Synopsis
Two estranged half-brothers, Billy and Torch, reconnect during a brief jail stay. 20/20 Mike concocts a scheme in which the two of them will steal dope from some young couriers. The heist goes wrong when Billy shoots the couriers dead. They hole up in an abandoned building, and 20/20 Mike seeks help from an old cell mate, Tony.
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Laurence Fishburne20 / 20 Mike
- Titus WelliverTorch
- Eamonn WalkerTony
- Annabella SciorraMaxine
- Gregory HinesRuffhouse
- Michael Paul ChanBuddha
- Dominic Chianese Jr.Freddie Nine Lives
- Justin Pierre EdmundLittle Mikey
- Paul CalderonManny Rivera
- Nick ChinlundMike Murphy
Recommandations
- 80
Los Angeles Times
Fishburne excels in his triple-threat roles as actor, director and adapter of his own play, and his cast glows under his direction. - 70
L.A. Weekly
May lack any transcendent point that would make it exceptional, but it is certainly a worthy start, and worth catching. - 63
Chicago Tribune
Strong, hard, dirty, funny, moving atmospheric and laced with scabrously musical street dialogue. - 63
New York Post
Basically it's an acting exercise - a one-set rendition of that old stage and movie standby, the ex-convict struggling to go straight who's tempted to attempt one last score. - 50
Village Voice
While the line-readings are often dead-on, Fishburne's movie suffers from the usual one-room claustrophobia and Mametian repetitions. - 50
Variety
A film that ultimately feels stagebound and excessively talky, but which showcases an exceptional performance. - 50
New York Daily News
As urban gangster drama, Once in the Life is way below mundane, and Fishburne's direction exceeds the rookie jitters. - 40
TV Guide Magazine
The good news is that Fishburne also stars, and has recruited a talented group of actors to flesh out the cast; the bad news is that no one seems to have been on hand to help out with the rest of film.
