In honor of our upcoming podcast topic, Fear City, I thought we could talk about various hilariously bad portrayals of John “The Teflon Don” Gotti over the years, by actors from whom you’d expect better. I have actually seen the Travolta Gotti, which is both as bad as you’d expect and more boring, somehow; I’ve seen Godfather III a couple of times, and I’ll have to take Wikipedia’s word on Joe Mantegna’s performance being “inspired” by Gotti because I didn’t get that at all; I’ve seen the Assante version and the Sizemore version (both fairly bad).
But whose is the worst? Without having consumed The Wannabe, I would bet Joseph “Johnny Boy Soprano” Siravo’s portrayal is in the conversation; Siravo has made a nice living getting cast for A Certain Look in this genre, but he’s not a good actor. Assante isn’t an Olivier either but he’s perfect for this role, and yet: nonstop prosciutt’ from him. So maybe the question isn’t whose Gotti is the worst, but why a good Gotti is so difficult to achieve — do actors and directors rely too much on doing an impression? is the Venn of “decent thespian” and “suggests Gotti in the looks department” just not a big overlap?
And whom would we cast instead? (“Tom Hardy!!” - Margaret.) The clock has probably run out on Vincent “Johnny Sack” Curatola’s taking on the role, but there’s a bunch of Sopranos alums who would have been great (Frank Vincent, Dan “Patsy” Grimaldi, Van Zandt, Ray Abruzzo, John Fiore…).
Don't know about Hardy. I think there should be some sort of double dipping rule when it comes to portraying known mafioso, and Hardy has already played twin mafiosi, so his would be a case of triple dipping. Also, as he's fond of hiding his face while acting, they might have to put enough make up on him that we, once again, see very little of the actual artifact, which I am against in all ways.
What if Eugene Levy followed his Schitt’s Creek success by going full-on heel? He’s got the brows down? I’ll also throw out a gender-flip casting and suggest Lea DeLaria. I just watched her in this strange noirish Hulu show called Reprisal and realized that when properly directed she’s brilliant. - EB
I def need to see the Travolta effort, I have a soft spot for him a mile wide and it ties almost too perfectly into the tragic arc of his meta narrative. But what Gotti really needs is (if not Tom Hardy ) a complete unknown, a true blank slate.
You know, Travolta should have absolutely been the definitive Teflon Don. I don't know why that wasn't better. Maybe he just freaked out playing someone so charismatically evil? Maybe he had bad, over-the-top direction? I'm kind of liking my Dan Levy suggestion, below - although I never would have come up with it if Eve hadn't suggested his father first. I'm still thinking (and laughing over Margaret's Tom Hardy obsession).
Oh, one more thing: My husband and I are going to be taking a road trip soon, and I'm interested in listening to something GOOD about the mob (that's not 100 years long). Any thoughts?? I trust this group to provide me only with the cream!
Don't know about Hardy. I think there should be some sort of double dipping rule when it comes to portraying known mafioso, and Hardy has already played twin mafiosi, so his would be a case of triple dipping. Also, as he's fond of hiding his face while acting, they might have to put enough make up on him that we, once again, see very little of the actual artifact, which I am against in all ways.
What if Eugene Levy followed his Schitt’s Creek success by going full-on heel? He’s got the brows down? I’ll also throw out a gender-flip casting and suggest Lea DeLaria. I just watched her in this strange noirish Hulu show called Reprisal and realized that when properly directed she’s brilliant. - EB
I def need to see the Travolta effort, I have a soft spot for him a mile wide and it ties almost too perfectly into the tragic arc of his meta narrative. But what Gotti really needs is (if not Tom Hardy ) a complete unknown, a true blank slate.
You know, Travolta should have absolutely been the definitive Teflon Don. I don't know why that wasn't better. Maybe he just freaked out playing someone so charismatically evil? Maybe he had bad, over-the-top direction? I'm kind of liking my Dan Levy suggestion, below - although I never would have come up with it if Eve hadn't suggested his father first. I'm still thinking (and laughing over Margaret's Tom Hardy obsession).
Oh, one more thing: My husband and I are going to be taking a road trip soon, and I'm interested in listening to something GOOD about the mob (that's not 100 years long). Any thoughts?? I trust this group to provide me only with the cream!