Nova York Contra John Gotti

This is an extremely comprehensive three-episode series on Netflix about the takedown and multiple investigations on known mafioso John Gotti of the Gambino Crime Family, NYC, USA.

There's plenty of testimonies from ex-members of the Gambino Crime Family to the law enforcement officers and judges and witnesses in taking him down.

Extraordinary accounts on an extraordinary man. Gotti sought fame and power and the ruthless rise to the top of the Gambino syndicate in whatever way possible in order to elevate his status as a legend amongst the five families.

He succeeded but in doing so it became his downfall. The strong arm of the law came in hard and it was brutal.

Bugged devices in his special operation bar and video footage of him and his gang members meeting casually on strolls around his protected areas.

There was FBI involvement and the surveillance was hot. Unfortunately due to the limitations of bugging technology in the 1980's it was difficult to accurately record conversations in the Gotti stronghold bar.

They tried multiple times and eventually got better. Historical footage and reenacting of this period is very well montaged by the filmmakers.

Dialogue is extremely strong in the documentary with the quirks from both law enforcement and the Gangsters on display. A unique insight into both operations and how they got their man.

It's a great American story and worthy viewing for any aspiring criminal as it shows that really crime does not pay. It's a vicious circle and you usually end up dead or in jail or on witness protection. The lucky ones get to do a bit of time and eventually walk free; often consulting the FBI/police on their specialist subject as part of a plea deal.

It's a great documentary and extremely well articulated. I've read the Real Godfathers' book and it's a very similar tone with the dialogue and how the mafioso acted.

This show should be used for the studies of young professional agents to understand the inner detail of the mob mindset. It's very accurate and very professionally done and highly-engaging. Excellent job. 8/10.

The whole Gotti story is completely overdone so I'm surprised this series even got commissioned, although it was a good watch in that it gave you the perspectives of people who'd also been there at the height of his power not just some grey FBI agents. Yes, that Mouw guy is still there, dining off his contribution, but a fair amount of the interviewees are from a range of backgrounds - his associates all still revel in the age of course, like it was the pinnacle of their lives - that Giovino woman especially almost can't get over her dalliance with fame and power.

The programme's main takeaway is that law enforcement seem idiotic as most of them were in direct competition to arrest the man himself instead of cooperating with each other. They overlook some of his more heinous crimes too, focusing mostly on the Castellano hit (not what he did to his poor neighbour John Favara). Also the prosecutor Giacalone comes out of this looking awful: she sent jurors home in limos (so they could be tailed and paid off) and later exposed an FBI informant who was then killed....totally incompetent and it's no wonder Gotti stayed free for so long.

It's mostly a nostalgic look back for a lot of these ex-wiseguys and agents, to a time when they were important, on both sides of the law. You almost can't believe this sort of criminal organisation was allowed to exist so brazenly back then now you look back at it. But overall RIP to all his victims, this guy was no hero.

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.

The rise and fall of crime boss John Gotti is an interesting story. There's even a secondary story, that of different U. S. enforcement agencies that were competing to convict him, rather than cooperating. Unfortunately, this Netflix documentary spins the story out to a far greater length than it requires, with too many talking heads saying things like "this time, I really thought we'd got him" ad naseum, and endless details provided that add little insight to the overall narrative. I feel that with Netflix there's often a presumption that "more is more", and what could have been gripping if briefer becomes repetitivie and dull. The series also allows former gangsters to laugh about their crimes under interview without challenge as if it was all good fun, which leaves a sour taste.

Well made and perfectly watchable but little more than an overview of the main events and certainly doesn't contain anything that hasn't been covered before in multiple docs and books before, often with a lot more info and context. In particular no mention of the fact there was at least one credible mob attempt to kill him after the Castellano hit, nothing about his son being run over and killed in 1980 (and the subsequent 'disappearance' of the driver), and nothing about perhaps the most absurd/arrogant murder attributed to him and caught on the ravenite tapes; having an underling 'whacked' for missing a couple of meetings!!