulling some of those things off. Was fun to sift through.
This was the director's first real film, and he did a decent job. The film quality was average to poor at times, the sound was selectable between 5.1 or 2.0, and the music drowns up too heavily in a few scenes, but seeing all of the background props, tricks and gambling makes for an adequate gaming watch.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
right on the money, March 18, 2009
having seen YONKERS JOE at a local theater and also on VOD and have been been somewhat of a gambler for over 40 yrs i find the gambling scenes to be right on the money ,true to life ,,great filming and just so interesting observing those never seen gambling moves ,,the drama story was also great ,keeping you glued to the screen for a solid 100 minutes.
the acting couldn,t have been better ,truly great ,i applaud the director and all that were involved with YONKERS JOE. thank you
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
got to applaud how unsentimental and realistic this film is, August 18, 2009
i'm not a gambler . at all . i really found this movie deeply moving on a human level though . the title character (joe)does not change but marginally by the end of the film . it must be very difficult to caretake a mentally retarded person as well . i can't recall the last film i saw which depicted this responsibility realistically at all . high praise must go to all involved . particularly the young man who depicts joe's son . watch the extra features . what an outstanding film .
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