One More Time (2015) User Reviews

A tough sell to the audience, as the characters are all so hard to really like.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 8 April 2016]

Although there are story elements to "One More Time" that I liked and it's a real shame that the film hampers itself by making it so difficult for the audience to care about the folks in the picture. To me, it's almost impossible to make a really good film given this serious handicap.

When the film begins, Jude (Amber Heard) is awakening from a one- night stand. She's overslept and is late for work...and folks are waiting and waiting for her to arrive. Apparently, this isn't unusual for Jude. What is unusual is her soon leaving New York City to go stay with her father, famous old-time crooner Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). Apparently, their relationship is stormy but she has no choice as she's about to be thrown out of her apartment for not paying her rent. But things aren't all rosy back with dad as their relationship, and every relationship in this odd family, is severely strained. Paul is a serial philanderer who only thinks of himself, Jude's sister is a demanding and rather high-strung young woman and the step-mother is nicknamed 'Satan' by her step-kids. Through the course of the film, most of these folks remain true to their life patterns...destroying themselves and those around them. And, by the end of the film, there's a vague suggestion that perhaps Jude is tired of all this. If this summary sounds a bit bleak and depressing, then you pretty much get the picture, though it at least has some nice singing throughout the film.

The movie has some nice acting. While I found it hard to believe Walken could be a crooner, it was an interesting character and a nice stretch for him. Heard also was able to show that she could not only act but sing rather nicely. But nice acting and an interesting location shoot in the Hamptons aren't enough and the film is one I wouldn't rush out to see but might perhaps might catch when it appears on Netflix one day when you are looking for an undemanding film. Not bad....but also not particularly enjoyable either.

Pedestrian family drama that fails to ignite.

[mickgmovies · 4/10 · 18 April 2016]

I watched this movie to see how the dynamic between Christopher Walken and Amber Heard would play out. In short it didn't work. Much like most of the movie

Amber Heard, is Chris Walken's Indie-black-sheep daughter who returns to the comfort of the home when life and money gets too hard. When she gets there, her family feud with her more-than-perfect sister and it's-all-about-me-famous-singer-dad is rekindled

The embers of the family's dysfunction's continue to smolder throughout the movie - much like Heard's continuous smoking of hand-rolled joints.

The move is way too slow, and I was left not caring much for any of the characters.

Highlights: Christopher Walken crooning his way through a Sinatra-esque song, and Kelli Garner's (Heard's sister) ice-queen-and-ice-pick-sharp 'offer' to Walken's 5th wife near the end of the movie.

Lowlights: Everything in between.

Not worth the one time.

[subxerogravity · 5/10 · 14 April 2016]

It was not that it was really bad, as much as it was bland and stale.

I've seen Christopher Walken give a more lively performance in much worse movies. This was Definitely not his finest performance.

Amber Heard was not interesting enough to hold down this movie at all, and the chemistry between her and Walken was pretty weak.

It was suppose to be a coming-of-age story, but there is no heart behind it, and it really needs that heart.

And it felt like the actors were just dictating the script, not acting.

the music was pretty lame too. The song that went through the film, that was suppose to capture the moment, failed to do so.

Could not recommence seeing this flick as it did nothing for me.

Good to see Chris Walken anytime.

[JohnDeSando · 7 April 2016]

"Just because you can't be someone new doesn't mean you can't do something new" Jude (Amber Heard)

To see Christopher Walken sing as a has-been crooner is to remember he started as an entertainer who could dance pretty meanly on the stage. Here he features an original song written by his character, Paul Lombard, in his sunset years hoping for a new musical start.

One More Time is indeed about one more chance, not just for Paul but also his 31-year old daughter, Jude, who has some singing/writing gifts she is weakly promoting. Typically, she has to deal with her father's fame and her own inability to stay anchored in a place that's both physical and figurative.

Like dad, Jude doesn't always do what's best for her (both of them sexually vulnerable), and like him she needs another chance as the title suggests. The most satisfactory moments are when the two go after each other's weaknesses, a form of tough love that allows both actors to sharpen their craft. When he comments that they live in "the poor part of the Hamptons," you are aware that they both live in an alternate universe where "poor" is a relative term. Like their lives, not everything is as it really is.

The most normal conflict of the film comes when Paul's wife, Lucille (Ann Magnuson), starts divorce proceedings because of Paul's infidelities. Out of this discomforting circumstance comes a chance for conservative daughter, Corinne (Kelli Garner), to show her more aggressive side, another case of a character getting a chance.

One more time is a small film that will leave Christopher Walken fans wanting more of his sneer and world weary irony, yet as a washed up but returning pop entertainer, his character seems to fit the actor one more time.

Pretentious and boring crap

[dirtphelia · 2/10 · 13 March 2018]

I love Christopher Walken but I can't finish this garbage. I've skipped most of the first 40 minutes of this and can't torture myself any further.

The main actress cannot act and fails miserably at embracing her character. All other actors also leave much to be desired, except for Walken, who does what he can with his character.

Much of the first 40 minutes is a lot of talking about nothing, pretending to be one of those movies where the dialogue is actually good and worthy of filling up 40 minutes of anything.

Avril Lavigne Cosplay & The Schmaltz Red Herrings...

[AlexanderAnubis · 6/10 · 26 March 2018]

...or, how my thirty-one year-old teenage daughter cinched up her borscht belt, moved to California, joined Hadassah, and married an entertainment lawyer in Sherman Oaks, or a dentist from Oxnard.

Mr. Walken once again demonstrates that he never met a camera he couldn't beguile, and if he can be a Lippman, there is no reason why Mel Gibson shouldn't have his scalp circumcised. (There are a number of good moils who would be happy to do the honors.)

I've always loved Nantucket in February, when the wind off the Atlantic is as cold and hard as the Puritan god, so the shots of clam shacks closed for the winter warmed me right up; straight out of the indie Playbill, but nicely done, nonetheless.

The very brief, scattered glimpses of Corinne's silent reactions to the exclusive bubble shared by Paul and Jude bespeak a lifetime of difficult experience. You don't need to wade through three hours of slush like The Aviator (2004) to know Kelli Garner is talented, and One More Time (2015) proves she has become a perceptive adult. Someone should really give her a prominent lead in something commensurate with her ability and maturity.

Oliver Platt is always a pleasure.

A couple of continuity issues that don't stand up to scrutiny, but nothing inexcusable.

A good job. Thank you.

XYZ

People Create Problems for Themselves

[twotrybe · 4/10 · 9 April 2016]

Oh, woe is me, should be the appropriate title for this film. Here you have people who are well off enough but apparently aren't happy with their seemingly non-challenging lives. Christopher Walken is a singer who has seen his famous days in the rear view mirror get further and further away from him. He relives every moment he can through the retelling of those past lives as if to recapture the moment is like him trying to catch a cloud.

Amber Heard's character is an alcoholic singer/writer who has a huge chip on her shoulders for whatever reason. She shouldn't but she does.

The sister, played by Kelli Garner, is a tight bun and Hamish Linklater is her husband. Photogenic is a better way to describe this cast who lives in the Hamptons. So why the drama? Well, because Amber seems to think she is owed something as she messes up her life. And Chris's character falls into some traps of his own choosing but it doesn't make any sense where a man who presumably is in his 70's is trotting off having an affair at the same motel for months. I was expecting something else out of the motel scene but it was just a typical infidelity story. And I was expecting something something else out of the father/daughter relationship between Heard and Walken. In fact, this turned out to be nothing more of well to do people who really don't have any problems other than they were bored with each other. They sit around singing songs like it was a concert but they despise one another secretly for no other reason than just because.

And it ended weird. No feel good, no resolution , no nothing. The soundtrack was good, though.

Totally a Realistic Drama

[arman_afrasiabi · 7/10 · 19 April 2016]

This movie is utterly the meaning of dramatic story in the academic Definitions . because of the slow rhythm of introducing & non-exciting initializing perhaps you would be bored but its realistic again!as if jude(AMBER HEARD) repeats & emphasis of her boring trip,aim & actually life . she was backing home to find the answer & her Root, but finds the mistakes in her root!father could not makeup his personality as we see him trying to upgrades his conditions in the wikipedia in scenes. you willfeel yourself in depth of story & characters DURING THE MOVIE. a point which making me hopeful is that we are see somebodies believes in morality against cheating persons in us social & that is real again.

At In The End It's Just A Family Problem Movie

[HabibieHakim123 · 4/10 · 20 October 2020]

"I'm expecting too much on this movie, i think it's gonna be a prouding success story with great song, but suprisingly it's not a full music movie, it's a family problem story, and i still can't believe they ended just like that, even they did what i want it's maybe still a terrible movie because to be honest the acting is too boring, even Christopher Walken himself, i don't know it just unexpected"

Mingus

[pyrocitor · 6/10 · 19 April 2016]

In an interview promoting One More Time, Christopher Walken was asked, "What motivates you to act?" His response: a long, bizarre story, full of unfinished thoughts, about getting a root canal from a dentist in a suit. Its moral? In Walken's own words, "It's what I do."

It's this same kind of belligerent resolution which drives One More Time into existence. It's a story about a deadbeat dad reevaluating his relationship with his broken daughter in his silver years. It's a parable of the ripple effects the opulence of the entertainment industry has on those even tangentially surrounding it. It's one of those movies that employs adjectives like 'flawed,' 'real,' and 'complex' to defend its characters, when they're all really just synonyms for 'dislikable.' In short: it's a film we've seen countless times before already.

But, as the film entertains, there can still be vague comfort and pleasantness in revisiting a familiar, stale routine, if only for the kitsch appeal. Appropriately, writer/director Robert Edwards has his mind firmly mired in the past. He consistently employs overlapping dialogue and jump cuts in conversation scenes between his film's jaded, disenfranchised characters, as if a carryover from the 90s 'Mumblecore' movement holding on for dear life.

He's also certainly not subtle in orchestrating how broken his protagonists are, as they take turns chewing each other out for their sordid existences. Walken's former crooner is a slumping, defeated old man who nonchalantly traipses from affair to affair, so transfixed with glory days and his hopeful comeback that he spends his evenings editing the entry of his own Wikipedia page, when not sneaking porn to his grandson. His daughter (Amber Heard) is a snarling, cynical refugee from a collapsed post-punk band called 'Pussy Fart' (one of the film's few good laughs); she's also a recovering alcoholic having an affair with her therapist who kills time by writing ballads about how her heart "weighs 100 pounds", or making passes at her brother-in-law. Are we having fun yet?

You know your film is flagging when a viewer excitedly perks up after a transition, exclaiming "Hey! A Roomba!" True story.

Yes, the walls of tired cliché loom high, but the film, like Thomas Aquinas, squeaks by through leaning on the best. For such a stale story, Edwards sprinkles in some genuinely sparkling lines, and his cast spit them out with glee ("Starshadow's a wonderful name! What if you'd been born during my jazz period? You would've ended up named 'Mingus'"). The film's tunes, originals and covers, are thoroughly cute enough to lull the viewer into enough of a pleasant daze to ride out the predictable rodeo of conflicts and rock bottom revelations amicably. Similarly, there's a good ongoing gag in showcasing the catalogue of Walken's records through the ages, and their corresponding schizophrenic genre shifting, which helps keeps things chipper.

But, unsurprisingly, it's the cast that breathe enough life into the film to keep it passably engaging. Granted, pink-haired Amber Heard isn't the most fun lead. She's supposed to play as Kristen Stewart and sing like Lana Del Rey, but mostly just reminds of how either would be preferable to her. We easily buy her as a well- intentioned train wreck whose parentally derived self-absorption and self-pity have left her life in shambles, but it still doesn't make her likable or sympathetic.

Thankfully, Walken is here to breeze in and make things worth the while. At his worst, he's still always a pleasure to watch, and any excuse to lure him back into song and dance is still a sensational treat, context be damned. It's also kind of fresh to see him playing a genuinely d*ckish character rather than his usual lovable/evil oddballs, and Walken is careful not to downplay his character's foul, selfish life decisions and despicable parenthood. But, in counterbalancing them with his indomitable charisma and hard-etched pathos, he here offers a deceptively mature and insightful character study into why we continue to tolerate such sleaze-bags, let alone elevating them to the status of matinée idols. Edwards also mines solid dramatic support from Kelli Garner, Hamish Linklater, and Ann Magnuson as Walken's fractured but supportive family, as well as the always welcome Oliver Platt as their kindly lawyer (and no, that's not an oxymoron in this context).

Walken croons "If I'd been born in Hindustan, I'd reincarnate like the Hindus can", but there's no question that Edwards' film could have used a hefty reincarnation of its own. That said, over-familiar and uninspired as its plot may be, Walken and company are up to the challenge of keeping viewers entertained (even when competing with the mighty Roomba). So for those entranced by the prospect of hearing Walken sing and giggle at the name 'Kim Jong-Il' anew, it's, overall, worth breaking out the L-P and revising those familiar story grooves… one more time.

-6/10

A movie that is watchable and entertaining, but it is really just that. Not good or bad, just watchable.

[cosmo_tiger · 5/10 · 1 May 2016]

"It's not a comeback, I never went anywhere." Jude (Heard) lives her life on her own terms and does what she wants. Unfortunately this doesn't turn out like she hopes and is forced to move back home. When her famous singer father Paul (Walken) tells the family he is beginning his comeback old tensions rise up. Now Jude, her sister and her father are all clashing in a typical dysfunctional family fashion with only two outcomes, work together and become closer, or lose everything. This is not a bad movie at all. The actors are all very good and the story is interesting and watchable. The music is good and I enjoyed everything about this. The only problem was that when it was over my reaction was pretty much, well, that was OK. This is nothing that is so good to talk to everyone about, nor bad enough to tell people not to watch. While I liked the movie I think the sign of a really good one is that it makes you feel something, this one didn't. Overall, a movie that is watchable and entertaining, but it is really just that. Not good or bad, just watchable. I give this a B-.

Quirky, Fun, and Thoughtful: Everything an Indie should be.

[c_a_o · 8/10 · 20 April 2015]

In an era of recycled comic book sequel films and films praised more for their technical aspects than their substance, 'When I Live My Life Over Again' is very refreshing. First of all, Amber Heard is great in this breakout role for her, and I have no significant qualms with her performance, or really, anything in the film. Christopher Walken, however, steals the show, delivering his best performance in years, and is probably my personal favorite of his. He perfectly personifies the aging, listless, dad, and his low key style blends perfectly with Amber Heard's more loud and reckless style. Ultimately, this film, without giving away too much, is everything an independent film should be, and seeing it at the TriBeCa Film Festival was quite the treat.

Nice, but not very deep drama

[srdjan_veljkovic · 6/10 · 10 April 2016]

It touches on quite a few interesting topics in a nice way that might give you some insights. It also has a few funny lines and set-ups.

But, it kind of feels like a lost chance to do more. I liked the idea that it doesn't want to be this "big-drama" movie. But, everybody doesn't have to be hysterical all the time to explore issues deeper.

Especially Chris Walken seems a little wasted - sure, he's playing an old guy trying to find a place in a new world (and a I _do_ love how he keeps editing his Wikipedia page), but somehow you miss his passion. Some people do lose their passion when they get old, but for most, there's at least glimpse still there, and I, for one, would have liked if it came up.

Also, the end, while leaving with a good "message", or moral of the story, feels a little forced and comes by too quickly to let you feel the main character, which is Amber Heard (not Chris Walken, though he does get first billing, he's actually a supporting character), "clicking" to what she needs to do.

Needs more cowbell.

[dinoluigivercotti · 3/10 · 15 April 2016]

I was looking at the time constantly while watching this movie - not a good sign. Not much character development, or plot either.

The overriding theme was that everyone was smoking pot in nearly every shot, even while driving. What kind of message is that?

I enjoyed seeing Walken again, and am glad this is not his swan song. He seemed deliberately upstaged by the lead actress who was mysteriously channeling Kat Dennings.

I half-expected Thor to make an appearance looking to score some weed, and should have left the theater the instant Amber Heard entered a scene wearing a guitar slung on her back.

This movie definitely needed more cowbell ... c'man.

Walken good

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 24 September 2017]

Jude (Amber Heard) is a singer and songwriter struggling to make it out of the shadows of her famous father Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). She's a mess. She returns home to his estate where he reminisces about the good old days and dreams of a comeback opening for The Flaming Lips. Her sister Corinne (Kelli Garner) lives there with her husband Tim (Hamish Linklater) and their son David. Jude has a history with Tim. There's her stepmother Lucille (Ann Magnuson) and manager friend Alan (Oliver Platt).

Walken is nice and the movie works with him best. Heard is playing a more worn-down sad bitter character. It's harder to watch with her as the lead. Another actress would have more fun with the character. It needs some comedy to balance out the darker material. Also her singing isn't great. This does have some appeal but it doesn't make it as indie fare. Honestly, this would be more interesting with Walken as the lead.

I think it was actually one of her better roles

[rjfromtoronto · 6/10 · 5 November 2022]

I've watched about 20 of her movies since the court stuff last summer, wanted to see what she was up to besides the usual stuff everybody's seen her in, Never Back Down, The Informers, Pineapple, Machete Kills and London Fields.

Most of her stuff is the same old thing besides being the hot girl object in the movies, the same thing Anton Yelchin said she was guilty of in Love Antoshka (the doc on Yelchins career), playing her roles one way and not trying out a bunch of different ways to do it like him when they were talking during filming of The Beaver, she was surprised he tried a bunch of different lines when shooting and wanted to try another after a scene was shot, she said "I only do one way" and it's done, he said "I can tell" and laughed, she said he changed her way of doing roles after that though I'm not sure it changed anything, she plays the same role every time I've seen her, and I watched 21 of them in the last few months.

I thought she did ok as the lost daughter in this one with Paul issues as she refered to her father played by Walken, it had that kind of Mixed Nuts feel to it, the Steve Martin X-mas movie from the 90s, slow and drawn out til they realize what the real issues are and address them. I wasn't bored or watching the clock like some others say, it was an independent movie and showed, unlike most of her flicks that concentrate on her in underwear or looking good as the tease or bad girl. I think it was a decent flick with a good cast of unknown to me players, Amber did a decent job, some people complained there was no character development elsewhere, it was a movie about a father and daughter, not everyone or anyone else. If you're a fan of Amber or Walken being Walken, watch it.

Terrible

[cineastFGD · 1/10 · 28 April 2015]

What a terrible excuse of a movie. The story is boring, leads nowhere, and the plot is implausible. Christopher Walken is great as usual and does not disappoint, but the quality of the rest of the cast is so low that he alone can not carry the movie. As soon as he disappears from the screen, the movie gets mediocre to say the least. Probably the biggest miscast is Amber Heard. I really don't understand how she still gets roles, she is simply a terrible actress, nothing short from that. I don't know with how many elder male Hoolywood stars they want to pair her up in order to help her to get some recognition as an actress. It won't work, she doesn't know her craft, and hence, people won't want to see her movies. There is surely no shortage of beautiful and talented actresses in film business, so why not chose one of them.

Dull and boring

[Gordon-11 · 29 November 2016]

This film tells the story of a successful singer back in the day, who plots a comeback single and if it goes well, even possibly a new album. However, things do not go smoothly as he is faced with domestic troubles with his loved ones.

With Christopher Walken in the film, I had high hopes that it would be at least a decent film. Unfortunately, I don't think the film really goes anywhere. It fails to engage or captivate, because not much happens in the film. They characters are poorly developed, and I just don't care about them. Emotional portrayals are lacking, which is unfortunate because there are many points which could provide emotional poignancy. In short, I found the film dull and boring.

One More Time: a nice flick whose best feature however is Amber Heard.

[niutta-enrico · 6/10 · 13 April 2016]

A pleasant movie about a well off family whose wealth originated from a former great success in music business: a semi-retired artist, two beautiful (and clever) daughters, a nice son-in-law, a smart grandson, a good lawyer (agent and family friend) and a devoted sixth (or something) wife give life to a family picture in the Hamptons.

Unfortunately, despite the overall good quality (the cast, above all, is sensational) the film is not memorable. Characters strive to be sincere but do not sound realistic. Dialogue is reach but not meaningful. And the story is agreeable but not funny (or even remotely unpredictable…).

And the songs are not memorable either, with the notable exception of 'My Ludicrous Heart' (an old song, probably unknown to greater audience, from Christina Marrs) whose inspired lyrics sounded better sung from Amber Heard than in the original version of the Asylum Street Spankers.

I love Amber Heard but this movie just doesn't have enough substance

[phd_travel · 3/10 · 6 February 2019]

This story about the relationship between a singer and his daughter doesn't have much of interest to anyone.

Christopher Walken is so Christoper Walken it's boring. Amber is beautiful and acts well but the character she plays is unsympathetic. Does all the wrong things. They say awful things.

Occasionally there is some nice music.

Don't bother.

Magnificent performances

[kelboy10 · 7/10 · 4 July 2022]

Considering all the bad publicity Amber Heard is getting at the moment, let me take you by the hand? I'll show you something that'll make you change your mind, well certainly with regards to a woman who supposedly can't act! A previous reviewer made the comparison of her character to Avril Lavigne and I can't be arguing with that. I struggle to fathom why this movie is such a low score when it is such a well written grounded in reality concept. Oh yes I forgot people don't go to be a realist, they go the cinema to escape. Possibly it's biggest flaw is the characters are so life like the audience might not have found any of the characters likeable or overly entertaining. I'm of the later view that when something is more believable I find it deeply fascinating, relatable and entertaining. Am I like any of the characters in this movie? Absolutely not! However I can feel a deep connection with what they are going through because somehow we all want something more in our life. Maybe it just as simple as wanting recognition, to be noticed, to stand out. My main interest in film is the writing aspect of it, its within the story I find a film most gripping although I also understand without some of the other ingredients a film can still fail to impress. Robert Edwards has impressed me with his dialogue in the script each character feels legit. The story mainly consists of a father/daughter relationship and how they must try to overcome their flaws to create a better version of themselves. The main reason this remains a seven rather than an eight or nine is the ending was a little lack lust.

So who stood out? Christopher Walken like only he can playing a low key father juxtaposed with a loud mouth daughter. Yet he also brings out the best in the loud and reckless Amber Heard, the irony of the father figure pushing a younger actress reigns true outside the script as well it appears. What's interesting is how natural Ambers performance is. This is the perfect part for Walken lending some words of wisdom and encouragement whilst being irresponsible himself at times. The further they delve into their characters the more at home they seem to be playing them. The chemistry between Amber and Christopher has to be good for the type of movie otherwise it isn't going to work as it is very dialogue driven. I'd say they nailed it! At times Christopher Walkens character Paul seems outspoken to the know it all daughter Jude. In contrast Jude's sister Corinne played by Kelli Garner is the polar opposite to her, she is the perfect so called normal daughter. All the cast play there part in making this a very grounded watch. As far as direction goes and cinematography nothing too fancy is needed for the story being conveyed. The story is compelling in the way I feel like I am living it with these characters. It's the story of a musician on the verge of a comeback however it's not an all out music film.

"Hey Jude.... that neve gets old."

[mssineadmurray · 7/10 · 18 February 2023]

I've watched this a few time now and It's just an enjoyable easy watch. It isn't trying to he more than what it is. Paul Francis Lombard/Lippman (Christopher Walken) a former popular crooner/singer looking to make his comeback. His daughter Jude (Amber Heard), returns home to figure out her life and career options. His younger daughter Corinne (Kelli Garner) seems to have it all together, his son in law Tim (Hamish Linklater), his grandson David (Henry Kelemen), his latest wife Lucille (Ann Magnusun) and family friend Alan (Oliver Platt) make up this dysfunctional family offbeat comedy/drama/musical.