52
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasFishburne excels in his triple-threat roles as actor, director and adapter of his own play, and his cast glows under his direction.
- 70L.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyL.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyMay lack any transcendent point that would make it exceptional, but it is certainly a worthy start, and worth catching.
- 63Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonStrong, hard, dirty, funny, moving atmospheric and laced with scabrously musical street dialogue.
- 63New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickBasically it's an acting exercise - a one-set rendition of that old stage and movie standby, the ex-convict struggling to go straight who's tempted to attempt one last score.
- 50Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonVillage VoiceMichael AtkinsonWhile the line-readings are often dead-on, Fishburne's movie suffers from the usual one-room claustrophobia and Mametian repetitions.
- 50VarietyRobert KoehlerVarietyRobert KoehlerA film that ultimately feels stagebound and excessively talky, but which showcases an exceptional performance.
- 50New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsAs urban gangster drama, Once in the Life is way below mundane, and Fishburne's direction exceeds the rookie jitters.
- 40Film.comHenry Cabot BeckFilm.comHenry Cabot BeckDoesn't have a lot to offer that hasn't been done better -- and worse -- in hundreds of ghetto-sink shoot-em-ups.
- 40The New York TimesDana StevensThe New York TimesDana Stevens(Fishburne's) performance here, witty and profane, vulnerable and strutting, nearly holds the movie together.