Robert De Niro Plays Two Mobsters in ‘The Alto Knights’ – Is This His Boldest Role Yet?

The big screen welcomes one of the most well-known Hollywood actors in a grand manner. In the film ‘The Alto Knights’, Robert De Niro is one of the main stars, who get to the theaters today in several cities of the United States. What is the specialty of this film? De Niro is not alone here; besides him, there is another character played by another actor in the story that approaches the Mid-20th Century New York crime theme.

Barry Levinson’s direction is the one who tells the history of ‘The Alto Knights’ which is a real story; the duo of Vito Genovese and Frank Costello was the main subject of rivalry. Those two men were the head of the American Mafia, the toughest and bad leaders. Their fierce competition resulted in a series of criminal events in which violence reigned supreme, as well as betrayal.

A Double Dose of De Niro

Yes, De Niro does two of Genovese and Costello. Actively challenging was the character he performed for a age-old Oscar winer. His proficiency is noticeable right away; having each of the characters represented in a totally different manner has been already discussed by diehard supporters. A few of the audiences are of the opinion that it might be one of the main roles of De Niro so far.

Who Else is in the Cast?

ĄThe movie is also starring:

• Debra Messing, who is playing the role of Bobbie Costello, the wife of Frank, who is as loyal as a dog to her husband.
• Cosmo Jarvis as Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, who joins Genovese’s crew and soon becomes a star.
• Kathrine Narducci as Anna Genovese, Vito’s wife is another key role here.
• Michael Rispoli acts out the part of Albert Anastasia, who is also central to the story of this mafia.

What Critics Are Saying

A wide range of comments about the movie are there. Some call the star of De Niro and the film’s careful depiction of the historical period as one of the film’s strength. However, others think it is a little bit overdone. They find it very similar to past gangster blockbusters such as Goodfellas and The Irishman, both of which also starred De Niro.

The Guardian has described it as “a laborious mafioso movie” pointing out that it borrows a lot of old mob clichés. The Financial Times, on the other hand, also seems to be of the same view, mentioning that the story, though De Niro’s performance is consistent, might lack novelty for old-time fans of the genre.

Nevertheless, for mafia movies’ worshipers, this is a must-see.

Behind-the-Scenes Fun

Let us surprise you: De Niro’s real-life dogs are actually featured in this film. They were wearing mink coats and had a cameo that got everyone around talking. Debra Messing shared this funny fact during a recent interview, thus injecting a bit of humor into the rather grave movie.

Is ‘The Alto Knights’ Worth Seeing?

If you love crime dramas, true stories, and De Niro’s performances, you will get all of these in this movie. The Genovese vs. Costello conflict is among the most well-known gangster stories. The very act of seeing De Niro, the actor, act for both sides in the conflict is a modern paradox.

Also, it’s kind of rare to have a film that encompasses whiteto one real mob history and blackat the same time Hollywood star power.

Where to Watch

‘The Alto Knights’ is currently showing in US theaters. There has been no mention of the release date of the streaming version yet, but there are some notes saying it is very likely to come to HBO Max in the second half.

‘The Alto Knights’ may not redeem the mafia genre; however, it offers a near-to-never-seen feat: the living-through of a screen legend by a screen legend. If you are into the crime plot, the ensemble or you simply want to know what De Niro does in the double roles this movie is creating excitement for the right reasons.