This gangster drama starring Robert De Niro has been labelled as ‘excellent’ by fans and it is streaming on Amazon Prime. The Alto Knights was released this year and is set in 1950s New York and De Niro plays two characters.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Two of New York City’s most notorious organized crime bosses vie for control of the city’s streets. Once best friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals set them on a deadly collision course.” Directed by Barry Levinson, The Alto Knights stars Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, Cosmo Jarvis and Michael Rispoli alongside De Niro.
A fan on Rotten Tomatoes described the film as “excellent” in their review, stating: “Excellent period piece based to some degree on historical events. The acting was superb.”
The audience and critics disagree quite vastly on The Alto Knights, however, with the audience rating the film at 71% and the critics awarding it just 39%.
The critics consensus reads: “A competent but tired retread of mob movie tropes, The Alto Knights pits De Niro vs. De Niro with no real victor emerging.”
“Prioritising drama over action, The Alto Knights works as a somewhat enjoyable pastiche of mob films,” the audience consensus reads.
While the film is praised for its enjoyment factor, it has been described as “a tad formulaic” due to De Niro’s unpredictable appearance in another gangster picture.
One IMDb reviewer said: “If I ever wondered why “The Alto Knights”, a return to the Gangster genre for both Robert De Niro and Nicholas Pileggi, was so under advertised prior to its release, having seen it I don’t wonder anymore. It’s because it’s not very good.”
However, a Rotten Tomatoes reviewer disagrees, they said: “Very very good film. Love the narration, the editing, the Cinematography, the acting, the directing, the production design. Overall a fantastic film.”
The Alto Knights is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.