Review of Mobsters

This is the most bizarre gangster film I think I've ever seen. (Spoiler) It re-tells the story of the Castellmarese War and the events that lead to the birth of the National Crime Syndicate. In 1920's New York two Mafia Don's fought for total control, Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. Charles Luciano, played here by Christian Slater, and his Italian and Jewish associates saw off the two old timers and established a new order. In this film Luciano and Lansky aren't so much gangsters as heroes. So they're bootleggers; but who the hell supported prohibition anyway? Luciano's narcotics and prostitution rackets are conveniently overlooked here. The villains of the piece are Masseria and the curiously renamed 'Faranzano'. This is a heavily fictionalised version of events. If you have any knowledge of what actually went on you'll spot the all to frequent use of Artistic Licence through out. I have to admit I had a problem with this movie before I even sat down to watch it. Christian Slater as Charley Luciano? Watching the film did nothing to change my mind; Slater is badly miscast. It's the most unconvincing portrayal of a prominent Mafiosi I've seen. Michael (The Singing Detective) Gambon isn't much better as Faranzano and Anthony Quinn is wasted as Masseria. See HBO's 'Gotti' for what Quinn can do when given a well-scripted role. Still, despite its constant deviation from established events, the dodgy dialogue and the iffy casting, I found the movie entertaining. Possibly because I had so few good expectations left after the first ten minutes that things could only get better!