Things Change (1988)

Shoe-shiner Gino is hired to take the rap for a mafia murder. Two-bit gangster Jerry watches over Gino and gives him a weekend to remember.

Director:

David Mamet

Writers:

David Mamet, Shel Silverstein

Stars:

Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Ameche	...	Gino
Joe Mantegna	...	Jerry
Robert Prosky	...	Joseph 'Don Giuseppe' Vincent
J.J. Johnston	...	Frankie
Ricky Jay	...	Mr. Silver
Mike Nussbaum	...	Mr. Green
Jack Wallace	...	Repair Shop Owner
Dan Conway	...	Butler
Willo Hausman	...	Miss Bates (as Willo Varsi Hausman)
Gail Silver	...	Housemaid
Len Hodera	...	Ramone
Josh Conescu	...	Bellenza
Adam Bitterman	...	Marcotti
Jack Merrill	...	No Pair (as Merrill Holtzman)
William Novelli	...	Willie

Storyline

Gino, an Italian-American shoe-shiner with a remarkable similarity to a certain mafia don, is paid to take the rap for a murder. Jerry, a two-bit gangster on probation, is given a chance for redemption by guarding Gino for the weekend. But instead of sitting around a dingy hotel room, Jerry decides to give Gino a weekend to remember, taking him to Lake Tahoe. Jerry's bragging to his friends of his important charge, as well as Gino's dignified, quiet demeanor, soon result in much complication for them both.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | hotel room | friend | italian american | gangster | 

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Taglines:

Two of the world's great criminal minds they're not.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Coisas Mudam

Filming Locations:

Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$600,809, 23 October 1988

Gross USA:

$3,527,886

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,527,886

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Filmhaus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to an article in the 16th October 1988 edition of 'The New York Times', veteran actor Don Ameche was originally cast in a minor role as one of the Dons in the movie. However, after a meeting with lead actor Joe Mantegna and writer-director David Mamet, Mamet decided to cast Ameche in the other lead role of Gino.

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Goofs

After they leave the airport, Jerry and Gino stop to talk with Billy Drake. Then Gino stays in front of the others, holding the overcoats, with Billy on his left-hand side and Jerry on his right. In the next shot Billy appears holding the overcoats and leading Gino with his right hand to the car. For this to be possible it would be necessary that them both had changed their places.

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Quotes

Jerry: Babe, this is the guy behind the guy behind the guy.

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Connections

Referenced in Boy Meets World: Things Change (1998)

User Reviews

Great Entertainment

I loved this picture. Mantegna and Ameche are so opposite and I really can't share the view of other people that Ameche is performing a "Being There." Ameche is much smarter, he realizes from the start something is wrong. First he declines the offer but he knows perfectly well these people will shoot him (remember the scene with the smoking lady). Then, the movie starts, and he's in charge, and he keeps in charge, he accepts a luncheon with a Don in LA., he finds money to get back to Chicago, he uses his coin to call the Las Vegas mob.

Nice, entertaining, two and a half stars. I laughed quite a bit. Must be my Italian roots.