Main Cast: Mira Sorvino, Mariah Carey, Melora Walters, Arthur Nascarella, Saul Stein
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
David Anspaugh's mix of female bonding and mob drama, Wisegirls concerns a trio of waitresses. Meg (Oscar winner Mira Sorvino), wise-talking Raychel (Mariah Carey), and wannabe dancer Kate (Paul Thomas Anderson regular Melora Walters) grow close while working at an Italian restaurant. After saving a man's life at the eatery thanks to her time in medical school, Meg begins to realize that the establishment is mob-controlled. Soon she must hide the dead body of her boss (whose "whacking" she indirectly caused). Eventually, Meg discovers secrets about her two friends and is forced to risk her life in order to gain information on the mobsters. This mix of gangster film and female bonding screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Review
This surprisingly rousing production combines the visceral tension of the best mob movies (dapper psychos, gangland slayings, wiretaps, etc.) with smarm-free scenes of women developing emotional relationships. Hence, Wisegirls has equal doses of testosterone and estrogen, giving it that rare ability to appeal strongly to both men and women. There are several surprises along the way that are the icing on an already entertaining cake, and the overall production values are terrifically human-scale. Mira Sorvino does a wonderful job in a role that has its maudlin moments -- the treacle would have flowed through lesser-skilled hands -- but Glitter-girl Mariah Carey fully redeems herself in a brave and earthy role. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Joseph Siravo - Gio; Christian Maelen - Frankie; Anthony Alessandro - Lorenzo
Credit
Laura McNutt - Art Director, Mark Austin - Associate Producer, Nichole Cheril - Associate Producer, Shelly Poniewaz - Associate Producer, Sig De Miguel - Casting, Guy Stodel - Co-producer, Jean Fox - Co-producer, Dale Poniewaz - Co-producer, Stephen Brown - Costume Designer, Erika Beringer - First Assistant Director, David Anspaugh - Director, Christopher Cibelli - Editor, Gena Scriva Esposito - Executive Producer, Jessica Russell - Executive Producer, Richard Brams - Line Producer, Keith Forsey - Composer (Music Score), Laura Burton - Production Designer, Johnny E. Jensen - Cinematographer, Anthony Esposito - Producer, Billy Blake - Producer, Bill Blum - Producer, Jack Sojka - Producer, Barbara Luxton - Set Designer, David Lee - Sound/Sound Designer, John Meadows - Screenwriter
The film centres around Meg (Mira Sorvino), a med student who after a traumatic experience moves to Staten Island to live with her grandmother while she gets back on her feet. Her grandmother's care giver, Mrs. Saladino, recommends Meg to work as a waitress in a family-run Italian restaurant called 'Santalino's'. There, Meg meets Raychel (Mariah Carey) and Kate (Melora Walters) and becomes firm friends with the two. Not long after starting, Meg discovers exactly what clientele she is serving... the Mob. Meg wants to get out, but between drug-running and cover-up murders, she finds herself deeper in than she ever could have imagined. The three women find themselves entangled in dodgy dealings with no way of escape and realise their survival is going to depend on more than just their friendship.
