Goodnight, Joseph Parker

This is one of the finest ensemble casts put together in the independent world. Ever. Sorvino is superb. They all are. A very solid work. Steven Tyler rips through his scenes beautifully. Like father, like daughter! Dennis Brooks has crafted a world, not unlike Cheers, where the characters all have well-worn spots in their favorite bar stools. But this is NOT Cheers, believe me. Here, everything is on edge, and as things unravel, the pain of the past gushes out into bursts of surreal nastiness.

Great writing. Strong directing. Lovely music. What else is there to say? Even the "stagy" feel mentioned in the other review works, as it feeds the claustrophobic nature of the world they are living in, and losing.

This is one of the most touching films i have seen in a long time. I was fortunate enough to see it in Los Angeles (a film festival). I think it would be safe to say that there was not a dry eye in the house. Anyone over 25 will identify with the theme of wanting to make something of their life that is noteworthy. The casting was perfect! Debi Mazur delivers a performance that is incredible. Nick Chinlund's performance will captivate you. Oh, and Kim Dickens will tear your heart out. overall, this movie is "unexpected". There was no telling the journey you would be going on. I can only hope it's released in theaters, because it hits on so many levels it would be a tragedy for this film to go unseen. Besides, Paul Sorvino is a shoe in for an Oscar nomination.

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.

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.

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?