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From:Danny Aiello , Joe Mantegna , Daryl Hannah , Jason Gedrick , Penelope Ann Miller , Graeme Clifford , Lions Gate ,
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Very imaginative and in-line with Puzo's other works, 2008-07-11
MARIO PUZO'S "THE LAST DON" is intended for those who are keenly interested
in the backdrop and in the behind the scenes look at the individuals running
their own business operations generating a lot of earnings, profits and cash,
in this instance, in the underworld.
Danny Aiello, does an outstanding job as the head honcho, who is lays out the
medium and long term strategies and plans of his group, and guides along his
caporegime grandsons, consiglieri and family members day in, day out.
Joe Mantegna's acting, as well, is on par, playing the hammer or collector
of illegal debts for the group, with a valid balanced approach between hard-line
rubouts and enjoying life outside work, interacting with a number of sensual women,
in the picture, such as Daryl Hanna, Penelope Anne Miller, Kirstie Alley, and more.
A significant amount of time is spent showing his married lifestyle, comprised of
his kids growing up, and guiding them along to a young adulthood until independence.
Jason Gedrick brings freshness to the picture, by living out the workoholic lifestyle of
a young single man, who runs the operations of a casino, in this case, with parallel
money laundering and the catching fraudsters at the tables- who cause illegitimate losses
to the casino. A chemistry with Hanna, is definitely the case on screen, as the two
are ambitious and successful individuals in their areas.
Extending over 4 hours, the movie captures the imagination of the viewing public, and
drawsm into the picture, that itself, although not released on DVD as widescreen
unfortunately, is still spectacular with its glossy, quality look and its sharpness and
focus throughout the filming.
The audio is comprised of instrumental or orchestral numbers that are no-nonsense,
adding beauty to the work overall, in a classical or European sense, that will
appeal mostly to those with a learned palate since it's not pop or rock based.
If there are perhaps some flaws to this picture, it would be the predictable nature of
events and in how things turn out, as well as the ending that panders to Hollywood, since
the guy gets the gal, and the bad guys get what they deserve. Another flaw is namedropping
Schwartzie, and Van Damme as stars and simulating the filming of a picture inside a picture
with kd land as the director, which is a distraction in the overall work, and dates it,
although it perhaps lessens the introspective social view of the characters.
A curious aspect, also Hollywoodian, is the tendency to introduce a disability or disease to
the public by showing a character suffering from it, in this case, the autism of Hanna's daughter.
The positive aspects, aside from those already mentioned, is obviously the
presence of Europe, its culture, values, gastronomic lifestyle on people ; the characters,
Italian Americans, are shown as being at ease living in Sicily and Italy as much as in the
USA, equally patriotic and relaxed in both lands, with professional contacts on
both continents, for business purposes.
Aiello is notable in his portrayal of the Don, who is a deep philosophical thinker, having no
no guilt or remorse for past actions based on direct knowledge of the injustices and poverty
experienced in Sicily, from the government and from the entrenched Establishment there against
the common man, who, "in God's world, a prison, must earn his daily bread in face of others who
are merely carnivores, giving no mercy".
A rapport is built with viewers, by laying out a system of human values, discipline, a conduct
that is imposed on and followed by members of the organization, showing its hierarchy, and a bit how
one joins it and progresses from being a soldier in an enclave, to making your bones, being a made man, etc.
Known issues with society are shown, such as confidential informants, double agents, corrupt law defectives,
payoffs to Senators, with the "quid pro quo" as a modus operandi, as the mob being called upon
to right injustices, as a vigilante vs unpunished individuals having beat the justice system, etc.
There is a parallel with Puzo's earlier work, in that the most successful and talented capo is
the one who was first financially successful outside of the organization, not having wanted originally
to belong to it, balancing other goals outside of it, and leading his own life, etc
Viewer reactons may vary in face of the wisdom given in the narrative, suggesting love is unreliable
as compared to gratitude, obedience and harmony..."She's dangerous...from being too skilled in bed."
A cynical comment is made of CEO, some of whom are weak from the need for eroticism, and in turn,
easily manipulated by personal relationships of colaborators.
A mention is made of the witness protection program, the RICO laws, how informants can rebuild their lives
after serving as a stool to the FBI not without repercussions since, as Aiello shows, stools are
not tolerated, immediately ordering a hit.
The violence is modest in this movie, in terms of rubouts; the code words being preferred in face of
wiretaps and bugs such as confirmation or communion.
The tourism attractions of Las Vegas and Nevada is spectacularly shown.
In the Puzo tradition, fundamental life-altering events are also shown, such as marriage , birth , death ,
communion, baptism, the ups and downs of relationships, the rivalries, etc, and as such, he formula is
reminiscent of his other works yet more restrained than earlier works in terms of brutality.
 The Last Don, DVD, 2007-08-23
I had been looking for a copy of the DVD, Tne Last Don, for years. I finally got a computer and went online in search. To my surprise I foumd a copy. I ordered it, and received it. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am so glad I checked the internet. Thank you Amazon, you brought back some really good memories to us.
The Julianas
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
Fantastic Mafia Movie, 2007-06-08
I saw this on tv, and bought it as a gift to a Mafia fantatic, and he loved it!
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
The Last Don by PK Reyes, 2007-05-13
Now this was a good Mafia Movie! Action, Action, and more Action. The acting was supuerb! Danny Aiello out done himself in this. This movie is about a mafia family, how father finally wanted the family to go legit. They were too far in to get out. Movie not for anyone under 13. The movie is rather long, but it won't matter because the action, drama, story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time! This movie has a great group of actors. The movie is long, but the actions seems to never end. I tried to find this movie in the library, video stores, I had difficulty finding it. Oh I found the book, but I remember seeing the movie years ago as a mini series.Thank you Amazon for having it available. What other little treasures do you have??
1 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
 I've got space for this, 2007-04-25
Kept in suspense every minute. Danny Aiello finally displays his finer talent as the Don. Has the required skill. Kirsty Alley portrays dreadful hate and darkness toward the Don, the Clericuzio. Jason Gedrick, innocent from the start, a given for the future. Serious family business headed toward the flame. Ruthless to the point, perhaps wiser.
Never cross the Don. Ever.
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