AMONGST FRIENDS (1993)

Cast: Patrick McGaw, Mira Sorovino, Louis Lombardi

Written & Directed By: Rob Weiss
Cinematography By: Michael Bonvillian
Editor: Leo Trombetta

I Don’t know what happened to director rob weiss but I remember the hoopola over this film when it first came out immediately made it onto my list of must see movies and then it came on home video I went to my local blockbuster (It was the 90’s) and rented it I waited for a Friday night so it could be a premiere with me as the only guest

While it borrowed heavily from Martin Scorsese films and the then current kids who want to be criminals and must be taught a lesson about the life it was interesting as a story of three childhood friends who grew apart one becomes a minor league criminal the other wants to be a mobster and is coming up with all these plans for a big score that never seem to happen the third goes to prison for a crime all three of them were in on he was just the only one who got caught now years later he comes back to town to visit his family finds that the minor criminal is dating his ex-girlfriend who he is still in love with. Let’s just say there is a lot of double crosses and betrayal leading to overwrought dramatic finale that even though the director thought he was making a bold statement feels underwhelming.

Now in the book spike mike slackers and dykes john pierson writes about his time on the set and doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the director or the production. In the end this film is ok nothing necessarily to set him apart form the new directors that were coming out but a minor flair behind the camera at least this film has more heightened dialogue and scenes filled with edge of the seat drama Rather then Gratuitous action and violence that is there just to be there.

Another reason this film is a footnote in cinema history is that this is Mira Sorovino’s first starring role her part is more supporting and doesn’t really give her a chance to show the dramatic chops she would in later films she is gorgeous.

All I know is rob weiss was dating shannen Doherty for a little while and was supposed to direct a film about the history of the milk bar but after that he seems to be a producer/writer for the show “Entourage” Which in a way feels right since the characters on the show a reminiscent of the characters here or at least would have been cast if amongst friends was made today

Interesting tidbit was that Rob weiss wrote this film in desperation after dropping out of design school, kicked out of film school and failing to become a club promoter.this film reminds me of the type of guys you run into from Long Island, New York

The Film is not yet on DVD it’s worth a look but only if it is on cable

It makes you wonder sometimes if some of the great films that directors have on there resumes are like music one hit wonders. They are supposed to be artists but if they didn’t write or come up with the material are they like a singer who doesn’t write there own songs they have a visual style to interpret the story but it seems to only work once or twice since there re so many directors out there who do have talent but are stuck working on hack work maybe some directors are just given the chance they don’t deserve because they bring nothing new to the table do work that 20other just starting out directors could do no real new interpretation.

GRADE: C+