You couldn’t ask for a greater crew to revive the gangster style.
Director Barry Levinson gave us 1991’s “Bugsy.” Scribe Nicholas Pileggi co-wrote 1990’s “Goodfellas.” And Robert De Niro, properly, ‘nuff stated.
The trio unite for “The Alto Knights,” a movie that works greatest as a reminder to re-watch “Bugsy,” “Goodfellas” or any pre-“Fockers” De Niro flick.
Even “The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle.”
The drama, based mostly on true occasions, makes one cataclysmic mistake earlier than the movie even opens. That casting alternative might have ruined “Alto Knights” by itself, however don’t depart the atrocious screenplay out.
It’s equally at fault for making “Knights” a surefire Worst of 2025 nominee.
De Niro performs Frank Costello, a criminal offense boss who by no means carries a gun and avoids the seedier facet of his occupation. It served him properly via the years, however his quiet rivalry with childhood chum Vito Genovese (De Niro, once more) threatens that uneasy peace.
Wait … De Niro is enjoying BOTH leads? Are the characters twins? No. Are they brothers. Nope.
So … why? Sit via “The Alto Knights” and also you gained’t discover the reply.
It’s a distraction the movie can’t shake, however it finally ends up being simply one among many sins dedicated over two brutal hours.
The movie’s early moments characteristic an exposition dump mixed with Levinson’s busy visible decisions. We’re bludgeoned by black and white pictures, bumpy digital camera work and flashbacks to ’50s period inventory footage.
It’s pointless and leaves us feeling woozy, not engaged.
The movie’s chronological spasms aren’t useful, both. De Niro’s Frank Costello serves as a chatty narrator, suggesting the movie underwent sizable edits and wanted one thing to sew the narrative again into place.
It doesn’t at all times work, leaving a uneven movie with odd story gaps. Think about Vito’s spouse (“Sopranos” alum Kathrine Narducci), who goes from an adoring partner to his enemy with out scenes depicting her transition.
“Jarring” barely describes it.
Pileggi’s screenplay retains telling us learn how to really feel and what to suppose, violating the primary noticed within the businss.
Present, don’t inform. Even worse?
Core themes and character traits are equally repeated with out a lot in the way in which of depth or improvement. It appears unattainable to defang a real-life mobster rivalry, however Levinson is unfortunately as much as the duty.
The movie’s credible manufacturing values provides some aid, and some cultural touches recommend the artistic crew understands gangster tradition.
Past that, we’re left watching two De Niros wrestle to make the connection between the dueling mobsters. We’re advised they’re lifelong associates with diverging views of the “enterprise.” What we see are two previous males with little in widespread past the occasional, “again within the previous days” banter.
At instances, “The Alto Knights” serves as a cautionary story tied to the American dream, however even that subtext will get misplaced early on and by no means recovers.
Robert De Niro displays on the primary time he learn the script for brand new mob film The Alto Knights, in addition to taking up twin roles #TheAltoKnights pic.twitter.com/4MISJpKvkO
— Whole Movie (@totalfilm) March 19, 2025
Debra Messing impacts a enjoyable New Yawk accent as Frank’s spouse, however she isn’t given sufficient to do and infrequently fleshes out their sophisticated marriage. She’s determined to lure him out of the gangster enterprise, however he’s too disinterested to make it occur.
Sure, simply while you suppose you’re out, they pull you again in. However couldn’t Frank a minimum of burn some energy towards that finish?
Secondary characters add shade however little depth.
Fellow “Sopranos” alum Michael Rispoli provides the movie a well-recognized patina, however evaluating “Knights” to the HBO traditional sequence isn’t flattering.
The identical could be stated of gangster classics like “Goodfellas” or “The Godfather.” The crew behind “The Alto Knights” knew the dangers of revisiting the mob style. The important thing gamers stepped on just about each rake of their path.
HiT or Miss: “The Alto Knights” begins with a horrible casting determination and solely grows worse from there.
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