Gotti (1996 film)
Gotti | |
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Directed by | Robert Harmon |
Written by | Steve Shagan |
Produced by | Gary Lucchesi David Coatsworth |
Starring | Armand Assante Anthony Quinn Vincent Pastore |
Cinematography | Alar Kivilo |
Edited by | Zach Staenberg |
Music by | Mark Isham |
Distributed by | HBO |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Gotti: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Mafia Don is a 1996 HBO original crime drama movie made for television directed by Robert Harmon. The film stars Armand Assante, in the title role as infamous Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. The film was the highest rated original telefilm in HBO history at that time, according to IMDB. Assante won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special, for his performance. Assante also received a Golden Globe nomination the same year.
Storyline
The movie begins in 1973, in New York, and ends in 1992, with Gotti’s imprisonment. Gotti’s association with three mobsters is also highlighted in the film: a father-son like relationship with family underboss Aniello “Mr. Neil” Dellacroce, his deep but rocky friendship with Gotti crew member and longtime friend Angelo Ruggiero, and the respect and ultimate frustration that he felt for the man who became his underboss, Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano. The film details Gotti’s rise within the Gambino crime family and his ranks from soldier, then captain (or capo), and finally, boss. The final title was achieved through the dramatic murder in public of Gambino family boss Paul Castellano in 1985. Following the murder of Castellano, the movie concentrates on the legal trials of John Gotti; one for assault, two for racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes. Gotti's famous personality, trial acquittals and media attention are all dramatized. The movie ends with Gotti’s conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment at Marion Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, because Gravano turns state’s evidence and agrees to testify against Gotti. The movie is primarily based on the columns of reporter Jerry Capeci, who also wrote the novel that documented Gotti’s rise and fall inside the Gambino crime family, and served as executive producer of the film which was based on his novel.
Main cast
- Armand Assante as John Gotti
- William Forsythe as Sammy Gravano
- Anthony Quinn as Aniello Dellacroce
- Vincent Pastore as Angelo Ruggiero
- Frank Vincent as Robert DiBernardo
- Richard C. Sarafian as Paul Castellano
- Dominic Chianese as Joe Armone
- Raymond Serra as Frank LoCascio
- Tony Sirico as Joe D'miglia
- Al Waxman as Bruce Cutler
- Scott Cohen as Gene Gotti
- Robert Miranda as Frank DeCicco
- Marc Lawrence as Carlo Gambino
- Alberta Watson as Victoria Gotti
- Tony De Santis as John Favara
- Gil Filar as Frank Gotti
- Gerry Mendicino as Peter Gotti
- Yank Azman as Judge Nickerson
- Frank Crudele as Nicholas Scibetta
External links
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