The Alto Knights (2025) Movie Thread

[Son Of Jack]

I had not heard of this movie before reading an article about it online.

I love gangster/mafia movies so I'm eager to watch this.

Robert De Niro plays two lead characters as he plays both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.

 

[Bad Gizmo]

I went to see this last night. I didn't know it was based on a true story. I was a bit sceptical given I don't really like Robert De Niro these days and he plays both lead roles here.

Alas, I enjoyed it. It's a breezy take on the Mafia in late 1950s New York.

As Frank Costello, he basically plays his character from "Casino", and his Vito Genovese is just bloody hilarious. An unhinged lunatic against the more diplomatic, politicking Costello who just wants out of the mob life.

Decent enough film. De Niro's best performance in a while.

 

[Abbie]

I was looking forward to this, but I thought it was awful.

De Niro plays two characters, but that absolutely adds nothing to the movie, but actively detracts from it, because there's no logical reason for him to be playing both characters. They're not related, not supposed to look alike, nothing - it's just a hokey gimmick.

Otherwise, uneven, not very compelling, tone all over the place, gaps in the story, performances average at best, even from usually fantastic actors.

 

[Strawberry Man]

It's had bad reviews, but I thought it was a pretty solid mobster movie, based on the real-life friendship-turned-rivalry between Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. No idea why De Niro was cast in both roles. Despite lots of make-up - and one especially ridiculous nose - both characters are clearly him. It would have been better with Al Pacino or another De Niro contemporary in one of the roles.