Der Untergang der Cosa Nostra (TV Movie 1996)

Der Untergang der Cosa Nostra: Directed by Robert Harmon. With Armand Assante, William Forsythe, Richard C. Sarafian, Frank Vincent. John Gotti rises to head the powerful Gambino crime family before being convicted in 1992 of racketeering and murder.

“Storyu0026#39;s the same but the players change. Gangsters battle their way to fortune – and for Gotti, some fame, and ultimately the fortune weakens ties and sows doubt about motives and loyalty. Gotti was a hard-working, charming mobster and his commitment took him to the top of the Gambino crime family but when you get to the top, you have to be the most rational to stay there for a long time. Missteps can easily let in who you thought were your allies and thereu0026#39;s a reason people arenu0026#39;t mob bosses long.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film features great acting by Armando Assante, William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn as the head of the Gambino family. Quinn owns the scenes he is in. Assante makes the Teflon Don charming but also so vain that little slights set him off. Forsythe is electric and the air of menace around him is practically a character in and of itself. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs always, it takes good writing to bring an exciting story to the screen and so writers Gene Mustain, Jerry Capeci, and Steve Shagan deserve credit for showing the excesses of the life of the Teflon Don and for not stinting on the brutality of life as a mafioso. The wealth and power that mob bosses get ultimately does them in as they start to believe their own legends. Mustain, Capeci, and Shagan show the hard work but also the violence that brings them down hard.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGotti ruled NYC for a while and as a kid at the time I heard his name a lot. This film is a good primer for learning about the life and times of John Gotti.”