Gotti (2013 film)
Encyclopedia
Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father is an upcoming Barry Levinson
film starring Ben Foster, Al Pacino
and John Travolta
. It is the story of crime boss John Gotti and his son. The film will show according to Fiore Film the relationship between a "father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who, while brought up to lead a life of crime, chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself and the Gotti name".
Jr. was head of the Gambino crime family
, which in its time was the largest and most powerful crime organization in the United States
. Known as the "Dapper Don," John Gotti's flamboyant style and outspoken nature made him one of the most notorious mobsters of the 20th century. Gotti died from throat cancer
in 2002 while serving a life sentence. In 1988, at the age of 24, Gotti III. became a "made man," and was officially inducted into the Mafia, making him the heir- to head the Gambino crime family and follow in his father's footsteps. However, in 1999, Gotti III paid a his last visit to his incarcerated and dying father telling him he was ending his life of crime and departing from the family business. During the years that followed his father's death, Gotti III had a long legal battle ahead of him and served three jail sentences, totaling approximately nine years, for a variety of charges. Gotti III was released from prison in December 2009.
was initially reported to be attached to the project, but by December 2010 both he and Gotti denied they were working together. Gotti cited creative differences; "Stallone wanted a mob ‘shoot ‘em up’ movie. This is a father-and-son story" The biopic project was formally confirmed in September 2010. In a press conference on April 12, 2011, actors John Travolta
and Joe Pesci
were confirmed to have joined the project, playing John J. Gotti
and his friend and fellow Gambino mobster Angelo Ruggiero
respectively. Travolta had previously met with Gotti III to discuss the role and received his endorsement. Shortly after this announcement, intended director Nick Cassavetes left the project for the film Yellow and was replaced by Barry Levinson
.
Nick Cassavetes was originally on board to direct Gotti before scheduling issues with his indie drama "Yellow" forced producers to release him from his contract. Barry Levinson
then took the directors chair in May 2011. The subject of the film has garnered criticism from alleged victims and critics of the Gottis are expressing outrage over their glorification. "It's like putting salt in an open wound," says Scott Favara, the son of John Favara, who accidentally killed the John Gotti Jr. son, Frankie Gotti, in a 1980 car accident (Favara was driving and didn't see the boy on his bike). Favara soon disappeared and was last seen being shoved into a van. His body was never found, and varying accounts surfaced that mob associated murdered him and disposed of the body by putting it in a barrel of acid or entombing in concrete. Scott Favara, a policeman, says John Gotti Jr. "destroyed our family." Guardian Angels
founder Curtis Sliwa, of the non-profit international volunteer organization, who has a long running feud with the Gotti family and was shot several times in 1992 by a man later identified as an associate of John Gotti III's, also heavily criticised the production. "What we saw was an orgy of romanticism of organized crime," he says. "This movie is being billed as a love story between father and son. The media is just rolling over for them."
There are also script limitations due to the subject matter on the film as The Son of Sam Law
prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes. Therefore the film is only allowed depict crimes committed by the father John Gotti Sr and not of John Gotti Jr as he is involved in the production of the movie.
sues film producers after being dropped from the role of Angelo Ruggiero, a friend John Gotti, for $3 million. Pesci claiming he put on more than 28 pounds to play an overweight enforcer Pesci claimed the producers, Fiore Films, reneged on the deal and offered him a lesser role and a salary of $1 million. In legal papers , Pesci’s lawyer said: “He has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build.” However, Marc Fiore, rejected the claims, saying Peci's representatives told him months ago that Pesci was leaving the project until the original director, who had left, was replaced.
Pre-production is set to begin September 2011.
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
film starring Ben Foster, Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
and John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
. It is the story of crime boss John Gotti and his son. The film will show according to Fiore Film the relationship between a "father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who, while brought up to lead a life of crime, chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself and the Gotti name".
Plot
John GottiJohn Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
Jr. was head of the Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
, which in its time was the largest and most powerful crime organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Known as the "Dapper Don," John Gotti's flamboyant style and outspoken nature made him one of the most notorious mobsters of the 20th century. Gotti died from throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
in 2002 while serving a life sentence. In 1988, at the age of 24, Gotti III. became a "made man," and was officially inducted into the Mafia, making him the heir- to head the Gambino crime family and follow in his father's footsteps. However, in 1999, Gotti III paid a his last visit to his incarcerated and dying father telling him he was ending his life of crime and departing from the family business. During the years that followed his father's death, Gotti III had a long legal battle ahead of him and served three jail sentences, totaling approximately nine years, for a variety of charges. Gotti III was released from prison in December 2009.
Cast
- Ben Foster as John A. Gotti.
- Al PacinoAl PacinoAlfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
as Aniello DellacroceAniello DellacroceAniello John "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce , also known as "Father O'Neil" and "The Tall Guy", was an Italian-American gangster and underboss of the Gambino crime family. A capo of his own crew for many years he rose to the position of underboss when Carlo Gambino moved Joseph Biondo aside.-Early... - John TravoltaJohn TravoltaJohn Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
as John GottiJohn GottiJohn Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
Jr. - Kelly PrestonKelly PrestonKelly Preston is an American actress and former model.- Early years :Preston was born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Linda, was an administrator of a mental health center, and her father, who worked for an agricultural firm, drowned when Preston was three years old...
as Victoria GottiVictoria GottiVictoria Gotti is a writer, reality television participant and daughter of the Gambino crime family Mafia boss, John Gotti.-Early life:... - Ella Bleu Travolta as Angel Gotti
- Lindsay LohanLindsay LohanLindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
as Kimberly Gotti
Development
In April 2010 it was confirmed that Gotti III was making plans for both a biopic and a documentary on his life and his relationship with his father. American actor and director Sylvester StalloneSylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
was initially reported to be attached to the project, but by December 2010 both he and Gotti denied they were working together. Gotti cited creative differences; "Stallone wanted a mob ‘shoot ‘em up’ movie. This is a father-and-son story" The biopic project was formally confirmed in September 2010. In a press conference on April 12, 2011, actors John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
were confirmed to have joined the project, playing John J. Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
and his friend and fellow Gambino mobster Angelo Ruggiero
Angelo Ruggiero
Angelo Salvatore Ruggiero Sr. pronounced was a caporegime of the Gambino crime family and close friend of John Gotti.-Mob family roots:...
respectively. Travolta had previously met with Gotti III to discuss the role and received his endorsement. Shortly after this announcement, intended director Nick Cassavetes left the project for the film Yellow and was replaced by Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
.
Nick Cassavetes was originally on board to direct Gotti before scheduling issues with his indie drama "Yellow" forced producers to release him from his contract. Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
then took the directors chair in May 2011. The subject of the film has garnered criticism from alleged victims and critics of the Gottis are expressing outrage over their glorification. "It's like putting salt in an open wound," says Scott Favara, the son of John Favara, who accidentally killed the John Gotti Jr. son, Frankie Gotti, in a 1980 car accident (Favara was driving and didn't see the boy on his bike). Favara soon disappeared and was last seen being shoved into a van. His body was never found, and varying accounts surfaced that mob associated murdered him and disposed of the body by putting it in a barrel of acid or entombing in concrete. Scott Favara, a policeman, says John Gotti Jr. "destroyed our family." Guardian Angels
Guardian Angels
The Guardian Angels is a non-profit international volunteer organization of unarmed citizen crime patrollers. The Guardian Angels organization was founded February 13, 1979 in New York City by Curtis Sliwa and has chapters in 15 countries and 144 cities around the world.Sliwa originally created the...
founder Curtis Sliwa, of the non-profit international volunteer organization, who has a long running feud with the Gotti family and was shot several times in 1992 by a man later identified as an associate of John Gotti III's, also heavily criticised the production. "What we saw was an orgy of romanticism of organized crime," he says. "This movie is being billed as a love story between father and son. The media is just rolling over for them."
There are also script limitations due to the subject matter on the film as The Son of Sam Law
Son of Sam law
A Son of Sam Law is any American law designed to keep criminals from profiting from the publicity of their crimes, often by selling their stories to publishers. However, this is not in the same manner of asset forfeiture, which is intended to seize assets acquired directly as a result of criminal...
prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes. Therefore the film is only allowed depict crimes committed by the father John Gotti Sr and not of John Gotti Jr as he is involved in the production of the movie.
Pre-production
During casting legal action has arisen as Joe PesciJoe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
sues film producers after being dropped from the role of Angelo Ruggiero, a friend John Gotti, for $3 million. Pesci claiming he put on more than 28 pounds to play an overweight enforcer Pesci claimed the producers, Fiore Films, reneged on the deal and offered him a lesser role and a salary of $1 million. In legal papers , Pesci’s lawyer said: “He has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build.” However, Marc Fiore, rejected the claims, saying Peci's representatives told him months ago that Pesci was leaving the project until the original director, who had left, was replaced.
Pre-production is set to begin September 2011.