Last I Heard (2013)

What makes it different from others?

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Please ignore the bad reviews noted because the film lacked action and a mobster mentality. The film's theme is noted as a DRAMA/COMEDY and not as an CRIME/ACTION film. You negative reviewers please pay more attention and next time first read on IMDb what a films theme and story line are before jumping to conclusions. There is a vast difference between what a viewer expects to see, and what a film intends to deliver.I for one enjoyed the film greatly and I was especially enthralled with Paul Sorvino's evolving emotions and heart warming scenes (and there were many) between Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport and Renee Props.Paul Sorvino plays Joe Scoleri (he his called "Mr. Joe" to the neighborhood he has always lived in and is well respected) an ex-con who has just been released from a 20 plus year prison term for racketeering and attempted murder. Joe has one daughter Rita (played warmly by actress Renee Props) who makes sure that her father re-adjusts to life outside of the prison walls by spending lots of time with him. The fact of the matter is that Joe received an early release from prison due to his poor health and a very weak heart so his daughter Rita wants to make sure her father eats healthy and avoids any stress from his previous criminal way of life.Mr. Joe's neighbour is a middle aged man named Bobby DiBianco (played superbly by Michael Rapaport) who has a wife and a pre-teen daughter. Bobby grew up in the house next door to Mr. Joe where Bobby's father owned a local bakery in Queens, New York. Now Bobby's parents have retired and moved to the sunny south of the state of Florida and handed over the family home and their bakery business that they worked their entire life to their son Bobby who shares his parents values, of working hard and respecting his elders.This is most likely where I differ from the other reviewers who were expecting to see a mobster film. The story line is focused on how this ex-convict with a bad heart Joe Scoleri, is being closely monitored by his parole officer (played by Steven Bauer) named Ramirez weekly home visits where he is humiliated into peeing into a bottle for a sample of his urine to make sure he is drug free and where two FBI agents are speaking to everyone in the neighborhood with a view to making an imminent arrest when Mr. Joe makes his first foray into his past criminal activities.Gradually we see how the influence of Joe's daughter Rita's chosen lifestyle and live-in companion, and Joe's neighbor who was a young man when Joe was first imprisoned affect his own mindset of past generations of the Italian values and most importantly, that respect and understanding are earned and not given for past reputations.To some the film's ending may seem abrupt and leaving the viewer wanting more, but to me, it was a well written ending and deserving of a dramatic film with heart and lessons learned in real life situations. My only disappointment with the film was that one of my all time favorite actors, Chazz Palminteri, only had a cameo appearance playing Joe Scoleris' long time lawyer and friend who advises Joe that the world has changed and he has to get over his past way of life and enjoy the little time he has left (with his adult daughter Rita) on this planet due to his poor health.It is a good drama and Paul Sorvino's acting is always worth watching. This film is no exception. I give the film an 8 out of 10 rating.

This is a good movie. The people who are complaining about it were probably just hoping it would be a shoot em' up mob movie. That's not what this is about. This is a story about life, love, mistakes, commitment and the lies we tell ourselves. I enjoyed this movie. There's some humor, some drama, some tears. Nothing wrong with that. This is the story of a man finding his way back into a world that is nothing like the one that he left. After having spent years in prison for being a crime boss he is returned to his home to die. His neighbor, Michael Raport befriends him and tries to take care of him despite being constantly hounded by the Fed's for his friendship with the man they sent home to die. I liked the relationship between Paul Sorvino and Michael Rapaport. They have a great on screen chemistry. Maybe not the most exciting movie you'll see this year but definitely worth the 1 1/2 run time.

I cannot describe how awful this movie was. It amazes me that they were able to get good (note I say good, not great) actors like Michael Rappaport & Sorvino with a script that a first grader could have written after having watched Goodfella's once.There is absolutely no arc to the story. Sorvino must have been trying to reclaim his goodfella's glory in order to agree to be in this turd.Nothing more can be said except to avoid watching at all costs. Even if your a huge gangster movie fan (such as I) avoid this film. You and your PCP smoking neighbor could have written a better script in between digging through your mother's sofa cushions for spare change.

The was a Film about a man who made choice's and lived with the decisions.He didn't always understand the impact of his choice's on the people in his life.We all have older people in our lives that won't change with the times And this film portrayed us humans making the best of it. because 1. nobodies perfect and 2. we love our older friends and relative's. I fell the way the old man felt about his daughter some goof smacks her around it would be my duty to hurt him badly which i would happily do.Like i said in my opening this movie was simple it was a love story and we all know love is painful as much as it is joyful. yin and yang can't have a up without the down.If you are looking for a action packed MOB film this is not for you.this movie was like the soprano's if i had to compare it to something.Like that series showed TONY being a mob boss it spent a lot of time showing him dealing with his crazy mom and sister.