Robert De Niro in a mob drama? Again? đđ„ Yes, please! The Alto Knights dives into the real-life rivalry between Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two of New Yorkâs most notorious crime bosses. With Barry Levinson at the helm and a screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi, expectations were high. But does it deliver?
The Alto Knights (Movie) Review
At times, this movie is genuinely funny. Watching De Niro banter with other characters brought some unexpected humor, and the ending? Hilarious! That last act made me glad I stuck around. It had just the right mix of tension and absurdity to be entertaining. If only the rest of the film had the same energy!
What Worked
De Niro is always a scene-stealer, and here, he pulls double duty playing both Costello and Genovese. While this gimmick was interesting, his makeup as Vito looked off. His ears were distracting, and something about his whole look just felt unnatural. He looked tired. Still, his charisma carried a lot of scenes, and when he was exchanging words with other mobsters, the film had some spark.
The mob drama itself had potential. The premise is strongâtwo lifelong friends turned enemies in a brutal battle for power. But the execution? Thatâs where things started to fall apart. The movie tried to blend drama with humor, but the transitions between scenes felt jarring. One moment, weâre watching an intense confrontation, and the next, thereâs an awkward cut to something completely different. It didnât flow well, making it hard to stay fully immersed.
What Didnât Work
Letâs talk about Cosmo Jarvis. I donât know what was going on with his performance, but he looked like he was about to throw up the entire time. Maybe it was a character choice, maybe it wasnât, but it was distracting. Every time he was on screen, I found myself wondering if he was okay rather than focusing on what was happening in the scene.
But the biggest issue? The characters just werenât compelling enough. You cannot have a slow-burn mob movie without giving us characters to care about. The film assumes we already know the history between Costello and Genovese, but it does nothing to show us their deep bond before the betrayal. Weâre just expected to feel something for them without being given a reason to. Why do I care if theyâre at odds when I never saw their friendship in the first place?
By the time I hit the hour-and-a-half mark, I seriously considered leaving. The movie dragged, and without strong emotional investment, it was hard to stay engaged. Itâs just too long and too slow for a film that doesnât build a reason for its audience to be invested. That said, Iâm glad I stayed for the ending because it was a blast! If only the rest of the movie had been that good.
The Alto Knights had all the right ingredients for a great mob dramaâan A-list cast, a legendary director, and a true story worth telling. But it never quite finds its rhythm. The humor works in parts, the ending is fun, and De Niro delivers as always, but the lack of emotional depth and poor pacing hold it back. If you love classic crime dramas and donât mind a slow burn, you might still enjoy it. 50/50. Otherwise, this might be one to watch when you have nothing else to do.
Did you watch The Alto Knights? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! And for more reviews, check out wtfdetective.blog!