Goodnight, Joseph Parker

GOODNIGHT,JOSEPH PARKER (aka LAST CALL) is what every festival circuit film yearns to be: compelling, dramatic,and with a keen insight to the human spirit. I saw it at a preview screening and really liked it. Starring Paul Sorvino, Nick Chinlund and Debi Mazar, it is a film similar to Sorvino's THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. Like that film, it shows how the past never really goes away and can wreak havoc with the present. The performances are uniformly excellent--with Sorvino being both gruff and tragic. The film also has a great music score--very jazzy and more appropriate to the action than you would think. The writer, director, and producer is Dennis Brooks, whom I haven't heard of before. I get the impression that he's probably a playwright trying to cross over because the movie seems somewhat stagy. Nevertheless, it's highly visual, almost like a color WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? My big question is, why hasn't this movie been released theatrically yet?

I gave this film a 9 but I'm surprised that there aren't more '1's' in the voting. It's encouraging, actually. This is a smart film but it's not for everyone. The stagey feeling mentioned by others is correct and it can be a little slow at times but the writing and the acting is brilliant! If this were a larger budget film it would be nominated for Oscars for writing and acting (Sorvino, Mazar and Chinlund) and set design. Yes, that's a set!!! You would swear you were in a real Jersey bar. I lived in various parts of New Jersey all my life and I really felt like I might have been to this bar before...so I looked into it hoping that I had, only to discover it was built on a soundstage.

There are moments in this film that had me tearing up and of course, hiding the fact from my girlfriend. It's rare this happens to me and it was the writing and the acting that got to me.

I wish there were more truly independent films like this with real acting and writing. Amazing.

Steven Tyler has real ability as an actor. Because his character is so much like him, Steven didn't much of a stretch to make "Sammy" come alive. His portrayal as a shameless bad boy looking for a good time and fast woman is too much like he is in his real life.

Paul Sorvino outdoes himself. Probably one of his best performances as "Charlie".

Nick Chinlund has done very well in his television performances, but playing the part of "Joseph Parker" places Nick on the threshold of big screen greatness.

This movie needs to be seen by the public at large.

I thought this was a great low budget drama. All the money must have been spent on the writing and talent but that's all they needed. The actors did an amazing job of commanding your attention. I thought their performances smacked of a recklessness needed to capture the essence of such desperate characters. As in any good drama, the dialogue was gritty, sincere, and emotional. I liked how the actors used the dialogue as tools to forge an atmosphere of loneliness produced by unfulfilled dreams. The camera-work was above average but not exactly great. The editing was excellent most of the time but fell a little short in one or two places. As always, EnjoyJ

I have read the reviews of "professionals" on this and they have little, if any, good to say about it. I say it is worth a try. I liked it. It is a depressing movie if you don't look at the larger picture. This movie is really about hope and redemption; just like the characters, you have to go through hell to get there though.

Lessons: 1) Don't believe everything people tell you. 2) Clean it up before someone falls in it. 3) If you wipe off your face you might find she's right under your nose.

Cast: The acting ranged from good to great. Sorvino did his best work in years and Chinlund has never been better. Mazar and Dickens were both amazingly striking in their performances. Edson did a notch above his usually fine work and even Tyler delivers a solid performance.

Powerful character-driven drama of 5 old friends who reunite in a basement bar in New Jersey. Tells the story of Joey Parker who, after 7 years of being away, has come back to find his ex, Muriel, and ask her to marry him. Joey convinces everyone that he is on the brink of becoming famous - which is a total lie. He is obsessed with Muriel and will stop at nothing to get her back. Unfortunately, Joey finds that you can never go back home as things are not as they were when he left. Paul Sorvino gives a masterful performance as the father figure who accepts Joey back, in spite of his delusions. An emotionally intense movie with some hilarious performances by "Aerosmith" lead, Steven Tyler. A must see.