Uh, did you guys know that Robert de Niro is in a new mob movie written by Goodfellas scribe Nicholas Pileggi and directed by Barry Levinson? And he’s playing dual roles? Us neither.
How to watch The Alto Knights in Australia
The Alto Knights is screening in Australian cinemas from March 20, 2025.
What is The Alto Knights about?
Details are exceedingly scarce, but the film seems to be set in the late 1950s and follows the feud between powerful New York mob figures Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, with our man Bobby De Niro playing both roles. It’s actually kind of insane how little info there is on this one. Sure, we can go to the historical record, but who’s to say what elements of the real events are being transcribed to the screen? Warner seems to be burying this one even deeper than they did Juror #2.
The cast of The Alto Knights
Robert De Niro, as previously noted, is Vito Genovese and Frank Costello; Debra Messing is Bobbie Costello; Shogun‘s Cosmo Jarvis is hitman Vincent Gigante; Katherine Narducci is Anna Genovese; Michael Adler is Senator Tobey; Ed Amatrudo is Rudolph Halley; Joe Bacino is Joe Profaci; Anthony J. Gallo is Tommy Lucchese; Louis Mustillo is Joe Bonanno; Frank Piccirillo is Richie Boiardo; Matt Servitto is George Wolf; Robert Uricola is Tony Bender; with Michael Rispoli and Wallace Langham in as-yet undisclosed roles.
The Alto Knights trailer
Why we’re excited about The Alto Knights
I mean, who’s to say? That’s a hell of a pedigree both in front of and behind the camera, and you’re getting double the Bobby D for your money, although the prosthetic make-up looks a little hinky. Maybe it’s a masterpiece being thrown under the bus because Warner has forgotten how to be a movie studio (seems likely, TBH). Maybe it’s an absolute dog, being given a quiet theatrical release due to contractual obligations. Maybe I have a brain tumour and I’m hallucinating the whole thing. All equally possible.
