2005, Italy/France/UK
Adventure, Crime, Drama
Sure, it’s been told before. A larger-than-life gangster epic about friends who rise to the top of the crime world, only to face destruction and disillusionment along the way. But that doesn’t make this telling any less delicious. Director Michele Placido, author Giancarlo De Cataldo and various writers from the grand Italian tome, The Best of Youth, contribute to the gruesome world of these rock stars of 70s Rome.
True to the style of Tarantino and Ritchie, Placido doesn’t miss a beat by introducing his characters with bold chapter titles and a blaring soundtrack true to the era. The novel’s chapters illuminate the successive reigns of these leaders of the underworld. Using the Coppola template, the first is the rightful leader, the second is forced into his title by circumstance and the last is greedy and sloppy. They begin as brash and bloody, and merely perfect the art of violence over time.
As in all gangster films, the men have ridiculous nicknames, chosen in their youth with no real connection to their adult lives. Lebanese is a severe mastermind who questions, “What is wrong with being a dictator?” Portrayed with dangerous cunning by Pierfrancesco Favino, his laser–focused anger is rarely subtle. His best friend, Ice, appears to have the cool head, but will strike when provoked. Kim Rossi Stuart does not appear to be as rough as his counterparts and is convincing in his role as a conflicted hoodlum. Dandy is obsessed with fame and possessions, and has a temper that puts both at risk.
The women in this film are not weak, but are either used to the men’s advantage or kept in the dark about the truth. Patrizia (the stunning Anna Mouglalis) maintains a confidence that has helped to raise her into the upper stratosphere of call girl wages. Even with a gun to her head she remains strong, but the reality of her control is shaky. Jasmine Trinca (The Best of Youth) portrays the sweetly unaffected Roberta who is completely oblivious of her effect on the gang and that she is even somehow connected to it.
The birth of this gangster clan is bold and extreme, but the trail they leave behind is careless. As they learn to fine tune their threats and money laundering, their egos begin to outweigh their true power. They are constantly under surveillance by a persistent detective with an affection towards one of their molls, and a mysterious organization that suspiciously helps them when they are backed into a corner.
Placido intersperses each mini-era with news footage of the country’s political unrest. They seem apathetic to the state of the world, but have no scruples about using political problems to their advantage. Violent killing sprees are abundant, and it should seem they would run out of enemies. “Only the living cause trouble,” is a motto by which they abide. There are no regards towards the criminal world’s sense of etiquette, which they often blame on growing up on the streets. Which raises the question, what boarding school did the other criminals attend?
It’s violent, it’s bloody, it’s overflowing with drugs, alcohol and women. It’s fast and scheming, and revenge is second nature. It’s a stellar representation of the gangster film genre done right, and even though we’ve heard this bedtime story before, we’ll gladly listen again.