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Gotti (1996 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Gotti' is a 1996 American crime drama television film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Steve Shagan, based in part on the 1996 non-fiction book 'Gotti: Rise and Fall' by Jerry Capeci and Gene Mustain. The film stars Armand Assante in the title role as infamous Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, along with William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. It aired on HBO on August 17, 1996. Assante won an Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special' for his performance. Assante also received a Golden Globe nomination the same year.
Plot
The film starts In 1973 in New York, and ends in 1992, with Gotti's imprisonment. Gotti's association with three mobsters is also highlighted in the film: a father-son like relationship with family underboss Aniello "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce, his deep but rocky friendship with Gotti crew member and longtime friend Angelo Ruggiero, and the respect and ultimate frustration that he felt for the man who became his underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano. The film details Gotti's rise within the Gambino crime family and his ranks from soldier, then captain (or 'capo'), and finally, boss. The final title was achieved through the dramatic murder in public of Gambino family boss Paul Castellano in 1985. Following the murder of Castellano, the film concentrates on the legal trials of John Gotti: one for assault and two for racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes. Gotti's famous personality, trial acquittals, and media attention are all dramatized. The film ends with Gotti's conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment at Marion Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, because Gravano turns state's evidence and agrees to testify against Gotti. The film is primarily based on the columns of reporter Jerry Capeci, who also wrote the novel that documented Gotti's rise and fall inside the Gambino crime family, and served as executive producer of the film which was based on his novel.
Cast
Production
Shooting took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Assante put on 35 pounds to play Gotti.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 60% rating based on five reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10. Jeremy Girard of 'Variety' called it "a fairly standard-issue gangster flick" that is problematic for its matter-of-fact presentation. Caryn James of 'The New York Times' criticized its "docudrama syndrome", in which biographical dramas adhere closely to the historical record to prevent lawsuits despite the need for more characterization. Howard Rosenberg of the 'Los Angeles Times' called it "one of the better mob movies of the decade, and surely the best gangster portrait ever made primarily for television". 'TV Guide' rated it 2/5 stars and described it as too detailed for casual viewers and too inaccurate for enthusiasts.
Awards
{| class="wikitable"
! Organization !! Award !! For !! Result !! Ref
|-
| Directors Guild of America Award || Outstanding Directing Television Film || Robert Harmon || ||
|-
| rowspan=3| Golden Globes || Best Actor Miniseries or Television Film || Armand Assante || rowspan=3 || rowspan=3|
|-
| Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film || Anthony Quinn
|-
| Best Miniseries or Television Film || 'Gotti'
|-
| rowspan=7| Primetime Emmy Award || Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie || Alar Kivilo || rowspan=5 || rowspan=7|
|-
| Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special || Robert Harmon
|-
| Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special || Steve Shagan
|-
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special || Ezra Dweck, Robert W. Glass, David Lee, Dan Wallin
|-
| Outstanding Television Movie ||David Coatsworth, Garry Lucchesi, Robert McMinn
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special || Armand Assante ||
|-
| Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special - Single Camera Production || Zach Staenberg ||
|-
| Screen Actors Guild Award || Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie || Armand Assante || ||
|}
See also
* Witness to the Mob
References
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