
Gino, an Italian-American shoe-shiner with a remarkable similarity to a certain mafia don, is paid to take the rap for a murder. Jerry, a two-bit gangster on probation, is given a chance for redemption by guarding Gino for the weekend. But instead of sitting around a dingy hotel room, Jerry decides to give Gino a weekend to remember, taking him to Lake Tahoe. Jerry's bragging to his friends of his important charge, as well as Gino's dignified, quiet demeanor, soon result in m... (Full plot summary below)
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Gino, an Italian-American shoe-shiner with a remarkable similarity to a certain mafia don, is paid to take the rap for a murder. Jerry, a two-bit gangster on probation, is given a chance for redemption by guarding Gino for the weekend. But instead of sitting around a dingy hotel room, Jerry decides to give Gino a weekend to remember, taking him to Lake Tahoe. Jerry's bragging to his friends of his important charge, as well as Gino's dignified, quiet demeanor, soon result in much complication for them both.
Leave your thoughts about Things Change.
| Spirituality and PracticeFrederic and Mary Ann BrussatA gangster fable about keeping one's word. |
| Chicago TribuneGene SiskelThings Change is a coldly controlled, immaculately mounted show, with a softly beating heart. Everything--the dialogue, the performances, Ruiz Anchia's jewel-like lighting, Michael Merritt's wittily elegant production designs and Alaric Jans' haunting, spare score--contributes to the final effect. |
| Boston GlobeJay CarrFor much of its length the picture is brilliantly successful-light, surprising and, because it asks the audience to participate in its creation, unusually engaging. |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertThings Change is a delicate balance of things that don’t easily go together: farce, wit, violence and heart. Here they do. |
| EmpireWilliam ThomasMamets gem of a movie, with a great final twist, goads the Godfathers with just as much invention and wit as the much higher profile Married To The Mob. |
| The New York TimesVincent CanbyAn enchanted lark about wiseguys and those hustlers who think they are wiseguys, but aren't. |
| NewsweekDavid AnsenThe movie is modest and winning, and we almost feel guilty for wanting it to be more -- but we do. The spirit of camaraderie and the love of performers performing is infectious, though. It may not be enough, but it's close. |
| Ozus' World Movie ReviewsDennis SchwartzIt's a film that comes with a perfect shoeshine and smile underneath its ludicrous and cynical premise. |
| United Press InternationalCathy BurkeThings Change is like the careful telling of a sly and spirited joke. Everything builds slowly, and the telling is as important as the punch line. |
| Washington PostDesson ThomsonIn Things Change, the gangsters and bodyguards, the lounges and limos don't got, whaddya call, da same allure. You watch the whole thing with a detached amusement, like a goon cooling his heels in the lobby, just waiting for things to change. |