With Friends Like These...

Running time: N/A

"You talkin' to me?" Johnny DeMartino is a solid actor who's made a living being typecast as a "goombah." As his frustration reaches new levels, his life takes a drastic turn when he is secretly recruited for an audition to be the lead in Martin Scorsese's new film, as long as he keeps it just that - a secret. A dream come true for Johnny, but he didn't count on the fact that it is also the dream of all his best friends. And so the battle between greed and loyalty begins, as Steve (Adam Arkin), Armand (David Strathairn), and Dorian (Jon Tenney) find out Johnny's secret and wage their own campaigns for the coveted role. Philip Messina's With Friends Like These... met with uproarious laughter at the 1998 Munich Film Festival, and it's no wonder. With a truly all-star cast, Messina has created a hilarious and poignant film about the rarely seen world of second and third bananas waiting and praying for their shot - and sometimes getting it. With memorable performances by some of today's hottest stars, Cinequest is proud to have With Friends Like These... as a special Marquee Maverick screening. --Mike Rabehl