Paul Castellano was the thinking man's Godfather, "one of the traditional dons", as the actor who plays him, Chazz Palminteri, says,
This made-for-TV biopic charts the life of mobster Castellano, who ruled New York's powerful Gambino family prior to the legendary John Gotti.
In charge for more than a decade, Castellano was mowed down outside a New York steak house in 1985.
Beginning at the end, on December 16, 1985, Boss Of Bosses goes on to portray the early life of young hoodlum 'Big Paulie', who got into The Business after impressing his cousin, Carlo Gambino.
Years later, Don Carlo made him Godfather and, as head of the Gambino crime family, Castellano brought a new, head-down approach for the mob in the 1970s, exploiting labour union control.
But it was his move towards more business-like tactics that ultimately cost Big Paulie his life after a bitter feud with tough-guy Gotti.
Based on a best-selling book written by the FBI agents who investigated Castellano, Big Paulie's fall was initiated by a maid he had an affair with, who tipped off the feds and bugged his home.
A year before his death he was jailed for sanctioning 24 murders.
"It was fascinating to realise how smart he was, and how close he came to really taking the mob legitimate," says Palminteri (Analyze This).
"He believed in non-violence, no drugs - and he would have pulled it off, really, if it wasn't for John Gotti. But the thug mentality prevailed."
Palminteri turns in a good performance as the savvy mobster but, as a TV movie, this film has been toned down a little too much for the ardent capo fan.
However, if you're into Mafia stories, and like The Godfather and The Sopranos, there's plenty of drama to savour here.
|
