This movie is fascinating to me on a whole variety of levels. First off I liked it alot as it has Roy De Meo featured in it (see message board for details). Chazz Palmenteri was also a good choice to play Paul Castellano as he had the look and the forceful character needed to pull it off. I thought it was brilliant how they tied in the initial scene and the last scene. I liked how they did the sequence of events leading up to demise of Paul and the Family. No this isn't a comprehensive look at the Gambino Family or Paul Castellano but it still gets the point across. This is the story of a racketeer (I don't use the word "gangster" here as that refers to street level type mafia men like Gotti or Dellacroce who were "blue collar" mobsters even though they really weren't) who thought he was a businessman. He has the brains but not the brawn to stay alive. All he wants to do is make more money and run things like a CEO instead of a real criminal. His soldiers neither fear nor respect him and things quickly spin right out of control right in front of your eyes. "This drug thing is too big there is too much money in it!" Piney Armone says, and Paul just doesn't get that. Paul really says one thing but does another time and time again. He makes the rules and does not follow them period. He systematically p***es off those who work under him and tries to kill every mob guy who crosses him. He finally meets his match when he tries to off John Gotti. Paul fails to appreciate the fact that while his friend Neil is keeping John alive he is also keeping Paul alive. He lost touch with the street and did not have the pulse of his men which is a recipe for disaster. If this movie teaches you anything about the mob its that no one is bulletproof not even and in some cases ESPECIALLY the boss and greed gets you killed quicker than sin. History has shown us that the boss can be the first one to die if the conditions are right and things don't go his way mob rules be damned. This movie is pro-Castellano but I gotta tell you it doesn't stick when you are in possession of the WHOLE truth. I end this review by saying this movie wasn't perfect or completely accurate but its an interesting, gripping story and very powerful from start to finish.
Review of Boss of Bosses
