Once Upon a Time in Queens

Paul Sorvino plays an aging mobster released from jail after two long decades and earnestly struggles to find his place amidst a rapidly changing world. This isn't a gangster movie per say, it's not even Good Fellas in a retirement home, it's more of a retrospective character piece of what an aging mobster ripped from the pillars of power and left to be mostly forgotten would subsequently face when released after so long. And I guess it begs the question in all of its soul searching and kitschy "east coast neighborhood" dialogue was this move absolutely necessary? Sorvino and Rappaport certainly play their roles well but the movie feels like it's operating in some sort of invisible sandbox that unfortunately only superficially scratches the surface of its characters, leaving us with a fairly empty feeling after it's all over. One can't help but ask what was the point exactly? The largest character arcs are written and served on a convenient platter rather than developed organically. It's certainly a different take on the gangster movie and the refreshing aspect of that point ends right there, what it doesn't do is reinvent the character study, slogging along tiredly trying to find footing somewhere. If the directors point was to give us hyper realism then it certainly beats watching someone vaccum for 90 minutes, but I think the main point is lost somewhere in another movie. So you can't teach an old dog new tricks and criminals don't change...the end. It's not completely far fetched to understand that older adults who leave prison are certainly disenfranchised, thrust into a brave new world thats busy with distraction. But Shawshank Redemption did this concept better in 15 minutes than this could do in 90. It's not a horrible movie by any regard but it's certainly missing that something to set it apart.

A mob boss released from prison is old, in bad health, and perplexed by the world today. The movie is about how he deals with it all.

Two FBI agents do their usual bullying thing. But one agent gets a line that reminds us of the crippling flaw of most movies about gangsters. He asks a neighbor who admires the gangster about the fact that he extorted a small fortune for himself with his weekly levies on the small businesses.

I cannot describe how awful this movie was. It amazes me that they were able to get good (note I say good, not great) actors like Michael Rappaport & Sorvino with a script that a first grader could have written after having watched Goodfella's once.

There is absolutely no arc to the story. Sorvino must have been trying to reclaim his goodfella's glory in order to agree to be in this turd.

Nothing more can be said except to avoid watching at all costs. Even if your a huge gangster movie fan (such as I) avoid this film. You and your PCP smoking neighbor could have written a better script in between digging through your mother's sofa cushions for spare change.

Without knowing much beforehand with the title "Once Upon a Time.." I first expected some epic sweeping three hour movie (like "Once Upon a Time in the West", "Once Upon a Time in America", etc).

What it was instead a nice drama and part mobster movie with a nice sprinkle of humor. I don't normally like dramas but I liked this one.

Being Italian my self I liked the nice positive sentiment it had about traditional Italian ways. Kind of nostalgic even.

In the movies, particularly in mobster/gangster ones, you see a lot of Italians being violent, uncaring, and generally acting pretty stupid. But nothing could be further from the truth. Most Italians in America from "the old country" (the previous generation or two) are some of the most kind, loving, and sincere people you will ever meet. It's not about the "me", it's about family, friends, and making sure your guests feel welcomed, etc.

With out giving anything away, I liked some of contrasts pointed out about the old and the new ways, etc.

It's a little slow at points maybe, but not a very enjoyable movie if your into the occasional drama.

I admit I saw the Once upon aaa. title, then the cast, and assumed it was the same old... But with a spare afternoon, what the heck. How wrong could I be!! Simple, different, and strangely touching. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and reaffirmed the life lesson, don't assume anything.