Things Change — Things Change(Blu Ray)
Don Ameche stars as Gino, the humble Italian/American shoeshine man who bears a remarkable resemblance to mafia boss Mr Green (Mike Nussbaum). Gino is promised a boat in exchange for taking the rap for Mr Green and going to prison for 3 years, which he reluctantly accepts. Jerry (Joe Mantegna) is the small-time gangster on probation who is charged with minding Gino in the run up to his trial. Rather than spend the weekend shut in their hotel room the pair decide to head to Lake Tahoe in order for Gino to have a final fling before prison. Upon arrival in Lake Tahoe, they are identified as mobsters, something our two protagonists play along with, soon they’re living it up in the penthouse suite of the hotel and given anything they ask for, but there’s a problem, local crime boss Don Guiseppe (Robert Prosky) has requested a meeting with Gino, thinking him a crime boss from Chicago, and when Mr Green and his assistants arrive in town it’s down to our heroes to find their way back home without being caught out.
Things Change is a smart, funny, and gentle comedy about two men who are brought together via their circumstances, and who forge the most unlikely of friendships. Both Mantegna and Ameche are superb in their roles as polar opposites, Ameche as the quiet, genial gentleman who is quite obviously in control of the whole situation, while Mantegna, the babysitter, the man who is meant to be in control is anything but, he edgy and constantly fretting about their situation. The juxtaposition of the two main characters is what really makes the film a little bit special as the two continually form this irresistible double act.
Things change is a film that flies under the radar of many cinemagoers but it really shouldn’t. This is a smart, funny, underrated gem with some wonderful performances, not just from the two main protagonists, but there’s a wonderful standout performance from Robert Prosky as Don Guiseppe. Where we get to see two very different sides of the character, as both a tough mafia don and a softer side as he and Gino forge an unlikely friendship.
The new Blu ray from Powerhouse features some interesting special features, there are several interviews featuring writer/director Mamet and Joe Mantegna As well as a featurette about Alaric Rokka Jans, who scored the film. There is also the usual trailer and a gallery as well as an informative video essay from comedian Rob Dearing. Overall, this is a wonderful film, given a decent blu ray release, and I for one hope this is seen by many more people, as it deserves to be.