Mafioso: The Father, the Son

This far from particularly anything mafia movie is not worth bothering with. Its the story of two generations of gangsters in Philadelphia doing what gangsters do.

Its loaded with low level character actors, most of whom have made their careers playing these sort of roles. While they may be fine in support, here, as leads, they look more than a bit uncertain.

The real problem with this is the direction and the script which are on the bad TV movie level. I was laughing at it as the opening court room scene began. As the scene went on the film made me squirm more and more. This wasn't real, it was someones confused TV recollection of reality

Don't watch this. It has moments of okayness, but mostly its just bad gangster dress up.

2 out of 10

Sure, they've been a lot of bad movies that are perfect examples on how not to make one that's so damn bad, but "Mafioso: The Father, The Son", a dog's mess on the sidewalk that pathetically fails at being on par with the Godfather films and "The Sopranos", does a more than obvious job. Here are nine "don't" rules:

1) Don't give your film a bad title. 2) Don't have one of your film's co-writers act as the main character if he can't look awake and traditionally handsome, let alone act. Put a REAL gun in his mouth, and he'll get the message. 3) Don't create a mute supporting character and make him so damn uninteresting, except being fat and able to handle kung-fu combatants. 4) Don't hire good supporting actors to act in a crap film. 5) Don't have your actors, if you're working on a Mafia drama, emote every Italian stereotype in the bigot book and dehumanize your characters into caricatures. 6) Don't advertise your film being scored by an Oscar-winning music composer, when you don't. 7) Don't have a voice-over at the film's start and end when the story's happening in the present. 8) Don't have a bad film editor. 9) Don't "wide-screen" something that looks like a third-rate daytime soap opera.

If you're interested in the story of a mobster's son taking over the "family business", when "the Goddaddy" is killed, you're better off making the film yourself, if you follow the aforementioned rules. Avoid "Mafioso" like every STDs in existence, capeech?

This movie was great, very well produced and all the actors were really good. I seen the the movie on ABC network, but the DVD was a lot better. If you like mob movies, i strongly recommend this film. The relationship between the father and the son was very believable and very moving. Sal Mazzotta, great work and i cant wait to see your next movie, as an actor you are really good. My mom and dad really liked the movie, they loved the actor who played your father, he was very good. This film reminds me of the Sopranos, very real to life. Hopefully you will consider Canada for your next project. I lived here my whole life and it is a great city to possibly shoot your next project.

Geez, where to start? The casting, perhaps. Well, marginal actors with bad material can a real mess make, and this flick stonk so badly I'm longing for a shower. Rossi, with a writing credit (somehow I see him brainstorming with some no-talent hack real writer), crafts himself a plum role that proves the rule about how that's not a good idea. The actor cast in the lead as Vito, has got to be the ugliest, silly looking wop in Hollywood whose lips hang like a raw wound on a mug that could shatter a mirror. Vito's dad, however, deserves the most thumbs-down for believability. He's about as credible for being a mob boss as Andy Dick.

Next, the direction, the script, and the rest. Bad, and worse. I can only assume that this project launched due to Sopranos' success, and they supposed they could snag a low-budget masterpiece by casting their own buddies and their family with an inkling they could act. Sophia Coppola should have shown SOMEBODY in charge how that can work out.

Keep hunting if you want to watch a mafia movie with something to offer. This is a waste of time.

The earlier comments bring me to question if the posters watched the same movie as I did, or if they are affiliated with the producers in any way. 8/10? my god...

I have used IMDb for years, and I always check the user reviews for a movie before I see it, and the information I find here - along with the trailers - generally decides whether or not I go see a movie or find another one. Until seeing this movie, I have never felt the compulsion to write a review, or create an IMDb account for that purpose. The fact that i *have* created an account for the sole purpose of writing this review should tell you something.

Previous reviewers have likened this to the Sopranos. If this were the first episode of the Sopranos, no one would have watched the second. The show would have been cancelled. It is plain to see that Mafioso draws on the Sopranos heavily as an influence, but it lacks the suspense, unpredictability, character development, gritty violence and realism that makes the Sopranos so popular.

The acting, editing, camera-work, score, and even the story remind me of daytime soaps like 'Days of our Lives'. If you *like* daytime soaps, then this is the movie for you. If you are revolted by the horrific acting, amateurish camera-work and editing, and totally predictable stories of daytime soaps then you will definitely want to avoid this movie. Words cannot describe how bad the acting is.. the only remotely convincing actor was the old Don, and he doesn't have much screen time.

While some may think I am being harsh, and that low budget movies such as this deserve a chance, I disagree. Low quality knock-offs without much thought put into them, and not a single convincing acting performance, deserve honest criticism - to discourage more of their kind from being made. The cast and crew need to sit down and watch a few more episodes of the Sopranos, and take note of how it is shot, how the plot progresses, and how convincingly the actors perform. There is more to a Mafia movie than just slapping overweight guys with Italian accents into leather jackets and sitting them down in coffee shops.

To me, a 10/10 is an exceptional movie - one other movies can only aspire to. a 5/10 is borderline: meaning it was not a waste of time, but nor was it time well spent. I give this movie a 1/10.