this be really a great unknown movie . perfect dialogue without the typical clichés . this movie rely on the actor talent and it be pull off . it even have a little bit a comedy in it and but it wasn not overdone . once in the life be what a crime drama be suppose to be and not the typical special affect garbage with sex throw in . i especially love the interracial aspect of it all . now onto the actor themselves . laurence fishburne be superb at play a career petty criminal . it a shame that he only allow to show his talent in his own movie . titus welliver be fabulous a fishburne junky half brother . eamonn walker add flavor to the already perfectly spice film . paul calderon be perfect a a grease monkey or drug lord . i love his act since king of new york . but the best acting in this film come from gregory hines and michael paul chan and who be pair perfectly a two of calderon henchman . once in the life be for sure a keeper . half out of .