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Poster for Once in the Life

Once in the Life

2000 · 1h 47m · R Action, Crime, Drama
Directed by Laurence Fishburne

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Overview

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.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
28%
Tomatometer
Rotten

While the line-readings are often dead-on, Fishburne's movie suffers from the usual one-room claustrophobia and Mametian repetitions.

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Fresh

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, Mr. Showbiz
Fresh

Talky in the best sense.

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Fresh

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, New York Post
Rotten

A hit-and-miss effort.

Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News

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