‘They didn’t take orders…they took over’

Directed by:
Michael Karbelnikoff

Written by:
Michael Mahern
Nicholas Kazan

Cast:
Christian Slater (Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano), Patrick Dempsey (Meyer Lansky), Richard Grieco (Bugsy Siegel), Costas Mandylor (Frank Costello), Lara Flynn Boyle (Mara Motes), F. Murray Abraham (Arnold Rothstein), Anthony Quinn (Don Giuseppe ‘Joe the Boss’ Masseria), Michael Gambon (Don Salvatore Faranzano), Christopher Penn (Tommy Reina), Nicholas Sadler (Mad Dog Coll), Joe Viterelli (Joe Profaci), Seymour Cassel (Father Bonotto)

This 1991 gangster movie – also known as The Evil Empire – tells the true story of Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano. He grows up on Mott Street, New York in the twenties together with his friend Frank Costello. The two Italian kids start a partnership with the Jewish Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel. As an organised gang, they start bootlegging and soon they team up with gambling genius Arnold Rothstein, the man who fixed the world series. Charlie becomes the leader of the gang.

The young men’s rise doesn’t go unnoticed by the two big bosses of New York; Don Masseria and Don Faranzano. They both want Charlie to work for them in order to become the biggest New York family. When Faranzano wants to hit them, Charlie and his friends have no choice but to temporarily join Masseria.

When the probation comes to an end, the time has come to knock off the traditional dons and start a nation-wide crime syndicate headed by a commission. But Masseria and Faranzano are no easy targets and start moving things themselves. It’s now a matter of who strikes first…

This movie, based on historic facts, doesn’t deliver on all fronts. The four leads are miscast as the ruthless, sociopathic criminals their characters are supposed to be. They’re just too mild-tempered and friendly looking to come across as anything near dangerous. Also the historic accuracy of the story is taken with a grain of salt to benefit the violent action the film contains.

What the movie does deliver on is beautiful production design. There are great montages of tommy guns, dancing girls, liqueur transports, crap games and spinning roulette wheels. The supporting cast is delicious with veteran actors such as Anthony Quinn, Michael Gambon and F. Murray Abraham. It’s a shame this film doesn’t fully live up to its promises, but it’s still worth a look, because of the impressive supporting cast and simply because the movie is so entertaining.

Rating:

Quote:
ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN: “What’s the secret of America? MONEY! Everything is money Charlie. But you’ll never make any money because you dress like a schmuck.”

Trivia:
This is the first American film that stars Michael Gambon.