The sinking of the Cosa Nostra

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Movie
German title The sinking of the Cosa Nostra
Original title Gotti
Gotti (film) Logo.png
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1996
length 117 minutes
Rod
Director Robert Harmon
script Steve Shagan
production David Coatsworth
music Mark Isham
camera Alar Kivilo
cut Zach Staenberg
occupation

The Downfall of the Cosa Nostra (alternative title TV: The Kiss of Death of Cosa Nostra , alternative title purchase DVD: Iron Rules ) is an HBO television film from 1996, which was directed by Robert Harmon . Armand Assante plays the main character, the notorious mafioso John Gotti , who rose to boss within the Gambino family . Assante won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special and was nominated for a Golden Globe .

action

The opening credits take place in 1992. Gotti is in prison and ponders the meaning of life and the La Cosa Nostra . In his opinion, you have to follow the rules of the Mafia, otherwise everything would go downhill. Then he worries that Italian hegemony in organized crime will be broken. The result are gang wars. Jamaicans, Asians, Russians would not love the country and would bring chaos and anarchy. He will be missed in 5 to 10 years.

1972: The aged Gambino is still the head of the family, the sub-bosses are Paul Castellano and Aniello Dellacroce, who has a father-son relationship with Gotti. Gotti is a successful soldier in the Gambino family and is respected in leadership as he brings in a lot of money. The boss Don Carlo Gambino tells him that he does not want drug deals because the police could not tolerate it. Then he assigns him to murder. Against Gotti, Paul Castellano provides a dumb killer, Ralph Galione, who is part of his crew. This brings Gotti almost in mortal danger and Gotti eliminates him as a punishment.

In doing so, he blatantly violates the Mafia law. On the one hand because he is taking away an employee from another capo and on the other hand because the murdered man was a full member and was not allowed to be murdered without good reason. Castellano demands Gotti's removal, but Dellacroce can persuade the boss to give him a pardon. He informs Gotti that Castellano had requested his murder and that only Dellacroce could get him to pardon him. Gotti goes to prison for a few years to take the pressure off the family to investigate. Gotti spent three years in prison and was appointed crew boss ( Caporegime ) after his release . But he also finds out that Castellano, whom he hates, has taken the lead. This creates a conflict between the Italian-American and the Sicilian Mafiosi. The different opinions on the subject of drug trafficking also represent a huge potential for conflict. Gotti only complies reluctantly and Castellano's stubbornness does not remain hidden.

He has been under constant surveillance by the FBI since his release. In 1980, Gotti's twelve-year-old son was accidentally run over and killed by a neighbor. Gotti demands that the neighbor not be touched, but his colleagues kill the neighbor. Gotti gets into an argument with a truck driver whom he beats up on the street. He is then arrested. His trial arouses public interest and he is under siege by the press. Castellano thinks about getting rid of Gotti, the other mafiosi from the family try to talk him out of it. At the same time, Gotti thinks about eliminating Castellano, which Aniello Dellacroce tries to talk him out of. He reminds Gotti that without the approval of the Commission , meaning the supreme mafia council in the United States, a boss may not be killed. On December 2, 1985, Dellacroce is dying and thinking about life and gives Gotti along on the way not to lose his honor. Then he dies in Gotti's arms.

On December 16, 1985, Gotti took part in a conspiracy against Paul Castellano and had him murdered in front of a steak house in New York. During the murder, Gotti sits across the street and watches what is happening. After that, he takes power in the family. Gravano had taken part in the conspiracy. The public prosecutor tries to convict Gotti. However, this plan fails because witnesses do not dare to testify against him. Gotti is slowly becoming a media star among the New York public, which leads to his being asked for autographs. Further charges fail and he is referred to in the press as a "Teflon-Don".

Former consigliere Joe Armano warns Gotti that he's breaking the rules. The Cosa Nostra demanded discretion and he would attract too much attention through his media appearances. But Gotti doesn't want to listen to this advice. The staff successfully incite him against Robert "DeeBee" DiBernardo and Gotti approves his murder. The FBI bugged Gotti's apartment and business premises. When the FBI prepares a new trial, his lawyer advises him on a criminal process deal, which the FBI furiously rejects. When Gotti speaks about DiBernardo's murder, the FBI overhears it. In 1990 the FBI collected enough and arrested Gotti, Frank Locascio and Gravano. After the tapes are played, Gravano learns that Gotti talks badly about him behind his back. In the cell, Gravano and Gotti reproach each other. Gravano accuses Gotti of megalomania and treason. Gravano goes into the witness protection program and testifies against the gang, which brings Gotti a life sentence, among other things for violating the RICO Act and murder.

Awards and nominations for film awards

  • Emmy 1997
    • Armand Assante: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special
    • Nominated: Outstanding Made for Television Movie ( Executive Producer Gary Lucchesi , David Coatsworth, Robert McMinn)

background

  • During his playing days, Gotti was a kind of media star who particularly fascinated New Yorkers.
  • With regard to the murdered neighbor, the director takes artistic freedom. In reality he was not left dead, but kidnapped, murdered and buried in a mass grave for Mafia victims.
  • In the film, the murder of the neighbor is not ordered by Gotti. Years later, Gotti's son John Gotti Jr. announced in an interview that he believed his father gave the order for the murder.
  • The film is based on the work of reporter Jerry Capeci , who also acted as a producer.
  • Several later " Sopranos " actors played leading and supporting roles in the film.

See also

Web links