Boss of Bosses

Pretty average for the type of film it is. Palminteri has his usual commanding performance, yet even he cannot get far beyond the mediocre dialog and the overly dramatic and stereotypical plot devices. In fact, he and the very good supporting cast is what pulls this up to a watchable level.

Big mistake to show the killing of Paul Castellano up front, then the rest as a sort of flashback. Most of us know he eventually dies anyway, but it's a completely pointless way of handling it. The maid/mistress is not that much of a sympathetic character as she gives in too easily to becoming a mistress, but that's probably what actually happened.

It's awfully tiring to see these mafioso thugs being constantly portrayed in a flattering manner, using the old excuse of poor upbringing and wrong friends as the reasons for their life of crime, and then of course they are always generous to the downtrodden. But these films never remind us that the downtrodden are the ones they use to gain their riches.

Recommended only for Palminteri fans and/or those who just have to see all gangster films ever made.

He plays 'em better than ANYbody. I'm just sorry he's been pigeon-holed in that way. He's really very talented but we're all just so used to him playing a Boss. Oh well - here we go again! I hated what happened to the housekeeper he took a liking to. She had that big sad story to tell over by the pool, began an affair with him & then her personality changed up! Now every time I see her in other roles, I can only remember the role she played in this. I think most of the other comments here pretty much tell it all...It's another Mafia Movie. Sorry, Chazz! But we still love ya! I taped this but missed the 1st 20 minutes or so. Can I get it on DVD?

all i will say is that this movie was decent, nothing more, nothing less. it's not exactly anything to get excited about as it is no more than average. the whole way through the film, i got the impression it was trying to copy other mafia films. for example the flashback to when chazz was a young hood reminded me so much of the first half of once upon a time in america and the trip to florida resembled that of donnie brasco.

nevertheless, chazz was brilliant and i would recommend this 'movie' to any fans of him, its just a shame he was reduced to this when he far more capable of more challenging roles. it was also nice to see steven bauer but a shame he had such a small role in a virtually unheard of movie.

C+

"Boss of Bosses" isn't anything to get too excited about. When I first saw the promos for it, I was excited, because I have always been interested in La Costa Nostra of the United States. I found these movies have many differences between the book and other sources. Half of the conversation of Paul Castellano and the FBI agents never actually took place. If you see the crime photos, I believe that you never see a bracelet for the Don's mistress, and in the murder of Paul, John Gotti is seen with another man, not Salvatore Gravano. The performances are not to be viewed that highly either, the actor who played Gotti doesn't even looks like him, and Chezz Palmetiri, is a little shorter.

Chazz puts up a good fight here, trying to rise above the script and some lousy supporting players. Not to mention the fact that he looks nothing, and I mean nothing, like the real Castellano. The screenplay trots out every mob cliche in the book, with characters blabbering about "this thing of ours" and telling the Don, "I'll do anything to prove my loyalty." Ditto the FBI guys. "Let's tighten the noose! I want him." Oy vey. Paging Robert Towne....

The story also glosses over many of the more sordid personal problems of the BOB. Still, I was never bored. Definitely better than most made for TV "movies."