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Yonkers Joe

Play trailer Poster for Yonkers Joe R 2009 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Master cardsharp Yonkers Joe (Chazz Palminteri) has a silver tongue and a miraculous ability to take even the most seasoned of gamblers for a ride. As Joe and his new wife, Janice (Christine Lahti), plot to take a heavily monitored casino for millions, Joe's mentally disabled son, Junior (Thomas Guiry), is released from a state hospital. When father and son reconnect after years of painful separation, Joe finds himself in a disarming situation in which none of his signature tricks apply.
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Yonkers Joe

Yonkers Joe

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Critics Consensus

A solid cast adds subtlety to this otherwise schmaltzy and sometimes awkward gambling-flick-cum-family-drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Leo Goldsmith IndieWire Aug 8, 2009
Mostly strong, that is, with the major exception of Tom Guiry's portrayal of Joe Jr. Painfully broad, Guiry practically sinks the film with garishly slack-jawed and over-the-top manchildishness. Go to Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post Jan 16, 2009
2.5/4
As Janice, Christine Lahti is the pivot between father and son. The scenes between Janice and Joe Jr. are sweet, harrowing, movie-altering. Go to Full Review Reyhan Harmanci San Francisco Chronicle Jan 16, 2009
1/4
Yonkers Joe is incoherent, succeeding neither as an exciting gambling ride nor a touching family story. Go to Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Mar 3, 2009
B-
It's far from a natural, but somehow, some way, it makes its point. Go to Full Review Gary Thompson Philadelphia Daily News Feb 6, 2009
C+
Celestino's bid to wrap everything up in tidy fashion feels at odds with the grittiness of the film's first two-thirds, but in the end, the movie's glimpse into a seldom-seen slice of life sticks with you. Go to Full Review Brent Simon Shared Darkness Jan 28, 2009
C+
Palminteri helps the film earn very slight passing marks, if only mostly because it's interesting to see these old operators have to adapt their schemes for new times. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Anoobus 9 @Ivan1986 Jan 28, 2026 This film is real, it makes you believe in the character's struggles. Those who cant handle the stereotype portrayal of Joe Jr miss the point - largely. See more Apr 11, 2022 Realistic and believable character drama with a lot of heart that has a complete story in the Dramatica sense including character arcs and growth. See more Jun 7, 2013 I recommend seeing this movie. It is like no other I have ever seen. See more May 19, 2012 oh boy another movie about gamblers n cheaters See more May 19, 2012 good gambling movie+crime heist pic See more Apr 8, 2012 Casino movies are fun. This one deals with the relationship between Chazz and his mentally challenged son. See more Read all reviews
Yonkers Joe

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Celestino

Director

Chazz Palminteri

Yonkers Joe

Christine Lahti

Janice

Tom Guiry

Joe Jr.

Michael Lerner

Stanley

Linus Roache

Teddy

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Yonkers Joe

Yonkers Joe (2008) Chazz Palminteri as Yonkers Joe and Thomas Guiry as Joe Jr. in "Yonkers Joe." Michael Lerner as Stanley in "Yonkers Joe." Linus Roache as Teddy in "Yonkers Joe." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Master cardsharp Yonkers Joe (Chazz Palminteri) has a silver tongue and a miraculous ability to take even the most seasoned of gamblers for a ride. As Joe and his new wife, Janice (Christine Lahti), plot to take a heavily monitored casino for millions, Joe's mentally disabled son, Junior (Thomas Guiry), is released from a state hospital. When father and son reconnect after years of painful separation, Joe finds himself in a disarming situation in which none of his signature tricks apply.
Director
Robert Celestino
Producer
Trent Othick
Screenwriter
Robert Celestino
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Davis Entertainment Filmworks, Trent Othick Productions, GO Productions
Rating
R (Language|Sexual References)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 9, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.0K
Runtime
1h 41m
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