Filming has finally started on The Life and Death of John Gotti the biopic about the life of infamous New York mafia boss.
News of the upcoming film broke back in 2010 but it’S been a bumpy road for the often on and then off again project encountering funding and other problems along the way. John Travolta is playing the role of John Gotti and has been tied to the project for some time saying he stuck with the mobster based biopic because of the quality of the story. The movie is being filmed in Ohio taking advantage of some recently revised motion picture tax credits available there. According to a report, the first scenes of the film were shot in Indian Hill on Stone Barn Road.
“Travolta as the Dapper Don John Gotti“
Kevin Connolly is directing the new mafia movie and it is being produced by Emmett/Furla Oasis Films in association with Fiore Films. Kelly Preston, the real-life wife of Travolta will also play his wife on screen playing the part of Victoria Gotti along with Pruitt Taylor Vince playing the role of Gotti enforcer Angelo Ruggiero and Stacy Keach who will play the role of Gambino family underboss and Gotti mentor Neil Dellacroce. The part of John Gotti Jr will be played by Spencer Lofranco with William DeMeo playing the part of mobster turned rat Sammy Gravano along with Leo Rossi in the role of mobster Bobby Boriello.
“DeCicco, Gotti, Gravano“
As of now, the new mafia movie is set to make its premiere sometime in 2017. Travolta said of the film “It’s a small character study of John Jr. and John Sr. that investigates the realness and grittiness of their repoire and the historical events of the Gotti family.”
Hmmm well Okay it seems Travolta isn’t all that bad of a Gotti from a looks only standpoint. I didn’t think he would be able to pull off the look but I will admit from just the photo’s not to bad. Not sure he can input that attitude and swagger into it and come off as many see when they think John Gotti but we shall see. I will admit I am kind of interested in seeing this.
I’ll watch it too. I don’t have any expectations. Good, much less great gangster movies just don’t happen often. Most turn out cheesy, low budget. Even the Gotti movies from 90’s were silly. Unless Scorcese’s name is attached, I’m not expecting much.
This is a Low budget movie and when Johnny Depp did Black Mass it’ was filmed in South Boston and used extras in Boston…Travolta is filming in Ohio and not remotely like Howard Beach queens or Ozone park…..Travolta originally planned to use Joe pesci and Chaz Palmiter….Now we get a watered down version of Gotti…..To people not from the east coast they might like the movie but East people like me may be highly disappointed…..
They have taken a much more low budget route then first expected no doubt about it. Hopefully it will be at least watchable quality wise.
For me, considering all you mentioned about black mass, and it still sucked.
Agreed I wasn’t all that impressed with Black Mass. Like most was hoping for more but it pretty much fell flat.
I agree with the boss Black Mass left tons of important facts out….Fixing of dog and horse races at Suffolk downs with jockeys being beaten severely….Pat Nee was left out of the movie and he was important factor for decades in Southie….so I say Black Mass not good in many respects but at least filmed in neighborhoods I know about and authentic. …Also black mass left out wise guys from Federal Hill providence Patriarch Family and Raymondo Patriarch senior not his son the weak one….i just don’t like Travolta low balling a Movie about John G…
I hear ya. I agree, keeping it authentic makes a better movie. I also agree Travolta is an odd choice. I assume it’s the biggest Italian/new Yorker name Gotti could get. I was hopeful when I heard about Pesci, Pacino etc. I don’t expect anything, so at the very least it’s a good laugh. I thought Sizemore did very well as Gotti, just story was too embellished for my taste.
Getting Pesci and or Pacino would of made a big splash and most definitely would of been a quality movie. Travolta does seem a bit off but I am hoping he pulls it off at least making it watchable.
Also the producers of Black Mass refused to work with Kevin Weeks or Mortarano because they were ” murderers”. How do make a gangster movie if you won’t work with real gangsters. Fuck that movie.
That’s silly. Real gangsters were involved with pretty much all the best gangster movies. Henry Hill (wanna be, but authentic street guy) Frank Culota etc
I feel, Killing them softy was one of the most underated mob films EVER. just saying.
I watched it last night. It was ok, not what I’d call a classic or even re watchable. Brad Pitt was only person with no accent. It’s decent for a one time watch.
Personally I think Ray Liotta would’ve made a better Gotti than Travolta.
Ah Liotta would of been a real decent choice …. never really thought of him as to a Gotti movie esp playing Gotti but would seem to be a good fit.
I just watched once upon a time in queens. I had zero expectations, but I was surprised. It was a good movie. Not all time great, but solid movie. It’s first mafia movie I’ve seen recently that portrays today’s mafia. Or old timers facing harsh reality of decline in mafia. An old capo comes home after 25 years jail, old, and rude awakening to modern world.