THE ALTO KNIGHTS 2025
by
Barry Levinson
Robert De Niro has turned 83, so has Barry Levinson. Any offering by them at this ripe age is most welcome. In this film, Bobby plays Frank Costello, Boss of Luciano Crime family, as well as Vito, his childhood friend and former boss, who had returned from Italy after a long hiatus. Since Frank and Vito were not brothers, a question that arises is what was the need for De Niro to be cast into both roles? There seems to be no answer to this question but one does not mind because two helpings of Bobby mean twice the pleasure.
The film centres around their relationship which is a function of their respective personalities. Frank is calculated, calm, business-like, a modern man who understands the value of family, power and pleasure. Vito is acerbic, unamiable, querulous and disgruntled. He believes in old ways of mafia and is not ready to embrace the new age methods. Frank wishes to proceed on retirement by handing over the charge to Vito, but fears that the latter might hurt him once he is in charge. The Alto Knights is the story of how Frank solves this problem.
The film is tepid in tone and fails to thrill. Engage, it does, but it is literally a talk shop to the extreme. De Niro seems in command as his delivery is intense and absorbing, but rest of the cast is invisible, except maybe Debra Messing who plays Frank's wife. If Harvey Keitel was drafted to play Frank, maybe the film could have received some charge, I do not know. Again, don't get me wrong, The Alto Knights more than the money's worth for Robert De Niro's fans, it is just that the film does not go on to become great because of the lack of spark.
#thealtoknights #barrylevinson #robertdeniro #frankcostello #mafia #doublerole
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