Mobsters

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This article is about the film. For members of a criminal organization, see Gangster.
Mobsters
Mobsters poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Karbelnikoff
Produced by Jim Ballantine
Carolyn Bates
Written by Michael Mahern
Nicholas Kazan
Starring Christian Slater
Patrick Dempsey
Richard Grieco
Costas Mandylor
Michael Gambon
Anthony Quinn
Lara Flynn Boyle
F. Murray Abraham
Music by Michael Small
Cinematography Lajos Koltai
Editing by Joe Augustine
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) July 26, 1991
Running time 104 minutes
Language English
Budget $23 million
Box office $20,246,790 (domestic)[1]

Mobsters is a 1991 crime-drama film detailing the creation of the The Commission. Set in New York City, taking place from 1917 to 1931, it is a semi-fictitious account of the rise of Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. The film stars Christian Slater as Luciano, Patrick Dempsey as Lansky, Costas Mandylor as Costello and Richard Grieco as Siegel, with Michael Gambon, Anthony Quinn, Lara Flynn Boyle and F. Murray Abraham in supporting roles.

Contents

Plot [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion. (July 2009)

This highly dramatized film focuses primarily on Luciano and Lansky. They start as young men victimized by the current mafia. They rise from petty criminals and bootleggers to push aside the old guard of the Mafia and eventually establish The Commission, which set up the New York Mafia into five separate families. Bugsy Siegel (Richard Grieco) and Frank Costello (Costas Mandylor) control the physical elements of the operation, while Lucky Luciano (Christian Slater) and Meyer Lansky (Patrick Dempsey) bring up the business end.[2]

Cast [edit]

Facts [edit]

According to the book, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano written in 1974 by Martin A. Gosch and Richard Hammer. The events stay fairly loyal to the historical truth. The Castellammarese War from 1928 to 1931, is never named. Mara Motes is a character of fiction based in part on Luciano's girlfriend, Gay Orlova. Two major events that are shown as incorrect, the death of Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll. In early 1932, "Dutch" Schultz killed Coll in a Manhattan telephone booth. The death of Faranzano (Maranzano), he was stabbed and shot, dying at his office desk, not falling out the window.

Reception [edit]

The film was universally panned by critics earning a 4% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 reviews. Variety Magazine wrote that "'Mobsters' resembles a cart-before-the-horse case of putting marketing ahead of filmmaking, as the seemingly can't-miss premise of teen-heartthrob gangsters gets lost in self-important direction, a shoddy script and muddled storytelling".[3] According to Roger Ebert, the movie's violence and bloodshed are so far over the top that "they undermine the rest of the film, and approach parody". He gave the movie two and a half out of four stars. Both Anthony Quinn and Christian Slater were each nominated for a Razzie Award as Worst Supporting Actor for their performances in this film (neither won).

Box office [edit]

The movie debuted at No. 2 behind Terminator 2: Judgment Day and failed to make a profit.[4]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Mobsters (1991)". Box Office Mojo. 1991-09-03. Retrieved 2012-07-09. 
  2. ^ "Mobsters - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. 1991-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09. 
  3. ^ Variety Staff (Dec 31, 1990). "Mobsters". Mobsters. Variety Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  4. ^ July 30, 1991 (1991-07-30). "Weekend Box Office : 'Mobsters' Is the Only Solid Opener - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-09.  Text "DAVID J. FOX " ignored (help)

External links [edit]

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