Well, it didn't take the programmers at Channel 7 long to schedule another mobster movie. Just a few short weeks ago we covered their airing of "A Good Night to Die." Now, we're face to face with another cheap "Mean Streets" meets "Goodfellas" knock-off - a fact the trailer doesn't hide by shamelessly mentioning those two classics. Filmmakers like to think that they're being original by NOT having Italians as their main gangsters, so over the years we've seen mob movies about the Irish, Asians, Russians, African-Americans and more. This time, we have the story of a nice group of Jewish kids from Long Island "coming of age" - by becoming murderous thugs!
It's called "Amongst Friends," and as both the title and the trailer point out in such sledgehammer-obvious fashion, these are the kind of friends for which one doesn't need enemies. Yes, the trailer for this one trots out all the cliches - the bored rich kids, the concerned girlfriend, the calorically-challenged goofy guys who are there for comic relief (and probably to get whacked), the stoic dressed-to-the-nines-because-I'm-pretending-to-be-legit guy who doesn't flinch even though guns are in his face, and a couple of old-time gangsters bemoaning the fate of their younger counterparts - except this time they seem more like retired Borchst Belt comics than hardened old hit men!
Lots of actors here I don't recognize - it's a mix of folks with only 1 to 3 credits to their name and character actors with tons of credits but you couldn't pick most of them out of a line-up because their roles are usually inconsequential.
Only Mira Sorvino is instantly recognizable here. This is her second theatrical feature. Three years later, she won a Best Actress Oscar for her role in Woody Allen’s “Mighty Aphrodite” (hmmm… maybe ABC decided to show “Amongst Friends” now since it’s Oscar weekend?.... NAH!). After a few more notable roles, she dated Quentin Tarantino for a spell and appeared at his behest alongside his hero Chow Yun Fat in “The Replacement Killers;” then proceeded to have an erratic career checkered with both decent films AND those that make perfect fodder for the Late Nite Landfill.
Mira's brother Michael is also in "Amongst Friends," essaying the role of "Kid in Fight."
The movie is directed by Rob Weiss, who has since found his way out of obscurity as a writer/producer on the acclaimed show, "Entourage."
View the trailer here:
Or watch the entire film on WABC-TV Channel 7, 11:35 PM On Saturday, February 23... if you dare!
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