Gotti (1996 film)

1996 biographical television film directed by Robert Harmon

For the 2018 film of the same name, see Gotti (2018 film).

Gotti

DVD cover

Genre|

*     * Biographical
* Crime drama

Based on|

Gotti: Rise and Fall

* Jerry Capeci
* Gene Mustain

Written by| Steve Shagan
Directed by| Robert Harmon
Starring|

* Armand Assante
* Anthony Quinn
* William Forsythe
* Vincent Pastore
* Frank Vincent

Music by| Mark Isham
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
Production
Executive producer| Gary Lucchesi
Producer| David Coatsworth
Production locations| Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cinematography| Alar Kivilo
Editor| Zach Staenberg
Running time| 116 minutes
Production company| HBO Pictures
Original release
Network| HBO
Release| August 17, 1996 (1996-08-17)

Gotti is a 1996 American crime drama television film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Steve Shagan. Based primarily on the columns of reporter Jerry Capeci, who also co-wrote the 1996 non-fiction book Gotti: Rise and Fall with Gene Mustain and served as the film's executive producer, the film stars Armand Assante in the title role as infamous Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, along with William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. It premiered on HBO on August 17, 1996.

Assante won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for his performance. Assante received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie the same year.

## Plot

[edit]

The film highlights Gotti's association with three fellow mobsters: a father-son like relationship with Gambino underboss Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce, his deep but rocky friendship with Gotti crew member and longtime friend Angelo Ruggiero, and the respect and ultimate frustration that he felt for the man who became his underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano.

The film details Gotti's rise within the Gambino crime family, as an unofficial soldier (soldato) sent to prison following the murder of James McBratney in 1973, then being promoted to captain (or capo) after Neil's retirement, and finally becoming boss of the family by arranging a hit on "Big" Paul Castellano in 1985. Following the murder of Castellano, the film concentrates on the legal trials of John Gotti: one for assault and two for racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes.

Gotti's famous personality, trial acquittals, and media attention are all dramatized. The film ends with Gotti's conviction in 1992 and sentencing to life imprisonment at Marion Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois when Gravano turns state's evidence and agrees to testify against Gotti in exchange for witness protection.

## Cast

[edit]

* Armand Assante as John Gotti
* William Forsythe as Sammy Gravano
* Anthony Quinn as Aniello Dellacroce
* Vincent Pastore as Angelo Ruggiero
* Frank Vincent as Robert DiBernardo
* Richard C. Sarafian as Paul Castellano
* Dominic Chianese as Joe Armone
* Raymond Serra as Frank LoCascio
* Tony Sirico as Joe Dimiglia
* Al Waxman as Bruce Cutler
* Scott Cohen as Gene Gotti
* Robert Miranda as Frank DeCicco
* Marc Lawrence as Carlo Gambino
* Alberta Watson as Victoria Gotti
* Tony De Santis as John Favara
* Gil Filar as Frank Gotti
* Gerry Mendicino as Peter Gotti
* Yank Azman as Judge Nickerson
* Frank Crudele as Nicholas Scibetta
* Frank Pellegrino as Carmine Russo

## Production

[edit]

Shooting took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] Assante put on 35 pounds to play Gotti.[2]

## Reception

[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 60% rating based on five reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10.[3] Jeremy Girard of Variety called it "a fairly standard-issue gangster flick" that is problematic for its matter-of-fact presentation.[4] Caryn James of The New York Times criticized its "docudrama syndrome", in which biographical dramas adhere closely to the historical record to prevent lawsuits despite the need for more characterization.[5]

Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times called it "one of the better mob movies of the decade, and surely the best gangster portrait ever made primarily for television".[6] TV Guide rated it 2/5 stars and described it as too detailed for casual viewers and too inaccurate for enthusiasts.[7]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

1997

| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Two-Hour Movie for Non-Commercial Television | Zach Staenberg | Won  | [8]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movie of the Week or Pilot | Alar Kivilo | Nominated  | [9]
Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting  | Avy Kaufman | Nominated  | [10]
Cairo International Film Festival | Golden Pyramid Award | Robert Harmon | Nominated  |
Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials | Nominated  | [11]
Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated  | [12]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Armand Assante | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Anthony Quinn | Nominated
Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing – Music – Television Movies of the Week, Pilots or Miniseries | Bill Abbott  | Nominated  | [13]
Online Film & Television Association Awards  | Best Motion Picture Made for Television  | Nominated  | [14]
Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries  | Mark Isham | Nominated
Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries  | Nominated
Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries  | Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Gary Lucchesi, David Coatsworth,
and Robert McMinn  | Nominated  | [15]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Armand Assante  | Won
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special | Robert Harmon  | Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special | Steve Shagan | Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special | Alar Kivilo  | Nominated
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single Camera Production | Zach Staenberg  | Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special | Robert W. Glass Jr., Ezra Dweck,
Dan Wallin, and David Lee | Nominated
Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Anthony Quinn  | Nominated  | [16]
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Armand Assante  | Nominated  | [17]

## See also

[edit]

* Witness to the Mob

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (August 11, 1996). "Best-Dressed Don Inspires a Drama". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
2. ^ Randle, Nancy Jalasca (August 16, 1996). "The Muscle Behind 'Gotti'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
3. ^ "Gotti (1996)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
4. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (August 12, 1996). "Review: 'Gotti'". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
5. ^ James, Caryn (August 17, 1996). "Making and Unmaking Of a Made Man: Gotti". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
6. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (August 17, 1996). "Sincerely Sinister". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
7. ^ "Gotti". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
8. ^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
9. ^ "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011.
10. ^ "1997 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. November 12, 1997. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
11. ^ "49th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
12. ^ "Gotti". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
13. ^ Variety Staff (March 4, 1997). "Sound editors bow Golden Reel noms". Variety. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
14. ^ "1st Annual TV Awards (1996-97)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
15. ^ "Gotti". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
16. ^ "International Press Academy website – 1997 1st Annual SATELLITE Awards". Archived from the original on February 1, 2008.
17. ^ "The 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Gotti (1996 film).

* Gotti at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Robert Harmon

* China Lake (1983)
* The Hitcher (1986)
* Eyes of an Angel (1991)
* Nowhere to Run (1993)
* Gotti (1996)
* The Crossing (2000)
* They (2002)
* Highwaymen (2004)
* Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)
* Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)
* Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
* Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)
* Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
* Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)
* Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)
* November Christmas (2010)
* Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)
* Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)

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