Joe Mantegna is an actor born to sling Mamet-speak. He and
David Mamet have known each other since their careers began. Mantegna even won
a Tony for his portrayal of Richard Roma in the first American production of Glengarry Glen Ross.
The studio wouldn’t let Mantegna reprise his role for that film (Al Pacino
filled in), but Mamet promised Mantegna that, in return, he could star in his
first two films, both of which are listed below.
And that’s just the Mamet side of Mantegna’s career. In
full, Joe Mantegna has had a long, impressive career on stage and screen,
playing everything from notable mobsters to caring fathers, ruthless killers to
charming thugs of Springfield. Simply put, he’s one of the best, most notable
character actors we have.
Five Essential Roles
House of Games
(1987)
The first film Mamet delivered his promise on was Mamet’s movie debut, the ingenious con thriller, House of Games. Mantegna’s character, Mike, is one of shiftiest
characters Mamet has ever penned. You’re never sure if he’s on the level, but
you always want to trust him. He’s a Confidence Man through and through,
silver-tongued and eagle-eyed, always trying to spot a mark. And his on-screen
chemistry with Mamet’s then-wife, Lindsay Crouse, is electrifying. I’m a huge
admirer of Mantegna and Mamet’s work together, and it certainly never hurts to
go back to the source.
Things Change
(1988)
Mamet’s second film, Things
Change, is about an aged shoe-shiner, Gino (Don Ameche), who agrees to
admit guilt to a murder he didn’t commit. In return, the mob will pay Gino a
handsome reward, a gift for the three years he’ll likely serve in prison. While
Gino waits to confess, he is given one final weekend of life as a free man.
During this time, he’s watched by a disgraced, low-level gangster named Jerry.
Jerry wants to show the old man a good time, send him off right. This includes
traveling to Lake Tahoe, where Gino is quickly mistaken for one of the country’s
most revered gangsters. Chaos, hilarity and well-earned emotion all ensue,
allowing Mantegna (and Ameche, in my favorite performance of his) to deliver
some of his finest, most genuinely heartfelt work.
The Godfather: Part
III (1990)
Why anyone would want to engage in battle with the Corleone
family, let alone choose to become sworn enemies with Sonny Corleone’s son, is
beyond me. But that’s exactly what Joey Zasa does. Not only does Zasa order an
infamous helicopter hit on all of the bosses, including Michael (Al Pacino),
but he also hires goons to murder Michael’s nephew, Vincent (Andy Garcia).
The stones on this guy. Zasa knows the power of the Corleone family, yet he
persists in destroying them. And the best part is, we believe his audacity,
thanks much to the magnetic arrogance Mantegna gives Zasa. It’s a fun
performance – the young Mafioso in love with being a young Mafioso. And who can
forget Mantegna’s final scene in the film? “ZASA!” So good.
Searching for Bobby
Fischer (1993)
Fred Waitzkin
This clip speaks for itself, but by way of brief, additional
explanation, I’ll say that this scene is one of the best, most believable movie
scenes of a parent sticking up for their child that I’ve ever watched. Mantegna
is so strong here, it brings tears to my eyes.
Redbelt (2008)
Certainly there are more substantial roles to occupy a place
on this list. The kind love interest of Mia Farrow in Alice, a chief Mafioso in The
Last Don, a well-intentioned father in Liberty
Heights, Dean Martin in The Rat Pack,
and on and on. And still, I kept coming back to Redbelt. Mantegna isn’t in Redbelt
for very long, but his command of David Mamet’s language, yet again, makes his
brief turn essential. As a business associate of action movie star,
Chet Frank (Tim Allen), Jerry Weiss’ job is to make money and hide problems. So
when Redbelt’s main character, Mike
Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), comes to Jerry with an issue, Jerry brushes it off
as no big deal – “I’m gonna take care of this right now” – he says with ease.
This scene comes midway through Redbelt, as Mike and Jerry meet for dinner in a hot shit
Hollywood restaurant. Mike presents the problem, Jerry brushes it off, then
excuses himself to make the problem disappear. The thing is, he never returns.
He lets this poor bastard Mike sweat it out in embarrassment. It’s a strong action,
preceded by 90 seconds of clinical, immaculate David Mamet language, delivered
by Joe Mantegna, the man who knows how to deliver it best.
The Best of the Best
Homicide (1991)
When I covered Rebecca Pidgeon in this column a few months
ago, I touched on Mantegna’s brilliant work in David Mamet’s most serious film,
Homicide. Bobby Gold is an ace
homicide detective, and he’s fast. Fast thinking, fast talking, fast acting.
His partners call him “The Mouth,” because he can talk a confession out of anyone.
He’s a suited badass, preferring to use his intellect as his most prized weapon.
But he’s also quite troubled, mainly concerning his own ethnicity.
Bobby is Jewish, yet is disgusted by Jewish people. He defines his own people
by crude stereotypes, and openly mocks them to whoever will listen. In one such
scene, while covering the murder of an elderly Jewish woman, Bobby unleashes a shockingly
vicious tirade. He’s saying all this to his cop buddy over of the phone.
Telling his friend how disgusting the rich, Jewish family of the slain woman is.
I can’t even reprint any of it here, it’s that bad. To say nothing of the fact
that Bobby is Jewish himself. To say nothing of the fact that the dead woman’s
granddaughter (Pidgeon) is silently sitting behind him. To say nothing of the
fact that the writer of this speech, David Mamet, is also Jewish. It’s nasty on
so many levels, that it’s almost… funny.
Genuinely, the insults are so ludicrous, you almost can’t help but laugh in
disgust. That’s the power of David Mamet, and his writing. That’s the power of
Joe Mantegna, and his acting.
¡Three Amigos!
(1986)
The Money Pit (1986)
Alice (1990)
Bugsy (1991)
The Simpsons
(1991-2015)
Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Airheads (1994)
Forget Paris (1995)
Above Suspicion (1995)
Up Close &
Personal (1996)
Albino Alligator (1996)
The Last Don
(1997)
Celebrity (1998)
The Rat Pack
(1998)
Liberty Heights
(1999)
Uncle Nino (2003)
Joan of Arcadia (2003-2005)
Nine Lives (2005)
Edmond (2005)
The Starter Wife (2007-2008)
Criminal Minds
(2007-2015)
Thanks for reminding me how much goid stuff he's done. I needed it because whenever I look at him nowadays all I can think about is Criminal Minds. Great post, as always.
ReplyDeleteHa, I know what you mean. But I'm glad you're a fan of his work! Thanks for reading!
DeleteI haven't seen some of your choices. When I saw Elvis and Annabelle (2007) I was reminded that he "used to be a good actor", though. Not a very charitable reaction to his performance, I admit, but I felt he did a good job in a supporting role in that film.
ReplyDeleteThat's fair. Anyone who has 144 credits to their name is bound to have some misses, so I get what you mean. I've definitely had that reaction to some of his films as well. Still love the guy.
DeleteHouse of Games is everything! All thanks to Joe. He really was born for Mamet. Maybe vice versa. It's funny. When I first saw this post, I actually hoped you would have Airheads as one of the Five Essential. Haha! Great post as always, Alex.
ReplyDeleteHa, thanks man! Airheads is such a goofy gem. Actually haven't seen it in a long time, but I do remember ol' Joe in it.
DeleteYES! Love that you highlight his tremendous career as a character actor for the ages. Love every time he pops up in anything.
ReplyDeleteAwesome - so glad you're a fan! Thanks for the comment!
DeleteYou had to pull that scene in Searching for Bobby Fischer. You bastard. Now I'm tearing up. That is a great movie and among the many reasons why I love Joe Mantegna. Even in bad movies, he can do no wrong.
ReplyDeleteHell yeah man. That fucker rocks me. He's SO damn strong in that scene. Nice to hear it hits you too.
DeleteMategna in Searching for Bobby Fischer is heartbreaking. I'd have to say my favourite performance of his that I've seen so far is in House of Games.
ReplyDelete*Mantegna. Damn, I can't believe I actually misspelled his name. So silly of me.
DeleteIt's a tough name! So glad you like his work in those two movies.
DeleteI had the good fortune of seeing Homicide in 1991 and definitely Mantegna was stunning as Bobby Gold. The final tense scenes between Mantegna and the superb Ving Rhames as a drug lord features some of the finest acting I have ever witnessed. Yes, Joe was wonderful as the suave conman in House of Games but he was truly magnificent in Mamet's Homicide. Thanks for this posting!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, thanks for reading and commenting! Love Homicide. It isn't my favorite Mamet film, but it's definitely his most mature work to date. And Mantegna is sensational in it. Glad you're a fan.
DeleteDon't forget his occasional contributions to The Simpsons as Fat Tony. He's hilarious.
ReplyDeleteListed under Other Notable Roles.
DeleteIt looks like I have two reasons to see Homicide, though I'm behind on Mantegna's (and Mamet's) work in general.
ReplyDeleteThing about Mamet is that his films are so easily consumable. You can watch all of them in a day or two and be totally good. LOVE them. And would love to know what you think of them.
DeleteFat Tony! I always find him hilarious on The Simpsons. He is definitely an underrated actor that don't get enough recognition. One of my personal favorite movies from him is Jerry and Tom. A small crime comedy he starred in with Sam Rockwell from the 90's. It's a hard movie to find these days, but it's definitely worth checking out if you can find it.
ReplyDeleteOh I really wanna see Jerry and Tom now. I've never even heard of it! But I love those two guys, so I'll do my best to track it down. Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI love it when he voices Fat Tony.
ReplyDeleteSo good. Great voice work there.
Delete