Italian, American, Russian mafia films: the best titles

Cwith that mixture of power, loyalty and betrayal, the mafia has always fascinated cinema. Whether it is that of New York or Chicago, the Sicilian or Neapolitan one, the one that has invaded London and Moscow, the subject of the criminal organization has given life to films on the mafia that are often exemplary, true masterpieces on the violence, ambitions and codes of honor that regulate these secret worlds.

Italian, American, Russian mafia films: the best titles

The trilogy of The Godfather (1972-1990)

The first Godfather – based on the famous novel by Mario Puzo – released in 1972 and has for starring a gigantic Marlon Brando in one of cinema’s most legendary roles. Next to him a cast of very young actors still unknown: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan and Talia Shire, sister of director Francis Ford Coppola.

Winner of 3 Oscars, The Godfather tells the history of the Corleone mafia family in New York in the 1950s and the handover between the “old” boss Vito (Brando) and his son Michael (Pacino). The latter will be protagonist of the sequel The Godfather Part II filmed two years later and with Robert De Niro as the young Vito. The third chapter of the trilogy was released in 1990 and tells the tragic last years of Michael’s life (again played by Pacino).

Gomorrah (2008)

Directed by Matteo Garrone, Gomorrah is based on the bestseller by Roberto Saviano. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, it tells the intertwined lives of ordinary people involved in the Camorra criminal system in Naples, showing how mafia power controls work, business and relationships daily with extreme clarity.

Again from Saviano’s book, it arrives in 2014 Gomorrah – The series on Sky. For a few days now, again on Sky, it has been available Gomorrah – The origins, spin-off series directed by Marco D’Amore and Francesco Ghiaccio e prequel to Gomorrah – The series.

Those good guys (1990), one of the best mafia films ever

Based on the novel Crime pays well by Nicholas Pileggi based on the memoirs of the repentant Henry Hill, Those good guys is considered – together with Mean Streets of 1973 and Casino of 1995 – the second chapter of the mafia trilogy directed by Martin Scorsese. Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Lorraine Bracco are the protagonists of a film about the rise (and fall) of the Italian-American mafia in 1950s New York. An incredible tour de force, unbridled as the characters’ cocaine consumption increases.

The Hundred Steps (2000)

Directed by Marco Tullio Giordanathe film tells the life and murder of Peppino Impastato (Luigi Lo Cascio), young communist militant engaged in the fight against Cosa Nostra in Sicily and murdered in 1978. The title takes its name from the number of steps it took to fill the distance between the home of the Impastato family and that of the mafia boss Gaetano Badalamenti (in the film Tony Sperandeo). Badalamenti came found guilty of the murder and sentenced only 24 years laterin 2002, two years after the film’s release.

Once upon a time in America (1984)

It is the last film directed by Sergio Leone. Partly based on the autobiographical novel Armed hand by Harry Gray published in 1952, Once upon a time in America tells over the course of more than forty years (from the 1920s to the 1960s), the dramatic vicissitudes of the criminal David “Noodles” Aaronson (Robert De Niro) and his friends in their progressive transition from the slums of Manhattan to the environment of organized crime in New York of prohibitionism and post-prohibitionism.

Presented out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival, is the third film of the so-called “time trilogy”, preceded by Once upon a time there was the West And Head down. Despite due to the limited public success upon its release, over the years it has become a cult title. Also starring are James Woods, Jennifer Connelly and Joe Pesci.

The traitor (2019), one of the most successful recent mafia films

Marco Bellocchio’s film tells the story the true story of Tommaso Buscetta (Pierfrancesco Favino), the first great Cosa Nostra turncoat. After the mafia war of the 80s, Buscetta decides to collaborate with judge Falcone (Fausto Russo Alesi), but this decision will unleash a revenge like never seen before.

The traitor it is a powerful and human portrait of a man torn between guilt and consciencewith emphasis on mafia code of honor and the sense, precisely, of betrayal experienced by the protagonist. It was selected to represent Italy at the 2020 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category, failing to make the shortlist, and therefore among the five candidates.

Donnie Brasco (1997)

Inspired by the true story of Joe Pistoneundercover FBI agent, Donnie Brasco tells how Pistone (Johnny Depp) managed to infiltrate the underworld in New York in the 1970s thanks to the bond with Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). For the policeman, the more time passes the more the boundary between professional role and personal identity becomes increasingly fragileuntil a tragic epilogue. Today the “real” Pistone lives with his wife under an assumed name in an undisclosed location, with a bounty on his head from the mafia of 500 thousand dollars.

Crime novel (2005)

Set in the 70s and based on the novel of the same name of judge Giancarlo De Cataldo, is inspired by the events of the Banda della Magliananame attributed by Italian journalism to what is considered the most powerful criminal organization that has ever operated in Rome.

Winner of 8 David di Donatellothe cast Crime Novel (directed by Michele Placido) brings together many stars of Italian cinema: Pierfrancesco Favino (the charismatic Lebanese), Kim Rossi Stuart (Cold), Jasmine Trinca (Roberta), Stefano Accorsi (Nicola Scialoja) and Claudio Santamaria (Dandy). In 2008 it was released on Sky Crime novel – The series directed by Stefano Sollima (with the artistic consultancy of Placido).

The honor of the Prizzi (1985), a film that pokes fun at the mafia

The honor of the Prizzi And a fun comedy that pokes fun at mafia movie clichés. Adaptation of the novel of the same name by Richard Condon, the film – directed by John Huston and starring the couple Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner – was a success with critics and audiences, nominated for 8 Oscars. However, “only” the one for la won Best Supporting Actress: awarded to the talented Angelica Hustondaughter of the director and, at the time, Nicholson’s partner.

Film about the Russian mafia

The Assassin’s Promise (2007)

It was the first film of David Cronenberg to be filmed completely outside of Canada, and the second – after A History of Violence – with anchor Viggo Mortensen as protagonist. The story focuses on Leonardo, a professional assassin working for a powerful criminal organization Russian mafia operating in London. After years of violence, man he decides to retire and live a quiet life, but is forced to complete one last mission.

The Equalizer – The avenger (2014)

Film adaptation of the famous TV series of the 80s An avenger in New York, The Equalizer has for protagonist Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a former secret agent now retired and with a past as a marine.

After faking his death, Robert chooses to live a quiet life in Boston. However, when he decides to help a prostitute, Alina “Teri” (Chloë Grace Moretz), he comes into the sights of the Russian mafia. It came out in 2018 the sequel to the filmagain with Washington, entitled The Equalizer 2 – Without Forgiveness.