Almost a year after its release, ‘The Alto Knights’, the mafia film starring Robert De Niro, remains one of the biggest enigmas in cinema in 2025. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film that portrays the rivalry between crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese sank at the box office, yet offers one of De Niro’s most intriguing performances in the genre that made him famous. The production, which hit theaters last year, is undergoing critical reevaluation in early 2026, thanks to the veteran actor’s dual performance and the screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi, the same writer behind ‘Goodfellas’.
The film delves into the internal disputes that shaped organized crime in New York during the 1940s and 1950s, exploring classic themes like betrayal and ambition. Still, the difficulty in differentiating the characters’ voices and an uneven pace contributed to its below-expected commercial performance. Therefore, for fans of the genre and the actor, ‘The Alto Knights’ presents itself as a flawed gem that deserves to be rediscovered, especially now, when distance allows for a more serene analysis.
A Dual Performance and a Legacy in Question
The film’s greatest asset, without a doubt, lies in the challenge accepted by Robert De Niro. Thus, the actor not only portrays but brings to life two legendary mafia bosses in conflict. While Frank Costello appears as the more measured narrator and strategist, Vito Genovese steals the scene with a sharp wit and a charismatic, yet threatening, presence. However, the choice to use the same distinctive voice for both characters creates an initial sense of strangeness, a point that, nonetheless, does not invalidate the meticulous work of building distinct personalities. Furthermore, Levinson’s direction and Pileggi’s writing ensure an authentic setting, filled with sharp dialogue and moments of tension that echo the genre’s classics.
The film failed for reasons beyond the performance, perhaps involving its release timing and the expectations generated around De Niro’s name. As a result, it was overshadowed by other productions and quickly left theaters. Yet, its narrative substance and the homage to lesser-explored historical figures in cinema give it a peculiar charm. Therefore, in a landscape where streaming platforms rescue underestimated productions, ‘The Alto Knights’ finds a new opportunity to shine for the Brazilian audience, which has always been fascinated by good gangster stories.
Thus, while we await De Niro’s next steps, revisiting this work is a way to celebrate the versatility of an icon. The film may not reach the level of masterpieces like ‘The Irishman’, but it works as an interesting complement to the actor’s recent crime filmography. In this way, it proves to be a bold experiment that, with time, has all the potential to achieve cult classic status among enthusiasts.
