Suicide Kings

Released 1997
Stars Christopher Walken, Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, Henry Thomas, Sean Patrick Flanery, Jeremy Sisto, Johnny Galecki, Laura Harris, Nina Siemaszko, Laura San Giacomo
Directed by Peter O'Fallon

Once upon a time, in another life, Charlie Bennett (played by the always-delightful Christopher Walken) went by the name of Carlo Bartolucci. Under that identity, as the head of the New York City Mafia, he was one of the most feared men in America. But times change, and Charlie has gone legit. Now, he's just an average, tax-paying businessman. His wits have grown dull and he lets down his guard too easily -- as he discovers when he makes the mistake of trusting a group of apparently-harmless, rich, college-age kids that he meets at his regular restaurant. They are Brett (Jay Mohr), Avery (Henry Thomas), Max (Sean Patrick Flanery), and T.K. (Jeremy Sisto) -- and their goal is to kidnap Charlie and hold him hostage.

Charlie is quickly informed why he has been snatched. Apparently, Avery's sister, Lisa (Laura Harris), is the victim of an unrelated kidnapping, and the men holding her are demanding a $2 million ransom. Avery and his friends have decided that Charlie is an important enough underworld figure that he can use his old connections to free Lisa. And, not willing to leave anything to chance, they decide that force is the most viable form of persuasion. However, while Charlie may be out of practice, he's no dummy, and, as the tension mounts, he plays his captors off against each other, widening fissures in their relationships. Meanwhile, his faithful henchman, Lono Vecchio (Denis Leary), is closing in on the place where his boss is being held.

Summary by James Berardinelli