I just read a positive dutch review.


The film's careful recreation of the 1950s is largely due to Robert De Niro's exceptional performance , who brilliantly differentiates the two protagonists through subtle nuances of posture, gaze and diction. Debra Messing , as Bobbie Costello, brings a human dimension to the story by playing a woman aware of the dangers of the world her husband lives in. Cosmo Jarvis delivers a convincing performance as Vincent Gigante, a henchman caught between loyalty and opportunism.

Barry Levinson’s direction is elegant and compelling. The camera is constantly in motion , capturing the latent tension of this world where one wrong step can be fatal. Close-ups during verbal confrontations intensify the exchanges, while wide shots illustrate the characters’ dominance over their urban environment.

Visually, The Alto Knights opts for a dark color palette , dominated by grays and browns, which enhances the oppressive atmosphere of the story. The use of chiaroscuro reflects the moral duality of the main characters, while the muted lighting gives an intimate and menacing dimension to the dialogue scenes. The soundtrack, a mix of jazz and orchestral music , subtly accompanies the escalating tension of the story.

Despite its undeniable formal qualities, the film suffers from an uneven pace , alternating moments of dramatic intensity with more contemplative passages that occasionally hamper the story's momentum. Some of the secondary characters, while promising, could have deserved more in-depth development , especially Vincent Gigante, whose motivations remain superficial.

The Alto Knights may not match the mastery of Casino or The Godfather , but it's a riveting mafia thriller nonetheless , with a masterful performance from Robert De Niro . Levinson has created a twilight drama in which ambition and betrayal seal the fates of two legendary organized crime figures.

With its heavy atmosphere, sharp dialogue and exploration of power games, the film will delight fans of the genre, even if it could have gone further in the psychological exploration of its protagonists . It's a high-flying duel that leaves you with one thing in mind: in the mafia, the real enemy is never far away... sometimes it's even your face.