On paper, gangster flick The Alto Knights is a compelling watch. Robert De Niro plays not one but two legendary real life crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, Goodfellas writer Nicholas Pileggi provides the script, and Rain Man and Bugsy director Barry Levinson helms the project. Having industry veterans together doesn't always lead to success, and unfortunately The Alto Knights proves that point.
Childhood friends Costello and Genovese quickly rose to the top during the Prohibition era. To avoid murder charges, Genovese fled to Italy and Costello claimed the role of big boss. World War II prevented Genovese from making a swift comeback, so when he does return to New York years later, the landscape has completely changed. The film starts in 1957, with a botched hit on Costello ordered by Genovese. We get the backstory and understand the rival gangsters through documentary-style segments: Costello talks directly to the camera, intercut with black and white photography. The direction is initially interesting, but quickly devolves into a visual Wikipedia entry.
The incessant exposition during the first half of The Alto Knights isn't all that engaging, but the uninspired editing choices turns it into a bore. The aforementioned documentary segments rob the characters of any emotional resonance, and most editing choices are predictable and unoriginal. One particularly trite sequence intercuts Genovese beating a man with Costello watching a violent thriller on TV.
Thankfully, the film shows signs of life after a court battle forces Costello into Genovese's violent orbit. Whilst Genovese is rather one note as a poor-man's Joe Pesci, De Niro imbues Costello with a weariness that is endearing. He may have done dark things in the past, but the big boss simply wants to retire and leave the gangster shenanigans behind. Costello is a diplomat, and goes to lengths to prevent any further bad blood—much to the dismay of his colleagues and peers.
De Niro's dual performance is the highlight of The Alto Knights. Whilst his take on Genovese isn't one of his best, it's undeniably a blast watching the actor chew the scenery and become a loose canon. He's far more engrossing as Costello, however, and does what he can with the material provided. The scenes where Genovese and Costello share the frame are fun, but don't go expecting an acting showcase. It's worth highlighting Debra Messing and Kathrine Narducci's performances, who each play Costello's and Genovese's spouses. Messing, as Bobbie, shares her husband's weariness, and Narducci's Anna is just as explosive as Genovese.
The potential of The Alto Knights is squandered by lacklustre execution, but fans of gangster classics will still get a kick out of it. If anything, the film proves that De Niro will forever be the big boss.
The Alto Knights is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
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