“The Alto Knights” is an excellent and unexpected film, and what’s most striking is how devoid of violence the ending is. This works well because it permits a very unusual resolution. Despite considerable discussion surrounding infamous New York mob figures Frank Costello and Vito Genovese during their youth, these formative years are largely absent from the screen. Ideally, the movie would have mirrored the approach…

This film feels like an attempt to surpass De Niro’s previous work, and the result is even worse than *Gotti*. It’s as if he paused, challenged Travolta, and then demonstrated just how poorly a gangster movie can be made. A significant issue stems from De Niro's political views; his tendency toward public complaining makes it difficult to accept him in a mobster role. The problem runs deeper, too—*The Good Shepher…

The Alto Knights really worked for me. A biographical crime drama with Robert De Niro – how could that possibly go wrong? It tells the story of Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, individuals about whom I don’t have much prior knowledge, but the narrative is straightforward and accessible, which isn't a problem at all. I am not entirely convinced by the scenes styled like a documentary, although everything else felt…

Following a run-in with law enforcement, mob boss Vito (played by Robert De Niro, heavily reliant on facial prosthetics) is forced to leave the United States and entrust his childhood friend and business associate Frank (Robert De Niro without those enhancements) with managing their operations. Years pass, and Frank successfully builds upon the post-prohibition business model, steering clear of narcotics and maintain…