GOTTI
US, 2018, 112 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Spencer Rocco Lofranco, Kelly Preston, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Leo Rossi, Stacey Keach, Chris Mulkey.
Directed by Kevin Connolly.
John Gotti emerged during the last decades of the 20th century as the head of the Mafia families in New York City. This is his story – as told by himself from his perspective. It is a star vehicle for John Travolta who enters into the spirit of the story and got his character, drawing on his Italian-American background, the creation of a very severe character, stern in face, and, at the end, an old bald man, sickening and dying. Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, plays his wife, Victoria.
Prior to 1972 there were many gangster films especially about the mobsters of the depression era. Then came The Godfather, enhancing the screen image of the Mafia, giving it come kind of elevated dignity, even as it showed the the grim aspects of brutality. It had portraits of the corruption of evil. And there were many gangster films to follow during the 1970s.
This portrait of John Gotti has no elevated dignity. The story tells his rough and violent background. It uses the framework of Gotti’s son visiting him in prison towards the end of his life, the son who had been drawn into the life of the Mafia despite his graduating from West Point, wanting to do a deal with the authorities for a shorter sentence for himself and his being able to renounce the Mafia and take up an ordinary life with his family.
The story is initially told in flashbacks, from 1999 and Gotti in prison to the 1970s, young, family, marriage and children, employed by the bosses, seen doing violent hits, rising with reputation, making allies, taking over, and, during the 80s, emerging as a leader, plotting against other leaders, engineering assassinations, even in the streets. However, he was arrested a number of times, brought to court, but had successful lawyers and was found not guilty. However, with the framework of the film, he eventually was arrested and sentenced to 5 life sentences.
The audience has to pay attention to try to distinguish which gangster was which and where there were loyalties. There are some strong character actors in supporting roles including Stacey Keach, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Chris Mulkey.
For those interested in the New York Mafia, it is an opportunity to give some consideration to the presence of John Gotti, ruthless and ambitious, yet a family man, idolising his children, but ultimately hardheaded and hardhearted.
The film was written by Leo Rossi who appears in the film as Gotti’s friend and chauffeur with Lem Dobs, British writer (Romancing the Stone, Kafka, Dark City).
More of a curiosity item rather than essential viewing about the Mafia. (Not so well reviewed and received on release.)
