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Once in a Life is a promising directorial effort by Laurence Fishburne. But the story is too conventional and similar to the many ghetto action/dramas that come before it.
All Critics (25) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (18) | DVD (3)
The film doesn't have a lot to offer that hasn't been done better -- and worse -- in hundreds of ghetto-sink shoot-em. Jan 1, 2000
The film doesn't have a lot to offer that hasn't been done better -- and worse -- in hundreds of ghetto-sink shoot-em.
Henry Cabot Beck
Billy's meltdown provides a real-time reality check, but for most of the time we're waiting for the payoff, and when it comes, I'm afraid, it's not very satisfying. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Billy's meltdown provides a real-time reality check, but for most of the time we're waiting for the payoff, and when it comes, I'm afraid, it's not very satisfying.
Roger Ebert
Talky in the best sense. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Talky in the best sense.
Owen Gleiberman
While this cautionary tale of brotherhood gone wrong doesn't exactly break new ground, it certainly shows off its writer-director-star's triple-threat filmmaking potency. Jan 1, 2000
While this cautionary tale of brotherhood gone wrong doesn't exactly break new ground, it certainly shows off its writer-director-star's triple-threat filmmaking potency.
Kevin Maynard
Fishburne is able to create such an effective balance between humor and anxiety that the movie survives its familiarities of character and language. Jan 1, 2000
Fishburne is able to create such an effective balance between humor and anxiety that the movie survives its familiarities of character and language.
Michael Wilmington
Would easily qualify for an Oscar nomination if it were in a movie that was a bit less like canned theater and more cinematic. Jan 1, 2000
Would easily qualify for an Oscar nomination if it were in a movie that was a bit less like canned theater and more cinematic.
Lou Lumenick
It reeks of staged theater: three men in one room talking endlessly. Aug 16, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
It reeks of staged theater: three men in one room talking endlessly.
Jeffrey Westhoff
The pingpong repetition of dialogue is more precious than poetic and heavy silences and actorly asides draw out a slim story that packs few dramatic surprises. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 6/10
The pingpong repetition of dialogue is more precious than poetic and heavy silences and actorly asides draw out a slim story that packs few dramatic surprises.
Sean Axmaker
Never loses its identity as a work meant strictly for the stage. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
Never loses its identity as a work meant strictly for the stage.
Harvey S. Karten
Despite some pacing missteps, this well-acted and colorfully photographed film is a gripping, gritty look at a hard-knock Life. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Despite some pacing missteps, this well-acted and colorfully photographed film is a gripping, gritty look at a hard-knock Life.
E! Staff
Enough expertise has been lavished on this small film to make one almost forget that Once in the Life has been done more than once before. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Enough expertise has been lavished on this small film to make one almost forget that Once in the Life has been done more than once before.
Eric Monder
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. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
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.
Ken Fox
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