WISE GUYS

US, 1986, 87 minutes, Colour.
Danny de Vito, Joe Piscopo, Harvey Keitel, Ray Sharkey, Dan Hedaya.
Directed by Brian de Palma.

Wise Guys is a modest gangster comedy. It was directed by Brian de Palma, better known for his horror films in the Hitchcock vein: Sisters, Obsession, Dressed to Kill as well as for his thrillers The Fury and Scarface. On the evidence of this film, comedy is not his forte. Danny de Vito (who emerged as a comic star in Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile) tries his hardest, buffing and puffing for comic effect. There are some humorous cinematic styles used for this gangster story - however, it is only a moderate (very moderate) success.

1. The popularity of gangster comedies? The '30s tradition? Gangsters and Americana?

2. New Jersey and Atlantic City, the suburbs, casinos? The special effects, especially for contriving Harry's death?

3. The work of Brian de Palma, his skill with horror and suspense, serious gangster films? Humour?

4, A 'buddy' film: two gangsters' henchmen, a gambling comedy, a violent pursuit comedy? The blending of the elements?

5. Harry and his family, their ordinary lifestyle, Harry and the opening and his son, going to work, his job, subservient to the gangsters, the job of opening the car and turning on the ignition with the delayed explosion? Taking the money for bets, the horse and its not winning? His confessing? The set-up to pursue Mo? Escaping to Atlantic City? Friendship with Bobby? The clash with Mo? The gambling, The fake death, the funeral and the grief, his reviving? The exploding house? His final glee? An engaging comic character?

5. Mo and his mother, his birthday and everybody ignoring it, the party? Humiliated by the gangster bosses? Jobs, laundry? Going to the racetrack? His admiration of the leaders? Caution with Harry? Their brainwashing him to pursue Harry? The chase? Reconciliation? His attempt to kill Harry? Atlantic City? His panic, Harry's death? His trying to hang himself? The setting alight of the gas? An engaging comic character?

7. Mr, Fixer and his size, always eating, violence? Atlantic City, the car at the casino, eating at the funeral, getting his final comeuppance?

8. The portrait of the gangsters - New Jersey small-time, the bosses, loyalties, money, Harry's funeral? Playing To off against Harry and vice verse? Poetic justice with the explosion?

9. Bobby and the big time, Atlantic City, friends with Harry, seeming to double-cross him, engineering Harry's escape ant fake death?

10. Harry's family, his wife, son, their living with his being a gangster, the funeral? mother and her concern? The party7

11. The conventions of the gangster world? Sent up?