Throughout his career Robert De Niro has taken on numerous roles focusing on the Mob and easily become one of the most iconic actors to take on the roles among others. Now he is taking on double duty as both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese in Barry Levinson’s latest film The Alto Knights. The film co-stars Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, Kathrine Narducci, Michael Rispoli, Michael Adler, Ed Amatrudo, Joe Bacino, Anthony J. Gallo, Wallace Langham, Louis Mustillo, Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto and Robert Uricola. Could this be another great crime feature for De Niro’s resume or will these dual roles not be worth the mob war?

 

The Alto Knights follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.

 

I am a sucker for any movies dealing with organized crime, but add De Niro to the mix and I am all in. I was a bit concerned with this idea of him playing both Costello and Genovese but also intrigued with the idea. It works to perfection with him giving two completely different performances and thanks to some good prosthetics looks the parts too. Sure, if you look closely, you can see De Niro in both roles, but you look past that and it’s a genius bit of casting.

 

Unlike a lot of these sorts of films it is told through the narration of Costello as he lays out everything that happens after the attempt on his life. They don’t take it back to their childhood and deal with all that instead they throw some random call backs to their friendship and where they came from and allow it to