Once Around
Once Around | |
---|---|
Directed by | Lasse Hallström |
Written by | Malia Scotch Marmo |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Cinecom Entertainment Group |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date | January 18, 1991 |
Running time | 115 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $16 million |
Box office | $14,851,083 |
Once Around is a 1991 American
Plot
The Bellas are a close-knit family of
Renata travels to the Caribbean, where she takes a course on selling condominiums. She meets Sam Sharpe, a highly successful
Sam and Renata get married, with Sam relocating his business from New York to Boston so he can spend as much time with Renata as possible. At a memorial for Joe's late mother, Sam attempts to sing a song in her honor, but the Bellas, especially Marilyn, tell him it is highly inappropriate. Renata tells Sam he is tearing her family apart. They reconcile, and the next day Renata gives birth to their daughter. At the baptism, Sam suffers a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital.
Now in a wheelchair, Sam is welcomed home to the Bella residence to celebrate Christmas as a family. During dinner, he lights up a cigarette, which an irritated Renata throws into a glass of wine. On a frozen lake, Renata goes skating, while Sam and their daughter watch from a distance. Sam passes away while still holding his child. After the funeral, Renata mourns, but is grateful for the time they had together and for Sam changing her life for the better. Joe directs the funeral procession through several rotations on a traffic round-about, something Sam learned from his father-in-law and greatly enjoyed during his life.
Cast
- Richard Dreyfuss as Sam Sharpe
- Holly Hunter as Renata Bella
- Danny Aiello as Joe Bella
- Laura San Giacomo as Jan Bella
- Gena Rowlands as Marilyn Bella
- Roxanne Hart as Gail Bella
- Danton Stone as Tony Bella
- Tim Guinee as Peter Hedges
- Greg Germann as Jim Redstone
- Griffin Dunne as Rob
- Cullen O. Johnson as Sonny
- Glenn Russell Turk as Wedding Band Drummer
Soundtrack
James Horner wrote the musical score for this film. The film features "Fly Me to the Moon" as its main song.
Reception
The movie gained mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. The film holds a 67% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 critics.[2][3][4]
Several details of Lithuanian-American culture are present in the film, such as the folk dance in the wedding party, the folksong about motherhood, and the priest performing the baptism of the newborn child.[1]
References
- ^ a b "The Lithuanian Angle in a Hollywood Movie: An Analysis of Once Around". Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "Movies". Los Angeles Times. 1991-01-18. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (1991-01-18). "Once Around - Review/Film". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- Washington Post. 1991-01-18. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
External links
- Once Around at IMDb
- Once Around at AllMovie
- Once Around at Rotten Tomatoes
- Once Around at Box Office Mojo