If you’re into mobster movies, and let’s face it most of us are, then The Alto Knights has to be on your list. First of all, the film about warring Italian-American mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello is directed by Barry Levinson, known for directing Bugsy. The film stars Robert De Niro in a dual role as Genovese and Costello. Finally, the film has a script by Nicholas Pileggi, who not only wrote Casino but also the book Wiseguy that was then adapted into a little thing called Goodfellas. Oh, he’s also been involved with The Irishman, American Gangster, and the series Vegas. Pileggi knows his gangsta shit.
The Alto Knights tells the true story of how Genovese put out a hit on Costello. When Costello is wounded but survives, he decides to retire from the Mafia but finds staying out to be more difficult than anticipated.
The film also stars Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, and Cosmo Jarvis hitman Vincent Gigante.
Warner Bros. will release The Alto Knights on March 21st.
SYNOPSIS: Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, a pair of Italian Americans who run two separate crime families in the mid-20th century. Genovese attempted to assassinate Costello in 1957, although Costello retired from the mob.
