Amongst Friends (1993)

Very well executed

Sadly Over-hyped

Pretty Good

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I know I'll be yelled at for giving this movie such a high rating but it was one of the surprise flicks of the 90's for me.I didn't catch it at the theatres but saw the trailer on another video I'd rented. It caught my eye and when I saw it on another video as a preview I made a note to get it.Time went by, I finally found a copy and was glued to the screen. Not everything is perfect mind you but the fact that a life of crime is no life is clearly defined. If you have a young person who thinks a life of drugs is cool, show him or her this movie and see the tragedy of such a lifestyle front and center.The performances in this movie range from good to outstanding. I was riveted to the narrative and the soundtrack one of the most superb ever. I was stunned at the contrast of composers and you go from the master Ennio Morricone to MC Lyte! You can't beat that! The comic characters are realistic. We laughed and cried throughout the movie. You couldn't ask for more realism. These were people who weren't "Hollywood" models but people with character, charisma, and most of all charm.This was a story about choices and repercussions that spanned a couple of generations all wound up in some gut wrenching violence in some scenes and comic violence in others. Rigoletto the classic opera comes to mind. That swing back and forth from tragedy to tragic comedy to frustration and all the emotions in between.Everyone did such a fine job that it's one of the few memorable movies from the 90's. You will get some big laughs, I mean big laughs from this movie but don't let that fool you one iota. There are heartbreaking scenes of such tragedy that it will twist you up inside and make you so angry at crime you'll be ready to spit nails.How writer Weiss pulled this off is a miracle. It defines several points in modern history and of course pays tribute to gangster films past and present.If Weiss put together more projects like this I'd be happy.Bring tissues, popcorn, and enjoy a real modern day classic.Did I mention I loved every single person cast in this movie? Even the extras? Just perfect.I've been writing gangster and crime stories for 25 years and Amongst Friends really hit home for me. So many of the characters were like mirrors to people I'd tangled with in the past I could see that I had made the right decisions the character Andy hadn't. Get this vid for your kids out there and you won't be sorry.

Poor acting by most involved, as well as some other obvious flaws are'nt enough to destroy this movie for me~ They're even part of the tragic air of the film~ and almost add a particular charm to it.. Maybe you must be able to relate to certain aspects of this movie to appreciate it, particularly the time and/or place of the "sub-culture" involved.. but I will just simply say that despite all of it's technical flaws, it's still a film that stands out in my mind throughout the years.. and one that I still find myself putting into the dusty VHS box every so often.. Perfect example of how all enjoyable entertainment need not meet the "professional criteria" of it's respective industry..

I first saw this movie when I was in college and man could I relate. I'm 30 now and recently saw it for the first time since then when I watched it a billion times. I won't pretend that it has passed the test of time with flying colors, but it does what it sets out to do extremely well and without a lot of bells and whistles.Synopsis: 3 fellas from upper crust families play grown-up from an early age and have varying results as they enter adulthood. Drama ensues. Resolution meets some better than others. I really enjoy the Steve Parlavecchio kid and will, after concluding this review, seek out his career accomplishments, if he had any.Also of note, I believe this was the first substantive role for Mira Sorvino. I assume that without daddy Paul blazing trails for her, she never would have gotten much farther than this flick.Perhaps most important: A KILLER soundtrack for any child of the late 80's/early 90's with solid score by Ennio Morricone. I will never forget finding the soundtrack in a Used bin for $1.99 back in '95.This is the polar extreme of a GoodFellas/Godfather epic in the same vein. Take it for what it is, and I say you'll really enjoy it.

I know somebody who worked on this movie -- that is the only reason I watched more than 10 minutes of this garbage. This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Poorly written and acted, trite, hackneyed plot, and actors who all look alike spewing the F word every other second. Somehow, this dazzled people at Sundance years ago, but I think a better quality of independent film has sprung up since then. If this were released today, it would never make it to Sundance, and would never get distribution.