Robert De Niro’s Misunderstood 2025 Gangster Flick That Flopped Hard Deserves a Second Chance

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Robert De Niro is a Hollywood legend, particularly known for his iconic roles in gangster films. He first gained recognition in the 1970s with crime movies, and fans have consistently enjoyed seeing him return to the genre. While his more recent gangster films haven’t received the same acclaim, his earlier work remains highly influential.

Despite being released almost a year ago, the 2025 film The Alto Knights hasn’t received the attention it deserves. While it’s not perfect, it’s an enjoyable movie, especially for fans of gangster films, and features a popular actor in a new mafia story. It’s time to revisit this film with fresh eyes.

The Alto Knights Dramatizes One Of the Most Notorious Mafia Stories Of All Time

The Mafia has been a significant part of American history, particularly when it comes to organized crime. Over the past century, and especially during the notorious 1920s, it’s left a lasting mark on the country’s criminal landscape.

Over the past hundred years, many famous Mafia bosses have risen and fallen in Italy. Each leader has been unique, and their lives could easily be the subject of a film. Luckily, this means people can discover the stories of fascinating figures they might not otherwise know about.

Barry Levinson’s The Alto Knights faces a likely criticism from historians: the film leaves out several key figures from the history of the New York mob.

As a real cinema fan, I noticed figures like Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Meyer Lansky were pretty much missing from the film, and it sort of implied our main characters were the ones who built the modern American mob. Honestly, though, while it wasn’t historically accurate, the story itself was so gripping that I didn’t really mind the liberties they took.

Overall, The Alto Knights is a compelling watch, even though it requires viewers to keep track of Robert De Niro playing two different characters. He portrays both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, influential New York mob bosses who, along with Lucky Luciano, were key figures in the development of the modern mafia in the early 1930s. Later in life, Costello and Genovese would become rivals, fighting for control of the criminal organization they both once led, which was originally known as the Luciano Crime Family and later became the Genovese Crime Family.

I just finished watching The Alto Knights, and wow. It’s a really compelling story about how friendships can fall apart when money and power come into play – it definitely reminds me of a lot of other gangster films I’ve seen, but that’s not a bad thing! What makes it special is that it’s based on actual events from the criminal world back in the ’40s and ’50s. Knowing that this really happened made the whole thing even more gripping. Seeing these events play out on screen – and even some of the stuff that’s only been hinted at in other mob movies – was truly captivating.

Certain criminals deserve a closer look, and Frank Costello and Vito Genovese are prime examples. These two notorious mob bosses were hugely influential in shaping New York City, but have usually only appeared as supporting characters in films. This time, they take center stage, and it’s compelling to see Robert De Niro portray them, bringing both their voice and personality to life.

The Alto Knights Is A Modern Gangster Sleeper With An Underrated De Niro Performance

It’s interesting that Robert De Niro pulled off a dual role in a recent mob film just before Michael B. Jordan did the same in Sinners. If De Niro had done this forty years ago, it would have been a huge deal, but it barely got noticed in 2025. While The Alto Knights didn’t do well in theaters, it has the potential to become a beloved cult classic in the gangster film genre over time.

Directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi, the film offers a compelling and authentic story. Visually appealing, The Alto Knights continues a tradition of realistically portraying Italian-American life that viewers will recognize from other films.

As a movie fan, what really grabs me about this film is the fantastic writing – the dialogue is sharp, there’s a lot going on under the surface, and it nails that balance between serious drama and genuinely funny moments. If you’re one of those people who’s fascinated by the heads of organized crime, especially those Henry Hill ran with, you’re going to love this. It really dives into a period of big change for the Mafia in the ’50s and ’60s, and focuses on two major players who were right in the middle of it all.

The film depicts a power struggle between aging mob bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, as the criminal world around them evolves. Their rivalry ultimately reveals their own declining influence, creating a poignant and bittersweet narrative. This story is powerfully brought to life through the combined talents of writer Nicholas Pileggi, director Barry Levinson, and actor Robert De Niro.

Robert De Niro’s portrayal of both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese deserves more recognition. While the two characters share similarities, De Niro skillfully highlights their roles as opposing forces, emphasizing the subtle philosophical differences that set them apart. He uses these nuances to create distinct and memorable personalities for each character within the story.

Okay, let me tell you about the dynamic between these two characters. While Frank Costello is technically our guide through the story – he’s the narrator, the current boss, and generally the calmer one explaining how things fell apart with Vito Genovese – it’s really Genovese who grabs your attention. He’s the antagonist, absolutely, but a fascinating one. His dark wit, explosive temper, and sheer force of personality dominate almost every scene he’s in. Honestly, watching those two interact, you can feel this constant power struggle, even when they’re just sharing screen time. It’s a compelling watch, largely because of Genovese’s captivating, if unsettling, presence.

The film is unusual, and it can take some getting used to seeing both characters share the same actor, Robert De Niro. Despite De Niro’s efforts to differentiate their voices, they still sound quite similar. However, this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the engaging mob story, and it’s one of De Niro’s most impressive and adaptable performances in a long time.

The Alto Knights Is A Solid Follow-Up To The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon

People often overlook the fact that Robert De Niro has been consistently making good films recently. While many focus on the quieter period in his career during the 2000s and 2010s, he’s had a resurgence in the last six years, largely thanks to reuniting with director Martin Scorsese. Their collaboration has always been incredibly successful for De Niro, particularly when making crime films.

It was natural for De Niro and Scorsese to team up for a gangster film. While people often talk about Pacino and Pesci in The Irishman, De Niro gave a strong performance as the lead character, Frank Sheeran. They worked together again just a few years later, with De Niro playing the villain in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Both movies showcase strong performances by De Niro, and The Alto Knights is similar in style. While it doesn’t quite reach the same level of quality as those other films, it’s still an enjoyable watch and a good addition to his crime film work.

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2026-01-14 01:38