With Friends Like These

views updated

With Friends Like These ★★★ 1998 (R)

Johnny DeMartino (Constanzo) is a small time character actor in Hollywood. He, along with his three other actor buddies, makes a living playing small bit roles of Mafia henchmen, when one day he is approached with an opportunity to audition for Martin Scorsese to play the role of a lifetime, Al Capone (Scorsese wants an unknown actor). Although he was sworn to secrecy about the audition, Johnny can't help spread the good news to his friends. Faster than you can say “sleeps with the fishes,” every character actor in town is trying to wrangle their own audition and practicing their best mobster impressions. Clever and funny look inside the non-glamorous side of the movie industry, with all its faults and insecurities attached. 105m/C VHS . Adam Arkin, Robert Costanzo, Beverly D'Angelo, Elle Macpherson, Amy Madigan, David Strathairn, Jon Tenney, Lauren Tom, Carmine Costanzo, Garry Marshall, Michael McKean, Ashley Peldon, Jon Polito, Heather Stephens, Bill Murray, Martin Scorsese, Laura San Giacomo, Tom La Grua, Armando Pucci, Andrew Schaifer; D: Philip Messina; W: Philip Messina; C: Brian Reynolds.