The other reviewers are right. It may be an incredibly statement to make, especially since there are so many classic and legendary milestone titles in the genre, but "The Boss" may very well be one of the greatest mafia films ever made! This movie is strictly 100% hardcore-to-the-bone excitement, with ultra-sadistic characters, nasty double-crossings, merciless executions and explosive vendettas that require urgent and bloody settlements. There are no good or loyal characters in Fernando Di Leo's depiction of Palermo's mafia
There are only vicious and emotionless gangsters that would butcher their own parents in order to climb one small step up the Sicilian ladder of power & influence. Even the main character, flawlessly portrayed by Italian cult icon Henry Silva, is a totally relentless bastard that violates women and betrays his closest relatives in exchange for more money and power. Watching this film in all its gritty and violent glory, it's almost depressing to realize that large parts of the script were based on factual events as they occurred in crime-infested Italy during the early 70's. The DVD's commentary track even states that some of the situations were so damn realistic that director Di Leo and other members of the crew had to live with fear for acts of retribution by the local mafia. "The Boss" easily surpasses the status of entertainment and it's even more than just a cult film; this is essential revolutionary cinema!
The movie opens insanely brilliant, with Sicilian mafia pawn Nick Lanzetta (Silva) executing most members of a rivaling clan inside a pornography theater. But he doesn't use normal artillery, oh no He uses a genuine grenade-launcher which turns his targets into steaming little piles of humanoid waste! The pace naturally slows down a bit after this terrific intro, but the dialogs and the story remain utterly compelling and the cast of vile characters that gets introduced is nearly endless, including a sleazy attorney, a nymphomaniac crime lord's daughter and my personal favorite - a sarcastically venting chief of police. Following the bloody massacre at the cinema, the last remaining leader of the other mafia family wants revenge and he kidnaps the only daughter of Don Giuseppe Daniello. Lanzetta is sent to free her, but treacherous deals are closed everywhere, even within the eminent Daniello family and with the local commissioner of police. The plot is as usually the case in Italian cult cinema very convoluted and occasionally difficult to follow, but the action sequences are delicious and several of the plot twists are unpredictable and downright shocking. Henry Silva is phenomenal in his role of relentless killer. His facial expressions never change (he never even smiles) and he's ultimately cruel and professional when it comes to doing his "job". Gianni Garko, playing the commissioner, is splendid as well, particularly when he aggressively shouts at the relatives of dead gangsters because their crying and mourning upsets him! How tactful! The music adds an even grimmer atmosphere to the story and the roughly edited cinematography makes the wholesome appear even more realistic. "The Boss" is the final entry in Fernando Di Leo's trilogy revolving on Italy's circle of organized crime, and the other two "Milano Calibre .9" and "Man Hunt" are supposed to be even better than this one. Personally I haven't seen them yet, but if the rumors are true then Di Leo deserves a statue for his accomplishments in cult cinema.
The movie opens insanely brilliant, with Sicilian mafia pawn Nick Lanzetta (Silva) executing most members of a rivaling clan inside a pornography theater. But he doesn't use normal artillery, oh no He uses a genuine grenade-launcher which turns his targets into steaming little piles of humanoid waste! The pace naturally slows down a bit after this terrific intro, but the dialogs and the story remain utterly compelling and the cast of vile characters that gets introduced is nearly endless, including a sleazy attorney, a nymphomaniac crime lord's daughter and my personal favorite - a sarcastically venting chief of police. Following the bloody massacre at the cinema, the last remaining leader of the other mafia family wants revenge and he kidnaps the only daughter of Don Giuseppe Daniello. Lanzetta is sent to free her, but treacherous deals are closed everywhere, even within the eminent Daniello family and with the local commissioner of police. The plot is as usually the case in Italian cult cinema very convoluted and occasionally difficult to follow, but the action sequences are delicious and several of the plot twists are unpredictable and downright shocking. Henry Silva is phenomenal in his role of relentless killer. His facial expressions never change (he never even smiles) and he's ultimately cruel and professional when it comes to doing his "job". Gianni Garko, playing the commissioner, is splendid as well, particularly when he aggressively shouts at the relatives of dead gangsters because their crying and mourning upsets him! How tactful! The music adds an even grimmer atmosphere to the story and the roughly edited cinematography makes the wholesome appear even more realistic. "The Boss" is the final entry in Fernando Di Leo's trilogy revolving on Italy's circle of organized crime, and the other two "Milano Calibre .9" and "Man Hunt" are supposed to be even better than this one. Personally I haven't seen them yet, but if the rumors are true then Di Leo deserves a statue for his accomplishments in cult cinema.