Wise Guys (1986)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

George Gallo (writer)
Norman Steinberg (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

What kind of guys gamble with the boss's money, swipe a killer's Cadillac, and party on the mob's credit card?

Plot:

Harry Valentini and Moe Dickstein are both errand boys for the Mob. When they lose $250,000, they are set up to kill each other. But they run off to Atlantic City and comedy follows.

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Garden Shears | Gangster | Horse Racing | Italian Restaurant

Cast

Danny DeVito	...	Harry Valentini
Joe Piscopo	...	Moe Dickstein
Harvey Keitel	...	Bobby DiLea
Ray Sharkey	...	Marco
Dan Hedaya	...	Anthony Castelo
Lou Albano	...	Frank 'The Fixer' Acavano (as Captain Lou Albano)
Julie Bovasso	...	Lil Dickstein
Patti LuPone	...	Wanda Valentini
Antonia Rey	...	Aunt Sadie
Mimi Cecchini	...	Grandma Valentini
Matthew Kaye	...	Harry Jr.
Tony Munafo	...	Santo Ravallo
Tony Rizzoli	...	Joey 'New Shoes' Siclione
Frank Vincent	...	Louie Fontucci
Rick Petrucelli	...	Al the Bookie

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Sweden:11 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Continuity: After Harry is shot, the bloodstain on his shirt gets smaller as the scene progresses.

Quotes:

Frank "The Fixer" Acavano: You're exactly what I'm looking for, Dickface!
Moe Dickstein: Please Frank, it's Dickstein.
Frank "The Fixer" Acavano: I'll pick you up this afternoon, Dickhead!

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

Soundtrack:

Pink Cadillac

New Jersey Mob Comedy..You Got A Problem w/That?

This movie is silly but never stupid, so you can just enjoy it for what it is...a Jersey mob comedy. Principals DeVito and Piscopo are life-long friends who live next door to each other in Newark, and their source of income comes from the mob figure (Dan Hedaya) who allows them to pick up his dry cleaning and start his car (this was a funny scene..DeVito starting a car that might explode..the entire neighborhood clears out in 20 seconds! Plus the other mobsters bet on the outcome!) and go to the track for him. They are sometimes joined by Captain Lou Albano, who is out of his mind but at least did not attach those rubber bands to his face like he did when he was WWF-connected, and he has little patience for either of these flunkies.

Don't want to give anything else away, but the friends are put in the position of having to test their friendship and on the whole, this is a very satisfying comedy with a two leads in good form, great character actors like Julie Bovasso, Antonia Rey, Patti Lupone, Ray Sharkey, and an appearance by Harvey Keitel, too! Plus authentic Jersey locations, including a trip to Atlantic City..

Brian DePalma directed, and he is not renowned for his comedies but maybe he should be.