Things Change **** (1988, Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky, J J Johnston, Ricky Jay) – Classic Movie Review 7831

Director David Mamet’s 1988 crime comedy drama Things Change is his intelligent and literate follow-up to his 1987 debut as director, House of Games. It is written by Mamet and Shel Silverstein.

It is a strangely old-fashioned gangster saga and character study that beautifully showcases the formidable acting talent of its two stars. The veteran Don Ameche shines as Gino, an elderly Italian-American shoeshine man with a remarkable similarity to a certain mafia don, so he is recruited as a mafia fall-guy to take the rap for a murder. And Mamet stalwart Joe Mantegna is perfect as Jerry, the slow-witted gangster on probation who is guarding Gino for the weekend but takes pity on him, giving him a weekend to remember in Lake Tahoe.

And there is a great gallery of character support too, including Robert Prosky as Don Giuseppe Vincent, J J Johnston as Frankie, Ricky Jay as Mr Silver, Mike Nussbaum as Mr Green, Jack Wallace, Dan Conway, William H Macy and J T Walsh, along with Willo Varsi Hausman, Gail Silver, Len Hodera, Felicity Huffman and Josh Conescu.

Things Change is superbly scripted, tenderly played comedy of mistaken identity. In turns it is funny and touching.

RIP Ricky Jay (1948–2018).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7831

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com