A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Alto Knights” (2025).
The trailer for “The Alto Knights” had me completely baffled.
“So, these guys are twin brothers then?”
“Er, no”
“Oh, OK, so they aren’t twins, but they are brothers from the same crime family then?”
“Er, no, not that either. They are two completely different blokes from two completely different crime families.”
(Long…. long… pause…) “Erm…. right???”
Having double-De Niro is a baffling choice: as Dr Ian Malcolm comments in Jurassic Park, they were “so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should“. But outside of that bizarre decision, this gangster flick had a lot of positives for me.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“The Alto Knights” Plot:
The film is based on a true story. The Alto Knights is a social club in New York where two friends since childhood, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese (both Robert De Niro), hang out and plan their rise to fame and fortune. Costello plays the game with bootleg liquor and gambling rackets; Genovese is much more into harder gangster fare and, later, drug-dealing. When Genovese has to flee to Europe, Costello becomes the big boss of the organisation. But when, many years later due to WW2, Genovese returns, he wants back his crown.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong violence, language, injury detail”.)
Talent:
Starring: Robert De Niro, Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, Cosmo Jarvis, Michael Rispoli, Robert Uricola.
Directed by: Barry Levinson.
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi.
Running Time: 2h 0m.
“The Alto Knights” Summary:
Positives:
- An interesting tale I hadn’t heard before.
- Atmospheric storytelling, mixing vintage footage with shot footage.
- Great music.
Negatives:
- The double De Niro thing is plain irritating.
- It’s quite slow and action-free.
- Some of the scenes are a bit laborious (especially when the trailer has spoiled the outcome).
Review of “The Alto Knights”:
Why exactly?
There seems no explanation for why you would cast Robert De Niro into these two roles. It’s moderately easy to tell them apart (Vito tends to wear distinctive glasses and a hat: I only got briefly confused when Vito had his glasses off, but then put them on again). But I was never once not irritated when De Niro appeared on screen and I had to mentally do the “is this Frank or is this Vito” thing. I mean, Frank and Vito need to be of comparative age to make the story work. But even if the logical choices – Al Pacino and Joe Pesci – were not available, there must be a host of other actors in their early 80’s who could have stepped into that role.
That being said, some of the effects used to put the pair on the screen at the same time are quite clever. When they arrive for a meeting at a candy store (I’m not making it up) it’s ingenious how they meet on the boardwalk outside and then walk past each other into the shop. I’d love to see a ‘making of’ featurette for how this was done.
A well-told story.
The true story behind this was new to me and it’s been well done. We see Frank Costello as an aged man looking back on his life. We start with him being shot in the head in 1957 before diving back, in flashback, to the previous stages of his career and his relationship with Vito. This is a full 60 minutes of running time before we get back to the shooting again. But I really enjoyed the ride. We get a clever set of montages of stock footage and reshot sequences that really blend well together with some great cinematography by Dante Spinotti, terrific editing by Douglas Crise and a banging accompanying soundtrack by David Fleming.
Above all, for me, the film oozed atmosphere and I really enjoyed its thoughtful and leisurely pace. BUT I can see that this will also be something that will infuriate some cinema-goers: it really IS leisurely and, although there are moments of graphic violence, it is far from being action-packed.
A poor spoilery trailer
Once again, I have to have a moan about the trailer dropping spoilers for events in the film. I understand that in a film like this, with limited amounts of action, you want to spice up the trailer with those action bits. But, there is a scene in barber’s shop, shown in the trailer, that is ramped up to over 5-minutes+ of ‘tension building’ scene-setting. Except it’s not tense at all, since the trailer has ruined it! It just makes the ‘tension building’ feel slow and laborious: “get on with it” I was saying to the screen.
Summary Thoughts on “The Alto Knights”
I have started to think about my “Ridiculously Early Oscar Predictions” for 2026 and “The Alto Knights” was one, from the trailer, that I thought I might be dropping into that list of ten nominations. But, having seen it, I’ll probably pass. If the story had somehow evolved into having Vito and Frank as long-lost brothers, separated at birth, I might have rated it better. But, as it is, I will remember it only for a quirky casting decision that completely fails to come off.
Overall however, as a film, I was suitably entertained. Drop me a comment, if you would be so kind, if you’ve seen it and have a view.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Alto Knights”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aayuOp0AnE . The film drops a number of key spoilers and is best avoided in my view.
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