It's time that we dive into some True Crime Biopics for the real-life Italian Mob:

For the third entry being released this week, I get to cover the various John Gotti and Gambino Family portrayals in cinema!

Which actor probably gave it their all when researching Gotti's mannerisms and persona?

Were any of these films objectively well-made or were they just cashing in on the news media craze on one of America's most notorious crimelords?

And which film ends up being the biggest headscratcher by even dramatized biopic standards?

FILMS REVIEWED:

Getting Gotti,

Gotti (1996),

Witness to the Mob,

Boss of Bosses

& Gotti (2018)

SONG INTRO:

"Afloat Synth Arp" by Apple Free-to-Used Music

Another Mario Puzo mini-series adaptation gets a spotlight: THE LAST DON PARTS I AND II.

How do the filmmakers handle their own concept while doing plot and style nods to Puzo's earlier GODFATHER material?

Where does this popular CBS network hit rate in terms of his other adaptations?

What material does the sequel mini-series go awry on?

Plus, some well-acted clips from the show are played!

SONG USED:

"Tempting Secrets" by Kevin MacLeod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Two adaptations of GODFATHER creator Mario Puzo's bibliography get a spotlight: one of them a divisive movie revisited thru its director's cut and a obscure NBC mini-series event.

How did actor John Turturro feature in both of these?

Was there anyway to feature the Corleones in The Sicilian or was it all legally impossible?

And what positives and negatives can one reflect on from either book adaptation?

Plus, we also note other GODFATHER trivia and the bogus reason why critics like Roger Ebert gave it an okay review but not a glowingly excellent one (which he later regretted but alas we make sure that no one forgets it).

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse and that's entertaining your ears!

MUSIC USED:

INTRO CLIP:

Mario Puzo 1996 interview with Charlie Rose- promoting THE LAST DON novel.

As a Bonus Episode, you're treated to an excelusive Interview with Make-Up Artist-Hair/Stylist Rey Medrano.

His credits include:

The Taylor Sheridan Crime Shows,

Harold and Kumar 2,

Love and Death,

Cruel Summer

and many other political biopics/faith dramas/horror flicks/period dramas!

We also get to talk about set etiquette, how he's forming his new store Odyssey Comics & the memories he's blessed to cherish. Don't miss this touching yet sensitive and realistic take on how to keep going in this everchanging film industry!

For the penultimate episode this week, we note the documentaries about Godfather Producer Robert Evans:

First with a brief overview (with clips) on the doc The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) and then some serious praise for the biopic mini-series The Offer (2022).

Which actors in THE OFFER steal the show portraying the real-life yet very unusual figures who helped that difficult to film movie come together?

And we also showcase some of the dumbest people in real life who've given hot takes about these classic films!

CLIPS USED:

Live Well and Thrive with Mike Torchia: Melissa Prophet Interview,

Howard Stern 2009 interview with Francis Ford Coppola

&

"Your Own Crime Syndicate" comedy bit by Ernie Kovacs

It's another excuse to talk about all things Pacino and De Niro related during this GODFATHER themed week:

We examine some of their various Action-Mystery-Slasher Movies in this retrospect.

Why do so many of these films fail to capture the earlier success of the actors respective hits Cape Fear, Heat, Insomnia & The Devil's Advocate?

The Films Reviewed Include:

*And Justice For All

*True Confessions

*Sea of Love

*Night and the City (1992)

*City Hall

*The Fan (1996)

*Ronin

*The Local Stigmatic

*15 Minutes

*City by the Sea

*Hide and Seek (2005)

*88 Minutes (2007)

*Righteous Kill

*Hangman (2017)

SPEAKERS:

Cam Sully, Oreo Brewer, Gil Palmer, Mike Ensing, James Bruno & Rich Cyr

CLIP INTROS:

AFI Francis Ford Coppola Toast by Pacino & DeNiro (2025)

Funny Quotes by the Actors from Glengarry Glen Ross, Midnight Run and Meet the Parents

A detailed overview on the iconic 1995 film HEAT and its 2022 book sequel (soon to be a movie itself) get examined in this lengthy yet dedicated summary of its still-rather impressive themes, thrills and characters.

What separates Michael Mann's style from the Coppolas, Scorseses and Walter Hills of the world?

What key character in the book sequel gets a huge persona change that feels VERY unbelievable?

We try to sell our filmbuff buddy James on seeing this film. Will we be successful?

Listen in and find out!

SONGS/CLIPS USED:

Siskel and Ebert Review Clip

"Alarming Bass" by Apple Free to Use Music

Val Kilmer interview on Larry King Live

"God Moving Over The Face of the Waters - End Credits (Film Version)" by Moby & Kronos Quartet

"Force Marker" by Brian Eno

I continue the GODFATHER Themed Week with a brief overview on the ANALYZE THIS crime comedy franchise:

*Do these comedy films make use of their gags or is there more wit to be desired?

SONG USED:

"Analyze" by Sharpshooters (from HBO's The Wire OST)

The 2nd week of GODFATHER Themed Material starts:

In this brief overview, I mention some of the Electronic Arts videogames that dominated consoles in the mid '00s.

What were the missed opportunities?

Why were many okay with the blatant GTA style exploration?

And what other cool gangster mayhem could you do while being a street soldier for the Corleone family?

SONG USED:

The Godfather Theme by Nino Rota.

We conclude the week with our final SOPRANOS themed episode for this GODFATHER MONTH: Ranking the Villains of the Saga!

TALKING POINTS:

*Co-hosts Oreo Brewer & Josh Hansen join us to remark on the unusual style of this franchise

*Is Phil Leotardo the deadliest gangster?

*Do both Ralphie and Mikey give everyone else a run for their money?

*And how does Tony seem less like a villain in comparison to all the other instigators while refusing to apologize for this unethical actions?

Come get philosophical (while you see our therapist)!

FUNNY AUDIO INTRO:

"Monsters, Muppets, And Madness (James Gandolfini was on Sesame Street)" by Frank Caliendo (All Over the Place Comedy Album)