I have to confess that movies involving the mafia aren't really my thing, but I have been able to appreciate some of the better ones like "Donnie Brasco" and "The Godfather". "Mafioso: The Father, the Son" is a well-meaning attempt, but falls far short. The main problem I had with the movie is that it's surprisingly boring. It's boring because it's both overly talky, as well as the fact that all the talk isn't that interesting. You'll get to hear the same things you've seen in other mafia movies before, as well as see the same old characters you've seen before. And you'll guess who's behind the assassination attempts long before the central character figures it out. I put the blame on co-writer Leo Rossi, though you have to give him credit for writing himself a sex scene with a much younger woman. Though even if his script were better, the movie would still suffer from cheap direction, like a car accident that happens right out of camera range. (Though to be fair, it's clear the filmmakers managed to squeeze every last penny out of their really small budget.) I bet any real mobster who sees this movie will be half unintentionally amused and half annoyed.
... View MoreOn a personal note...this movie was filmed, in part, near my family's home in the movie. Anyway, I was home visiting when they filmed for over a month on my street. It was interesting to watch the care (bordering on fanaticism) that the producers took in endlessly rehearsing minor scenes and then finally filming them. Which leads me to my point.So much time, money, and effort spent to produce such a really good film but with a lot of violence. Lord knows, it's not that everybody needs to be Pollyanna...we all are aware how truly wretched life can be...but why spend time watching somebody get tortured with a welding torch? Although the characters were really good, did they have to act out pointless violence? There just has to be some better way of spending our time.In spite of all this, I still liked the film. We are base animals...as the film incessantly likes to remind us in this and his other films...Thank you! We get the idea! However, why not take all that talent and time and produce something the uplifts the human spirit rather than denigrates it? "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Glorify gangsters, not me! But I couldn't help watching this movie and in spite of all the criticism I have espoused in this review, I have to admit that I like mafia movies so I couldn't help but like this one.
... View MoreThe earlier comments bring me to question if the posters watched the same movie as I did, or if they are affiliated with the producers in any way. 8/10? my god...I have used IMDb for years, and I always check the user reviews for a movie before I see it, and the information I find here - along with the trailers - generally decides whether or not I go see a movie or find another one. Until seeing this movie, I have never felt the compulsion to write a review, or create an IMDb account for that purpose. The fact that i *have* created an account for the sole purpose of writing this review should tell you something. Previous reviewers have likened this to the Sopranos. If this were the first episode of the Sopranos, no one would have watched the second. The show would have been cancelled. It is plain to see that Mafioso draws on the Sopranos heavily as an influence, but it lacks the suspense, unpredictability, character development, gritty violence and realism that makes the Sopranos so popular. The acting, editing, camera-work, score, and even the story remind me of daytime soaps like 'Days of our Lives'. If you *like* daytime soaps, then this is the movie for you. If you are revolted by the horrific acting, amateurish camera-work and editing, and totally predictable stories of daytime soaps then you will definitely want to avoid this movie. Words cannot describe how bad the acting is.. the only remotely convincing actor was the old Don, and he doesn't have much screen time. While some may think I am being harsh, and that low budget movies such as this deserve a chance, I disagree. Low quality knock-offs without much thought put into them, and not a single convincing acting performance, deserve honest criticism - to discourage more of their kind from being made. The cast and crew need to sit down and watch a few more episodes of the Sopranos, and take note of how it is shot, how the plot progresses, and how convincingly the actors perform. There is more to a Mafia movie than just slapping overweight guys with Italian accents into leather jackets and sitting them down in coffee shops. To me, a 10/10 is an exceptional movie - one other movies can only aspire to. a 5/10 is borderline: meaning it was not a waste of time, but nor was it time well spent. I give this movie a 1/10.
... View MoreThis is a borderline 8 movie. I don't really have a lot of criticism, but it lacks most of the ingredients required for a 9 or 10 - meaning something special.There was really no one particular thing special about it - and the ending was not surprising but it was enjoyable nonetheless.I thought the acting was very good - gritty and intense. This movie kind of reminded me of The Sopranos, though I liked the latter a lot better. Not too much to say. You have to accept a lot of language and violence (and I mean VIOLENCE) - blood and guts. But, if you can get over that, settle in for a reasonably good movie.
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