Yonkers Joe
| Yonkers Joe | |
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Promotional poster for Yonkers Joe
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| Directed by | Robert Celestino |
| Produced by | Trent Othick John Gaughan Phil Ivey Matt Othick Chazz Palminteri |
| Written by | Robert Celestino |
| Starring |
Chazz Palminteri Christine Lahti Tom Guiry Michael Lerner Linus Roache |
| Music by | Chris Hajian |
| Cinematography | Michael Fimognari |
| Edited by |
Gary Friedman Jim Makiej |
| Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $8,286 |
Yonkers Joe is a 2008 American film starring Chazz Palminteri, Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry, Michael Lerner, and Linus Roache. It debuted at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.
Joe (Palminteri) is a small-time con-man and dice-hustler who works with a group of men with similar interests. They shave cards and dice, doing small-time cons at card games and union picnics. He's in a long-term relationship with Janice (Lahti) and has a son with Down's syndrome, Joe Jr. (Guiry).
Joe finds out that his son must leave his residential care facility due to age. Joe Jr. has difficulty controlling his anger. He uses profanity and gets into fights. Thus, the residential facility is hesitant to recommend him to the group home for adults and Joe must take his son home, at least for a few weeks. Joe has been looking to make a bigger score, and he begins to hope that such a score could enable him to get his son into the group home. Sure that he could not care for his son, he begins work putting together a scam in Vegas.
During this time, the film shows that Joe's crew are affectionate towards Joe Jr., often more so than Joe himself. Joe Jr. also strikes up a friendship with Janice. When Stanley (Lerner) finds some men who will front Joe and the crew the cash, plans are laid for a trip to Vegas in the hope of scoring big. Tensions remain between Joe and Joe Jr., but they all travel to Vegas to find a way to hustle the casinos. While in Vegas, Joe Jr. gives a gift to Janice at the hotel room and then tries to force himself on her sexually. Joe comes in and pulls him off. All three are visibly shaken and Joe Jr. runs out of the hotel. At Janice's request, Joe catches up with him and brings him back. She forgives Joe Jr., but it becomes clear to her that they cannot handle him alone without professional help.
While watching someone else roll the dice in Craps, Joe realizes that the cameras focus on the shooter. Using Joe Jr. as a partner, he demonstrates to Stanley and Janice that if he only rolls one die a partner across the table could drop a second weighted die in an almost unrecognizable move. Repeat the move and two weighted dice are on the table, enabling the crew to win big. Stanley originally agrees to drop the dice, but backs out because of fear that if he's caught he could lose his business. Joe Jr. offers to drop the dice and, after much reluctance, Joe agrees.
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