Hi guys, who do you think is the most realistic mafia character in all times. I probably exclude the godfather, because he is very well played, but this stone cold face, no emotions, I don't think that's realistic. For me maybe the most realistic are in Donnie Brasco - Lefty and the others.

Oddly enough, I think the crew of bank robbers from Heat are the closest thing to reality. Its a job, they clock in and out, and they can turn on the stone cold gangster like a switch. Sociopaths who are loving family men.

Emilio Barzini and Sonny Red in Donnie Brasco are among my favorites. Both have those very genuine black killer eyes some of the real life mafiosi also have. Those eyes are similar to those of a great white shark. Also Richie Aprile from the Sopranos.

This is what I'm talking about:





Now who dares to disagree?

That's Robert Miano, Sonny. He also played a neighborhood mob boss in an obscure flick called "China Girl" back in the '80s. It was an update on the Romeo and Juliet story with the conflict being updated to the Chinese and Italians around Canal Street in the '80s. It's kinda corny, but I liked it because it was one of the last films shot in Little Italy before the gentrification started in the early '90s. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out just for Miano and James Russo (also of "Donnie Brasco" fame).

I was actually talking to my father about that look yesterday. I emailed him all those DeMeo pics I posted earlier (he has read Murder Machine a couple times) and after he got done looking at them he asked me on the phone "What is up with these guy's eyes? They all look like they're dead or something."

The best way I can think of to describe those eyes is that the guys look like they aren't thinking - I don't mean that they're stupid, but rather they're running on instinct like a shark or snake would.

Nice to know someone thinks alike.

In that Dominick Montiglio documentary, there's this one part where Henry Borelli is cracking jokes and laughing - everything about him seems normal and pleasant, but even when he's carrying on mirthfully like that he's still got the flat eyes thing going on.

I agree with Sonny Black about Richie Aprile - he shot some great killer looks at Tony that nobody ever had. However, the one that takes the cake for me is Paul Sorvino as Paulie in "Goodfellas". When they show him for the first time looking out the cab stand door at the guys screwing around, words can't express the gravity of that character. You know instantly that he is the boss and respect is commanded.

I've made a picture of it:

Sonny's crew from "A Bronx Tale". They really looked like wiseguys from the '50s/'60s.

LOL

Heats one of my favorite movies. The director Michael Mann I think did public enemies too, the rapid gun fire in that was a lil over done though.

Johnny Depp wearing eye shadow as Dillinger was a bit too much for me to take.

Speaking of Killer Looks (pay special attention at 0:25)

Michael Mann also did Thief with James Caan, which has a more realistic take on the Chicago Outfit as opposed to generic hollywood fare.

Joey Zasa i'd say is the most realistic the guys a rich and powerful Capo with the title of Street Boss in the family is surrounded by his crew and denies the existence of the Mafia and saying the Italian Americans built New York

Easy one, Joe Pesci in Casino or Goodfellas. He nails it. It's not about any physical attribute it's the willingness to resort to violence. The eyes? Gimme a break, anyone saying that has never met a sociopath.

i agree but pesci looks similar to tony spilotro

Paulie Walnuts. As all of you know he was a real associate back in the day.

Richie Aprile is another one.

Joey Zasa

I even give a vote to Tony Soprano for being a great realistic gangster.

Also Pesci, Deniro and Liotta all played great realistic gangsters in Goodfellas. I could easily see three of them being real life gangsters.

Also honorable mention goes to Alejandro Sosa in Scarface. Even though he was a cartel leader and not in the Italian mob.

Paulie Walnuts kinda looks like that last pic of John Gotti in jail.

Tony Soprano is also a good one.

Ray Liotta in Goodfellas even though he didn't really resemble Henry, he just seemed like a convincing mob hood.

Any actor from Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah.
They were all from Scampia and, as of today, 4 actors were arrested for crimes connected to the Camorra.

Especialy at the end,the old guys that murdered the two teenagers.Thouse dudes were scary alright

Definitely Richie Aprile! He felt like the most authentic gangster of the whole series.

Another character from the Sopranos that seemed right on the money was a minor character, I'm not even sure of his name. He was that grubby heroin addict that Christopher used as a go-between whenever Tony called in shooters from Italy. That actor plays a great shifty dirtbag.

fat andy from goodfellas.lol. played by lou epilito.lol frank vincent was half a wiseguy back in the day. he was around joe d. or is that joe pesci? in the sopranos? it was feech. he did a great job as a mean old fuck. he needs to play in a greg depalma documentary.lol.

most realistic? those two guys at the end of casino. period. no one comes closer to reality to that scene where the 'house of the rising sun' is played. the hitters are just two old fat balding guys in tracksuits. latex gloves.one shooter and a back up guy. three rounds behind the ear.drop the gun.walk away like nothing happened. a lot of kids today have seen to many james bond movies.

It's interesting you say that, because one of the hitters in the movie is a real life mob hitman... That's Frank Cullotta.

and the other is pete gotti.lol!

I love paranoid Nicky.

"look at this guy, look at this guy!"

"Aaah he's nobody."

as far as 'dead eyes' go. if you can find a picture of black dom. tino from jersey too. but some guys have it and some guys dont. gravano did, casso and pitera didnt.go figure.