Tag: Robert DeNiro

The Alto Knights (2025) Review

On By troubledproductionsIn ReviewLeave a comment

Quick Synopsis: In the 1950s, notorious New York crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese vie for control of the city streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that reshapes organised crime forever.

A few weeks ago (In my review of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, posted here), I talked about films from your childhood which aren’t meant for children, I didn’t mention it at the time, but another film that filled that role for me was Sleepers. I have vivid memories of the scene on the subway stairs; that’s my Odessa Steps/Battleship Potemkin moment. I also have fond memories of Bandits, Toys (yup, that tonal disaster, I like it), Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam, and Liberty Heights. So it’s safe to say, whilst not necessarily a fan, I have enjoyed a lot of films directed by Barry Levinson. So the idea of him going back to telling stories about the mafia (much like Sleepers) means I should like this, especially with a performer of the calibre of Robert DeNiro.

Sadly, the result of that combined talent just means you are acutely aware of how dull this is compared to what it could be. Everyone involved has, and should do better than this. The double DeNiro feels like a classic case of stunt casting. If the characters were related, it might make sense. Think of the classic crime performances; normally, they involve another person that the actor can bounce off. These movies are perfect for two actors to share a scene and create magic. That’s especially the case in films like this, where you can have two people who want to harm each other sit opposite each other calmly, both threatening each other whilst not making the first move. The fact that DeNiro plays both roles robs the audience of that potential. It doesn’t bring to mind classic movies; it more closely resembles the minus-5-star classic that is Undertaker Vs. Undertaker from Summerslam 1994 (guarantee this is the only review that’s made that comparison, guarantee not guaranteed).

If you love this genre, as in, watch EVERYTHING to do with it, then there’s stuff for you to enjoy in it. The atmosphere is well-crafted, and there are moments which are reminiscent of classic gangster movies, backed up by some pretty damn good performances. But it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It never feels like it has its own identity, feeling more like a highlight reel of other, better movies. Maybe if this were made in the ’90s, it would be impressive, but in 2025? You can’t help but feel you’ve seen everything before.

There are some good moments; the barber shop assassination feels like something that would be iconic if it had arrived earlier in cinematic history. I also enjoyed the ending, where we see the famed Apalachin Meeting. I’d love an entire film based around that moment; it’s extraordinary. Meanwhile, the section where characters are testifying in front of congress feels weak. That’s mainly due to the editing; something about it just doesn’t work; there’s no flow, instead of feeling momentous, it feels like you’re watching a dvd that’s scratched and keeps skipping.

In summary; The Alto Knights should be iconic. Instead, it feels too much like a mini-series that’s been edited down. It sinks when it should swoop, and brings nothing new to an overstuffed table.

Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023) Review

On By troubledproductionsIn ReviewLeave a comment

Quick synopsis: In 1920’s Oklahoma the Osage people find oil on their land, local rich white people don’t like that, so make plans to marry them to gain access to their wealth, and then kill them off.

Some people are not going to like Killers Of The Flower Moon (KOTFM, pronounced Kot-fom) due to the length. I’ve seen some people online say that the length is necessary due to “every scene is vitally important” but that’s a crock of shit. There’s a way to get this to 3 hours without losing too much important details. I mean, it does have to be said that 200 minutes is a LONG time to spend in cinema, especially when you consider that if you add trailers, travelling etc then you’re looking at over 4 hours for one film.

Despite that, I think this is worth watching. It’s an engrossing viewing experience. Despite the length, not many people left to use the facilities or get food etc. Whilst there is some wasted time, there are not many moments where you can feel like you can turn away. It’s utterly fascinating to see, the visuals are beautiful and the story is one that needs to be told.

The story is another aspect in which some people might not be happy, accusing it of being anti-white because it truthfully shows how the law of the US treated non-whites at the time. But apparently, truth has a liberal bias and studios are only allowed to do historical dramas if it’s beautiful and doesn’t showcase the ugliness of the period.

Representatives of the Osage being murdered before they can appear before Congress? That’s accurate. The fact that Osage people weren’t deemed competent enough to manage finances so many of them married white people so that could access their own money? That’s accurate. Leonardo DiCaprio going out with someone over the age of 25? Okay that’s bending the truth a little bit.

Speaking of DiCaprio, the performances in this are superb throughout. Nobody is settling for a 9/10 performance, even those who only appear in a few scenes like Brendan Fraser or John Lithgow. DiCaprio is going to get a lot of the plaudits, as is DeNiro, which I don’t begrudge. But the real star of this is Lily Gladstone, who gives one of those performances which make you forget she’s not actually that person. Under lesser hands, the role of Mollie would appear either uncaring or too weak, but Gladstone provides her with enough strength and suffering that the character feels layered and real. She does more with facial expressions than some performers could do with a 5-minute monologue. I’m really interested to see where she goes from here, could be something special.

I’m not gonna lie, I went into this thinking it was fictional, or at most just a “based on many truths” thing. The fact that all of it is true is heartbreaking, and not just “this kind of thing happened” truth, it has actual dialogue from the time. I didn’t realise it was a true story until the very end. This is my lazy segue into saying how the ending for this is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to explain without giving it away, but it’s incredible. Best of all, it’s not a “only Scorsese could do this” ending. There’s no big budget fight, no technical wizardry which would require years of experience to pull off. It’s something which anybody, from the biggest blockbuster down to a student film, could do, but it’s not something anybody could do well. It’s inventive, playful, and incredibly entertaining. It’s probably going to end up on my favourite moments from 2023. That alone means that this will end up being remembered for years, and deservedly so. There’s usually a gulf between “My opinions” and “Oscar winners”, but I wouldn’t be opposed to this sweeping up awards next year (and if it can do some hoovering and clean the shower too that would be great). Yes, it is a long watch, and it does underexplain some concepts (the Osage not being trusted to handle their own finances explanation goes by VERY quickly for something that explains so much of a character’s motivations), but it’s CINEMA at its best, and I’d much rather something like this than something bland.