Things Change

1988
PG
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

Don Ameche and Joe Mantegna in 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.

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Comedy Crime Drama

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.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.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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

Director
- David Mamet
Writers
- David Mamet
- Shel Silverstein
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

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

Kenny Lilliebridge

Chicago Bodyguard

Charles Stransky

Scarface
(as Chuck Stransky)

William H. Macy

Billy Drake
(as W.H. Macy)

Director
- David Mamet
Writers
- David Mamet
- Shel Silverstein
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Future husband and wife Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy appear in this film. They were dating at the time.

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.

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

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Things Change/Bat*21/Without a Clue/Mystic Pizza/Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988)

User reviews30

Review

Featured review

7/10

Quite a unique comedy

While I am not a huge fan of David Mamet I liked most of the movies he directed that I saw and since he directed often one of my favourite actors, I knew that I had to see THINGS CHANGE.

Gino (Don Ameche) is an old Chicago shoe-shiner that one day is approached by mob boss Don Green for taking the blame for a murder committed by another gangster. Gino agrees on the condition that he can have a fishing boat with the money he'll receive after a three year sentence. While preparing for the confession Gino is approached by Jerry (Joe Mantegna), a gangster in trouble because he failed to execute orders properly, and they spend a week of thinking in lake Tahoe. At the casino, Gino is mistaken for a powerful mafia boss by a Sicilian who happened to be there and they are mistaken for vips. After the confession fails Gino risks his death but will be saved by Jerry who then joins him in his shoe-shine store.

The plot looked a bit confusing (and it took me long for understanding it) but the acting was good by all (including Mamet's frequent co-stars) and there were some funny moments. Not exactly a masterpiece but still a decent time passer if you are stuck at home.