Schnappt Gotti

Paul Castellano, the infamous head of The Gambino family is killed, waiting in the wings is his protégé John Gotti, who's keen to climb to the top, and keen for a celebrity status.

This really is a no holds barred look at the incredible story of John Gotti, from his rise, his celebrity, becoming the Teflon Don, and his eventual demise.

It's a fascinating watch, there are some incredible interviews, jaw dropping insights, and several moments where you'll almost struggle to believe what you are watching.

I'm glad Netflix decided to make it a three part series, and no longer, it never feels over long or dull, it's very punchy.

What struck me most was the lack of cooperation between the various strands of The Authorities, it seemed they each wanted the glory, surely he'd have been convicted a lot sooner had they worked together.

8/10.

Gotti's crew want to be in his favor. Law enforcement want the prestige of being the ones who catch him. Prosecutors want the prestige of being the ones who convict him. Reporters want the prestige of being the ones invited to his parties - more concerned with being seen with him than covering him.

Everyone in the documentary seems to gleefully tell everyone how they were connected to him, whether they were for or against him. The filmmakers could've done more to explain how bad Gotti was. How mob members, neighborhood residents, law enforcement and the legal system were all in a cult-like infatuation with him. Instead it seems they're in the cult, too. It's almost a glorification of the guy.

The end result is you fell like you're watching people talk about that time they once met the cousin of Elvis Presley's barber's dog sitter.

Netflix's Get Gotti (2023) is a slickly produced docuseries that dives into the rise and fall of John Gotti, the Teflon Don with a flair for the dramatic. Equal parts history lesson and crime thriller, it walks the fine line between admiration and indictment, showing how Gotti's larger-than-life personality made him both a media darling and a federal headache.

The pacing is sharp, the interviews are juicy, and the archival footage reminds us why Gotti was the gangster who wouldn't quit-until he did. It's got all the mob lore, courtroom drama, and wiretap paranoia you'd expect, wrapped in a binge-worthy package.

Is it groundbreaking? Not exactly. But it's a polished, engaging watch that understands its subject's mythos. If you like your true crime with a dash of old-school swagger and a pinch of federal persistence, Get Gotti is a hit worth taking.

I assume you did ... as did I ... and I will stick to my no pun intended saying, claiming my innocence ... speaking of which: this brings us to Gotti ... who got acquitted a lot ... as in Jurys not finding him guilty for obvious crimes ... how that happened? Well this show is here to give us an insight to the rise and eventual fall of Gotti (everyone gets a reality check sooner or later).

The romanticizing of the Mafia and mobsters is quite common ... I reckon movies and other media outlets had a hand to play in that. If you see someone like Gotti (even my mom was like "he is so well dressed") ... there is a connection you want to build. Well this will be a deconstruction of that as much as possible.

Great interviews with surviving members - from both sides ... and a great look into what happened and how Gotti got away with so much stuff for so long ... which made him think he is invincible apparently ... kind of like Denzels character in Training Day, even though he obviously portrayed a cop ... if you are into docu series ... this is quite a good one.

This documentary series boasts a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of Netflix's acclaimed true crime productions. Its greay quality and seamless transitions, coupled with cut scenes capturing the nostalgia of 1980s New York, contribute to its visual appeal.

However, the disappointment lies in the absence of any groundbreaking revelations or fresh insights. As a dedicated enthusiast of mob-related cinema and documentaries, my anticipation for novel perspectives was unmet. I know the gotti story well. Very well, but the absence of even one shred of new content was profoundly disheartening.

Regrettably, this series merely comprises federal agents recounting their experiences of planting surveillance devices in buildings, lacking the depth necessary to delve into Gotti's story.

For those well-versed in titles like "Fear City" or the HBO production on Gotti (which I highly recommend), this documentary does not offer much beyond its polished aesthetics and period-specific charm.