Gangster movies can be hit or miss. For every “The Untouchables” or “Casino,” there are easily forgettable ones like “Mobsters” or “Billy Bathgate.” A lot of a film’s success comes down to the source material, as well as the cast and the director behind the project, which makes “The Alto Knights” very promising.
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Barry Levinson, who made one of the more well-received mob pictures back in 1991 with “Bugsy,” is on board as director. The movie is written by none other than Nicholas Pileggi, who, along with penning the aforementioned “Casino,” wrote the book “Wiseguy,” which would be adapted into “Goodfellas.”
On top of that, Robert De Niro (“The Godfather Part 2,” “Goodfellas,” “The Irishman”) plays the two lead parts: Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. After practically decades of subpar performances, De Niro has had a good run over roughly the last ten years, garnering two Oscar nominations for “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Additionally, Irwin Winkler (“The Irishman,” “Goodfellas”) is on as producer.
Along with De Niro, the film stars Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, and Cosmo Jarvis. Barry Levinson is the director, while Nicholas Pileggi is the screenwriter. “Alto Knights” is produced by Winkler and his two sons, Charles and David Winkle—as well as Mike Drake and Jason Sosnoff.
“Alto Knights” is a biographical gangster movie that follows two Italian American mob bosses. Vito Genovese and Frank Costello are both played by Robert De Niro. Genovese orders a hit on Costello, but Costello survives and decides to retire from the mafia. His exit, however, will prove more difficult than he imagines.
Synopsis:
Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, a pair of Italian Americans who run two separate crime families in the mid-20th century. Genovese attempted to assassinate Costello in 1957, although Costello retired from the mob.
Warner Bros. will release “Alto Knight” in theaters on March 21. You can watch the trailer below:
