Wise Guys is a 1986 feature film directed by Brian De Palma and starring Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo. A comedy revolving around two small-time mobsters from Newark, New Jersey, it also features Harvey Keitel, Lou Albano and Frank Vincent.
Plot
Italian American Harry Valentini (DeVito) and his Jewish friend and neighbor Moe Dickstein (Piscopo) are both on the bottom rung of Newark Mafia boss Anthony Castelo's (Dan Hedaya) gang. Making their livings through doing Castelo's lowest jobs (such as looking after his goldfish or trying out bullet-proof jackets) the two men dream of opening the world's first Jewish-Italian delicatessen.
The two accompany Frank 'The Fixer' Acavano (Albano), one of Castelo's top men and a violent psychopath, to Meadowlands Racetrack to place a bet on Castelo's behalf but Valentini changes the horse at the last minute as his boss is a very poor gambler. However this time Castelo had fixed the race meaning that Harry and Moe owe their boss thousands and, after a night of torture, both are forced to agree to kill each other.
Unaware that each has made a deal and fearing that they will be killed following the murder of Harry's cousin Marco (Ray Sharkey) they steal Acavano's Cadillac and travel to Atlantic City to see Harry's uncle Mike, a retired mobster who started Castelo in the crime business. After using Acavano's credit cards to pay for a luxury stay in a hotel owned by their old friend Bobby DiLea (Keitel) the two go to Uncle Mike's house to ask for his help. Upon arriving at his house they find only Uncle Mike's ashes, leading to Moe leaving Harry in disgust. However Grandma Valentini (Mimi Cecchini) is able to give Harry the money and he returns to the hotel.
At the hotel the double deal forced in Harry and Moe is revealed before they get DiLea to sort things with Castelo. As Harry and Moe are leaving the hotel for the limosuine (which is being driven by Acavano, after DiLea appears to double-cross the two) Harry spies Castelo's hitmen and decides to stay behind and gamble the money. After a chase through the hotel casino Moe catches up to Harry and accidentally shoots him. Harry is pronounced dead and Moe escapes.
Back in Newark, Moe hides out of sight at Harry's funeral but is spotted by Acavano (who is eating a sandwich during the burial service) and Castelo resolves to kill him after the service. Moe returns to his house and prepares to hang himself but before doing so sees a vision of Harry at the foot of the stairs. He quickly realizes that it is actually Harry, who arranged the whole thing with DiLea, but is almost hanged anyway in shock. After eventually being saved Harry gives Moe a skeleton and they write a suicide note before turning on the gas and setting fire to the curtains. As the two leave however the door slamming shut puts the fire out and Castelo and his men enter to find the bizarre scene. Castelo takes out a cigarette and Acavano asks "who farted?" as the don's stooges all spark their lighters, setting off the explosion.
Harry and Moe return to Atlantic City, although Moe bemoans the fact that they didn't keep the money. Harry informs him that he did save the money but has invested. Although Moe seems perturbed the film ends with their dream realized as the two stand in their Jewish-Italian delicatessen.
External links
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