Silent Partners

Ciro Dapagio's new release is an exhilarating watch. Circa 1980s Miami when money, sex, and drugs intoxicated the streets. "Valentine" a central character is portrayed by Mr. Dapagio. His performance rivals the best of them. His screenplay revitalizes the classic crime genre movies of yesteryear that captured generations. Strap yourselves in for a wild ride. Silent Partners does not disappoint. A tale of diabolical schemes, betrayal and violence. This film hits all the emotional triggers that will keep you wanting for more.

Based on a true story, Silent Partners leaves the viewer jaw-dropped with its tantalizing twists and turns.

Silent Partners is the second Ciro Dapagio/Jokes Yanes collaboration I have really enjoyed (the first being 2023's MobKing). The theme is familiar to those who have watched documentaries and feature films like Cocaine Cowboys, Blow, Scarface, and other ones centered on the Drug Cartel's hold on 1980s Miami.

The story centers on a hitman's (Dapagio) role in life insurance fraud that pays dividends, especially when the Mafia's victims turn up and turn up, they do. Steve Russo is great here as the newly released mob boss. Russo wants in on the insurance scam and everything else Russo believes he is entitled to after not saying anything during his decade behind bars. Dapagio must navigate around undercover COPS, a bookie (well-played by Antoni Corone) with a knack for writing up insurance policies, and alliances within the Mob.

Silent Partners is taut and comes in at less than 90 minutes. The pacing is far better than most crime dramas.

Apparently not only got pleasantly surprised by the first movie I watched from this guy CIRO DAPAGIO called MOBKING, which by the way it's pretty good considering the limitations of indie film. But this one... wow! Valentine (the main character) is so cool and composed within the context of the plot and the alliances and the undercover cops and so much more. I wasn't expecting to see myself stuck to that couch for the full thing, but I was! Then you have high caliber actors like Russo and Pastore that add some depth to the cast. And couldn't be a good movie without the eye candy! Lika and Karmel were fabulous in their roles as well.... what a treat this thing!!!

I wanted to watch this movie because I'm friends with Antoni Corone. He's such a cool, down to earth guy, and I heard that the film would be streaming free on Tubi.

Depagio did such a great job putting this cast together- and the characters really stand out in the film. What a truly authentic cast of South Florida gangsters and low-life. What stands out is the character ensemble.

What keeps the film from being truly top tier is a needed depth and clarity of story and interconnection of the two main story elements: the corrupt Goody Boys insurance company and the mobster family that they take down by the end.

Antoni Corone plays a Dustin Hoffman-esque character and really shines in his support of Depagio's brooding heavy. Corone's career is full of these supporting cop and gangster types, think We Own The Night- I would love to see what he could do in a lead role.

Okay, so I finally watched Silent Partners, that gritty 1980 mafia flick set in Miami, and wow - this movie is a whole vibe. Think: flashy suits, cigars, speedboats, and crime running through every palm tree-lined street. It feels like if Scarface and Goodfellas had a sunburned cousin. It's loud, stylish, a little messy - but totally worth your time. Watch it with the lights low and maybe a cold drink in hand. The acting? Pretty solid. The lead guy's got that perfect mix of charm and menace - you can't tell if you wanna root for him or get as far away from him as possible. And the dialogue is super quotable. It's not a perfect movie - the pacing drags a little in the middle, and some of the side characters are kind of forgettable. But if you're into old-school gangster movies with a Florida twist, it delivers the goods.