npr.org
De Niro's Dual Roles Highlight New Mob Drama "The Alto Knights"
Robert De Niro plays dual roles as notorious 1950s mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese in Barry Levinson's "The Alto Knights," a biographical crime drama that premiered this week and recounts their rise, rivalry, and a 1957 assassination attempt.
- What are the immediate consequences of the portrayal of real-life mob figures, such as Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, in a major motion picture release?
- The Alto Knights," a new film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert De Niro in dual roles as mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, premiered this week. The film, conceived in the 1970s, depicts their friendship and rivalry, culminating in a 1957 shooting. De Niro's performance is a highlight, despite the film's derivative plot.
- How does the film's handling of historical events, like the Senate investigation and national mob summit, contribute to or detract from its overall narrative?
- The movie's plot draws heavily from real-life events, depicting the rise and conflict of Costello and Genovese, notorious figures in New York's 1950s underworld. The film incorporates historical events like a Senate investigation and a national mob summit, yet its narrative rushes through important backstory, neglecting the potential for deeper character development.
- What are the long-term implications of revisiting such a well-trodden genre like the gangster film, particularly considering the film's use of a single actor for dual roles?
- While "The Alto Knights" offers a glimpse into a pivotal period in American organized crime history, its reliance on familiar mob movie tropes and rushed pacing hinder its overall impact. The film's success hinges on De Niro's performance, which might lead to audience interest despite its shortcomings. The film's portrayal of the Costello-Genovese rivalry might prompt discussions on power dynamics within criminal organizations.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The review's framing emphasizes De Niro's performance and the film's plot, often prioritizing the sensational aspects of the story (e.g., double role, long production). This framing potentially overshadows more critical evaluations of the film's artistic merit, historical accuracy, or thematic depth. The headline mentioning De Niro's double role may also create an initial bias towards focusing on the performance aspect rather than the broader cinematic achievements.
Language Bias
The review uses descriptive language that could be considered slightly subjective. Terms like "hectic rehash," "barely coherent rush," and "walking tantrum" express negative judgments. While these opinions are valid, more neutral language (e.g., "fast-paced narrative," "abrupt transitions," and "impulsive character") could offer a more balanced assessment. The use of "frowny" to describe Debra Messing's character suggests subjective interpretation.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses heavily on the plot and De Niro's performance, but omits discussion of other aspects of the film's production, such as cinematography, music, or editing. The lack of analysis on these elements prevents a complete understanding of the film's overall quality and artistic merit. Additionally, the review doesn't address the historical accuracy of the film's portrayal of events. This omission could be significant, as the film is based on real-life figures and events.
False Dichotomy
The review presents a somewhat simplistic "good mobster, bad mobster" dichotomy in characterizing Frank and Vito. While acknowledging nuances within De Niro's portrayal, the overall framing simplifies the complex motivations and actions of real-life mob figures. The film itself may also present this false dichotomy, but the review doesn't explicitly critique this aspect of the narrative.
Gender Bias
The review mentions the wives of both mob bosses, noting one as "loving and stable" and the other as "fiery." While this provides some insight into the characters, the descriptions rely on gender stereotypes and offer minimal context beyond conventional character tropes. More nuanced analysis of female characters' roles and impact on the narrative is absent.
Sustainable Development Goals
The film portrays a stark imbalance of power and wealth within the criminal underworld, highlighting the significant economic and social inequality that existed in 1950s New York. The portrayal of mob bosses exploiting the system and accumulating wealth through illegal activities underscores the persistence of inequality and the uneven distribution of resources, contradicting the SDG target of reducing inequalities within and among countries. The lack of social mobility for those outside the criminal network further emphasizes this inequality.