Travolta really carries this movie, some frankly odd casting choices aside, it was well acted, and fairly competently directed. It does show it's limited budget at times where some scenes could have used a few extra takes, and some better editing.
Realistically this was a great turn for Travolta who made some fairly bold choices for the character. He could have played Gotti off as cold and "chilling" man who could turn on the charisma at will; but instead played him off fairly earnestly. Which matches fairly well the characterizations of the Mob boss I've read over the years which painted him as a man who was charming and sociable, yet could turn violent and back to charming within consecutive moments.
I think that people may have preferred to see a more chilling portrayal more akin to Depp's in Black Mass. Which while was a great performance, failed to show why Bulger was a folk hero to many in Boston.
In the end, Travolta may have played the role too "straight" which humanized Gotti. Which certainly tuned many people off to the movie.
In the end, the budget was to me the biggest impediment to the movie's overall success. It could have used a better supporting cast, and some better scene choices at times.
7/10 that could have easily become a 9/10 had the quality been higher.
On a side note, am I the only one who's happy to finally see Travolta's face settling after what I can only assume was extensive plastic surgery? He looked like he was wearing a mask for a couple of years there. He's back to looking human, and while he'll never pull off 40 again, he's looking good for the first time in years.
Realistically this was a great turn for Travolta who made some fairly bold choices for the character. He could have played Gotti off as cold and "chilling" man who could turn on the charisma at will; but instead played him off fairly earnestly. Which matches fairly well the characterizations of the Mob boss I've read over the years which painted him as a man who was charming and sociable, yet could turn violent and back to charming within consecutive moments.
I think that people may have preferred to see a more chilling portrayal more akin to Depp's in Black Mass. Which while was a great performance, failed to show why Bulger was a folk hero to many in Boston.
In the end, Travolta may have played the role too "straight" which humanized Gotti. Which certainly tuned many people off to the movie.
In the end, the budget was to me the biggest impediment to the movie's overall success. It could have used a better supporting cast, and some better scene choices at times.
7/10 that could have easily become a 9/10 had the quality been higher.
On a side note, am I the only one who's happy to finally see Travolta's face settling after what I can only assume was extensive plastic surgery? He looked like he was wearing a mask for a couple of years there. He's back to looking human, and while he'll never pull off 40 again, he's looking good for the first time in years.