Yonkers Joe |  | Director: Robert Celestino
Actors: Chazz Palminteri, Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
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Rating:  8 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 10184
UPC: 876964001847
EAN: 0876964001847
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | YONKERS JOE is an exciting, high-stakes con film and moving family drama written and directed by Robert Celestino, and starring Academy Award-nominee Chazz Palminteri, Academy Award-winner Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry (THE BLACK DONNELLYS), Golden Globe-nominee Linus Roache, and Academy Award-nominee Michael Lerner. An ode to old time gamblers, now outdated in an age of powerful upscale casinos, YON |
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Product Description
THE STORY OF A DICE HUSTLER WHOSE DETERMINATION TO MAKE ONE LAST GRAB FOR A BIG SCORE IN VEGAS IS COMPLICATED BY THE REAPPEARANCE OF HIS ESTRANGED SON.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 got to applaud how unsentimental and realistic this film is August 18, 2009
B. Lafave (lakeland , fl)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 .
 Would Have Been Better as a Docudrama June 3, 2009
Daniel G. Lebryk
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The problem with Yonkers Joe, the con is impossible, the con is impossible, no nobody could ever do that, the con is impossible, nobody has ever pulled that off, never, it can't be done, no you can't go to Vegas, no not Vegas... If Stanley played by Michael Lerner, said that one more time I was going to lose it. Chazz Palminteri, Joe the lead character, over acts more than I've seen in a very long time. The absolute worst moment in the film is the closing scene with him sitting with Janice played by Christine Lahti, talking very excitedly and animated. He's fallen so far out of character it plays like a joke.
This is a movie where the special features are almost better than the film. Fast Jack interview was excellent, he describes the whole film, but in real terms. The film would have played way better if they had simply stuck to the gambling portion, the slight of hand, the play at the table. Fast Jack had some awesome real life tales to tell, for the 7 minute interview. Embellish those concepts, and you could have an one hour 30 minute movie. A sort of Docudrama or documentary about Fast Jack.
The story really fouls up when it introduces Joe's son, Joe Jr. His son is a trisomy 21 adult - 21 years old - who can't stay in a home because he's gotten abusive to the other residents. Tom Guiry does an outstanding job as Joe Jr. He is believeable, and acts very well. His best line is "I have three and you only have two. That's what makes me different." But the problem with the son thread in the story, it just confuses the whole gambling idea. Fast Joe's story could stand on its own and not just be a remake of the The Sting or House of Games (both excellent films well worth watching). There seems to be no real point to his son appearing in the film, except to eliptically motivate Joe Sr. to do his one last big gamble.
The other huge problem with this film. The kind of play they engage in, Fast Jack says clearly in his interview, is no longer possible (edit: see the real Fast Jack's comments to this review, about how I may have misunderstood him). The sleight of hand trick is not the kind of thing that can be done anymore. So why not set this film back a number of years, make it realistic from a time standpoint? Instead the film is set in, well probably 2007 when it was shot.
There's a pretty good Law And Order thread in this film also. Tom Guiry has played on SVU. Linus Roache is the current DA on Law And Order. Lerner has appeared several times. Michael Rispoli, Roma Maffia, Frank John Hughes, Arthur Nascarella... you get the idea. In some ways, I half expected the chung chung sound to happen. Saverio Guerra, the annoying Bob on Becker is somewhat annoying in this movie also.
The gambling bits are very good. Many have said they love this film because it's about gambling. They are very good sleight of hand tricks, I enjoyed those very much. There was some really good tension built during a couple of the plays. But overall, this film is half about gambling and half about a father and son. The father son story is just lame. So there's just no way this film can be some awesome incredible amazing movie. It's just decent.
19 minutes short of 2 hours, this is a long movie. It is R rated for language and language alone. No violence, and no nudity. In fact, take away the F bomb, and this could have played to a much wider audience.
Just a decent movie. Nothing all that really special. If you really want to see sleight of hand and real intrigue - watch House of Games.
Good flick May 19, 2009
Adam Bahr (Lincoln, NE)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I re-watched Yonkers Joe for a third time.....the movie was double-themed with a mix of family drama (mainly father/son bonding) and high stakes gambling with a finale in Vegas.
Unlike some of the recent gambling movies, such as 21, the tricks in this flick are old-school and realistic. Not only does the main character Joe (Chazz) partake in horse and sports betting, but he is also a natural hustler at the local poker gatherings and dice tables. I thoroughly enjoyed the vintage Vegas scenes that were shot in the Fremont district.
I'm confident that those seeking action will find enough to satisfy their thirst, as memorable gambling scenes are sprinkled from start to finish. Movie viewers yearning for a quality family drama should find the re-uniting of Joe and his mentally challenged son to be enough. The characters bond begins in an awkward stage and slowly advances towards a new understanding and appreciation of the need for one another.
Check this movie out and you'll come away impressed.
 Tough watch, great gambling film May 18, 2009
Steve Kuehl (Ben Lomond, CA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
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.
NUMBER ONE March 27, 2009
Cat
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is gotta be the best movie ever made in history.
Yours Truly,
The Black Cougar!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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