Mafia Wars

This film is an absolute mess from start to finish, filled with lazy writing, unrealistic reactions, and inconsistent character abilities.

For example, there's a scene where a guy is aiming a gun outside a packed café, and somehow, not a single person reacts. It's like the entire crowd is blind or just completely unfazed by the threat of violence. Then there's the main character, who pulls off an impressive long distance headshot with a pistol like a professional sniper, yet just a few scenes later, he's holding a machine gun at point blank range and somehow manages to miss.

The entire film is riddled with contradictions like this, making it frustrating to watch. The pacing is off, the plot is barely coherent, and the action sequences lack any real tension because of how absurdly inconsistent they are. It feels like the filmmakers just threw together a bunch of random action clichés without thinking about how they actually fit together.

Overall, it's all over the place, and not in a good way. If you're looking for a film that actually makes sense, you'd be better off watching something else.

The reason I gave this movie 3 stars and not zero is for a few reasons: I like Tom Welling (even though his acting in this sucked), I like Cam Giganet (even though his acting in this sucked), and the female lead had nice boobs (but her face was almost as bad as her acting. There's very little action, and when there is, it's very obvious that stunt doubles are being used. Think Spaceballs stunt doubles. Tom is a recently released convict who is roped into an undercover investigation by an American cop in Rome who's accent changes every few scenes. He is forced to go after Cam, who tries to play a crazy bad guy, but the writing doesn't give him much to work with. There's a female lead who I can barely remember aside from her "assets" and her horrible acting. Oh and the CGI is from a 90s TV movie. I had low expectations going in but holy crap this was bad.

You should always grade on a curve with movies. Not everything should be graded based on The Godfather or Citizen Kane. Go in with the right expectations on why you picked the movie. With Maria Wars, I expected an 80s/90s style action thriller, with some colorful characters with a nice backdrop. I liked Terry and Griff, both recognizable to Millennial audiences from Smallville and OC. It hit most of its marks on Action, Characters, and Rome was great scenery. Where it lost me was it trying to be too clever. Everyone is a double agent, everyone has a double cross, the drugs are always somewhere else. It got to the point where it didn't make sense, by the end, it twisted itself into a convoluted mess. I still don't know how Griff's brother got out lol. But, at no point was I bored or wanted to turn it off, and it went by fast, which is saying something. A 7/10 is what my scale is for something good, and this just missed the mark. But, for something new and different on Amazon Prime, I wouldn't say I was disappointed in time spent watching "Mafia Wars".

Film Review: Mafia Wars (2024)

Mafia Wars (2024) is a gritty, adrenaline-fueled crime drama starring Cam Gigandet, Tom Welling, and Al Linea. The film plunges viewers into a world of power struggles, betrayal, and revenge within the dangerous world of organized crime. Directed by an up-and-coming filmmaker, it blends action, suspense, and dramatic tension into a satisfying, albeit familiar, narrative.

The story follows Jake Rosetti (Gigandet), a former enforcer for the Italian-American mafia who is reluctantly drawn back into the criminal underworld after his brother is murdered in a gangland hit. Now faced with navigating a treacherous web of alliances and betrayals, Jake must balance avenging his brother's death with his desire to keep his family out of harm's way. Tom Welling stars as Detective Sean Dwyer, an embattled cop determined to bring down the mafia while dealing with his own personal demons. Al Linea, in his role as Salvatore "Sal" Montego, the cold-hearted mob boss, adds an old-school mafia flair to the proceedings.

Cam Gigandet delivers a compelling performance as Jake, bringing a mix of grit and vulnerability to his character. Gigandet shines in the film's intense action sequences, while also showing the emotional weight of a man caught between two worlds. Tom Welling's portrayal of Dwyer gives the film an added layer of moral complexity, as his character is torn between doing what's right and bending the law to achieve justice. Welling and Gigandet share some of the movie's strongest moments in their tense confrontations.

Al Linea's performance as Sal Montego is commanding, embodying the menacing calm of a seasoned mob leader. His scenes with Gigandet create an intriguing dynamic as the two men navigate a deadly chess game of power and survival.

The movie excels in its action and character performances, and Its high production values, well-choreographed action sequences, and strong performances keep the audience engaged throughout. The film's dark, moody cinematography also adds to the overall atmosphere, enhancing the tension and stakes in every scene.

Overall, Mafia Wars (2024) may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers a gripping, entertaining story that fans of mafia films will enjoy. With strong leads and intense action, it's a solid entry in the crime drama canon that's worth a watch.

I went into Deep Six (also known as Mafia Wars) hoping for a gritty crime thriller. What I got was a painfully slow, confusing mess that feels like it was written in a single night and filmed the next morning.

Tom Welling is completely wasted here. He looks like he's constantly wondering how he ended up in this project. The plot is all over the place, filled with tired mob clichés, cardboard characters, and dialogue so stiff it might have been AI-generated.

The editing is choppy, the pacing drags, and the action scenes are laughably bad. Every attempt at drama or suspense falls flat. And don't even get me started on the ending-it felt like they just ran out of money and decided to stop filming.

This isn't a deep dive into crime. It's a shallow stumble through bad storytelling. If you value your time (or Tom Welling's career), avoid this movie.