Our Review

                Movie: THE ALTO KNIGHTS

 Rating: R, violence and pervasive language`

                          Length: 2:00

           Release Date: March 21, 2025  

Jeanne: Robert De Niro stars in THE ALTO KNIGHTS as two at-odds mob bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese based on real-life events. Directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson from a spectacular screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi, the movie gets off to a quick start with the attempted murder of Costello.

Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, both Italian immigrant children, grew up together in the cold-water tenements of  New York City. Vito rose to the top of the Luciano crime family but had to leave the United States prior to World War II. In his absence, Frank takes over and makes a fortune for himself and the rest of the crime bosses. But he does it without violence.

Frank is even-keeled, diplomatic and philanthropic. He enjoys civil relationships with the police and politicians, which allows him to run his business as he pleases. He also shares a devoted marriage with his wife, Bobbie (Debra Messing), a very strong, opinionated Jewish woman. Frank Costello is the only mobster not married to an Italian Catholic.

Vito is the exact opposite. He is brash and ruthless --- he trusts no one, especially Frank. When he returns to the U.S., he wants his position back as head of organized crime. He runs his business out of The Alto Knights Social Club, which he started with Frank. Now Frank is more legitimate --- he’s no longer interested in the machinations of the mob, especially since Vito has begun selling drugs. Costello wants no part of that --- he just wants out.

Screenwriter Pileggi began his career as an Associated Press crime reporter and is obsessed with the gangster underworld. He’s considered an expert on the subject and his script reflects his unique knowledge. He utilizes the filmmaking process of “breaking the fourth wall” by having Frank narrate the movie speaking directly to the audience. It's extremely effective, giving THE ALTO KNIGHTS the feeling of being a documentary.

But it is De Niro who makes THE ALTO KNIGHTS what it is --- a completely fascinating foray into a world of crime foreign to most moviegoers. Though De Niro has played a gangster many times before, his dual role here is groundbreaking. He gives a master class performance as these two very different men --- one a controlled businessman, the other a vicious thug.

And he and Messing work well together. She’s a great choice to bring the strong-willed Bobbie to life. Kathrine Narducci, who has worked with De Niro before, stars as Anna Genovese, Vito’s wife, another powerful woman.

Anna was traditional in most ways as an Italian wife and mother back then, but she also owned a drag club, which was highly unusual. And she didn’t take any crap from Vito, as tough as he was. One of the best scenes in THE ALTO KNIGHTS takes place in a NYC courtroom as Vito and Anna face off in divorce proceedings. It’s a nail biter for sure.

To make New York look like the New York of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, Levinson filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio where the architecture is more favorable to that era. Cinematographer Dante Spinotti goes judiciously from black and white to color, along with using archival photos to tell this story in an informed manner --- it’s an amazing process. The look and feel of THE ALTO KNIGHTS is impactful --- creating a movie-going experience that is only matched by the brilliant acting.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: Robert De Niro playing the dual roles of two notorious gangsters makes THE ALTO KNIGHTS, directed by Barry Levinson, impossible to look away for even a second. And lest anyone think that De Niro playing two characters might be a distraction --- it most definitely is not.

Frank Costello and Vito Genovese were childhood friends growing up in New York City, and later as adults they started The Alto Knights Social Club. But as Mafia leaders, they grew apart to the point where Vito orders the assassination of Costello. De Niro captures the essence of both men, Costello the diplomatic businessman and Genovese the hot-tempered thug.

De Niro has plenty of help with the impressive cast of characters. Playing the wives are Debra Messing as Bobbie Costello and Kathrine Narducci as Anna Genovese. Messing’s Bobbie is the only Jewish woman to ever wed a mafioso, and she is terrific in this dramatic turn. Narducci’s Anna is a tough-minded Italian woman who stands up to her explosive husband in a riveting divorce hearing. This is worth the price of admission by itself.

Director Levinson needs no introduction to film buffs, but as a reminder he has helmed some of the most iconic movies ever, including RAIN MAN, THE NATURAL, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM and BUGSY. THE ALTO KNIGHTS certainly belongs with this esteemed cinematic group.

Other cast standouts include Michael Rispoli (TV’s “Billions”) as Costello disciple Albert Anastasia, Cosmo Jarvis as Genovese hitman/stooge Vincent “the Chin” Gigante and Wallace Langham (from the original CSI on TV) as Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

Equally critical to this story is the script by Oscar-nominee Nicholas Pileggi (GOODFELLAS) who early on distinguished himself as a journalist covering organized crime and corruption for various publications, including the Associated Press and New York Magazine. Also fascinating in THE ALTO KNIGHTS is the use of archival footage of past events from the world of crime, including photos of dead and/or mutilated bodies and hearings involving then U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Some of the photo archives have been altered to incorporate actors from the movie for additional realism.

De Niro looks and most importantly sounds different in his portrayal of Costello and Genovese. The fact that this movie is being released so early in 2025 should not work against him when Academy Award nominations are announced. This is a truly special effort not to be missed.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!