Mobsters (1991)

Directed by Michael Karbelnikoff. Starring Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Anthony Quinn, Michael Gambon, Richard Grieco, F. Murray Abraham, Lara Flynn Boyle, Costas Mandylor, Chris Penn, Andy Romano, Nicholas Sadler, Joe Viterelli, Robert Z’Dar. [R]

Ineffectual period gangster picture butchers the historical record of the rise of “Lucky” Luciano (Slater) and his cronies, including the establishment of a governing body to oversee the Mafia in America. Unfocused and repetitive storytelling dooms the picture from the inside, presenting a series of scenes of criminals talking, dealing, plotting, and killing each other, with no real sense of urgency or gravity (or, sometimes, even clarity). Costumes, production and photography are all in solid shape, but the final product lacks the style, patience and vision needed to make everything come to life instead of just feel like a retread of a dozen other (better) crime films. Casting the so-called “heartthrobs” of the era in major roles feels a little like the producers were trying to make Young Tommy Guns; these gents can wear the suits, but they certainly don’t look natural in them (the effect is not unlike seeing the musical kids in Bugsy Malone). Believe it or not, the second of three films that year with Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel as a major character; I don’t think Warren Beatty was sweating too much about being considered the also-ran.

33/100