Get Gotti

This documentary series boasts a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of Netflix's acclaimed true crime productions. Its greay quality and seamless transitions, coupled with cut scenes capturing the nostalgia of 1980s New York, contribute to its visual appeal.

However, the disappointment lies in the absence of any groundbreaking revelations or fresh insights. As a dedicated enthusiast of mob-related cinema and documentaries, my anticipation for novel perspectives was unmet. I know the gotti story well. Very well, but the absence of even one shred of new content was profoundly disheartening.

Regrettably, this series merely comprises federal agents recounting their experiences of planting surveillance devices in buildings, lacking the depth necessary to delve into Gotti's story.

For those well-versed in titles like "Fear City" or the HBO production on Gotti (which I highly recommend), this documentary does not offer much beyond its polished aesthetics and period-specific charm.

Most of this portrayed Gotti as a fashion model instead of what he really was: an uneducated half-wit and murderous thug. He had a man tortured and murdered because Gotti's idiot son was killed riding a moped in the streets. The mafia are nothing more than bullies who gang up on individuals. They are jackals who produce nothing and live off of the sweat of others.

Most of the people in this series had nothing but good to say about the creep, even some of the law enforcement types. Why would an FBI agent congratulate Gotti after one of his acquittals? The news people covering the cases were equally as obsequious and heavy with praise for this low-life.

Overall, this was poorly done and adds nothing new to the story.

The whole Gotti story is completely overdone so I'm surprised this series even got commissioned, although it was a good watch in that it gave you the perspectives of people who'd also been there at the height of his power not just some grey FBI agents. Yes, that Mouw guy is still there, dining off his contribution, but a fair amount of the interviewees are from a range of backgrounds - his associates all still revel in the age of course, like it was the pinnacle of their lives - that Giovino woman especially almost can't get over her dalliance with fame and power.

The programme's main takeaway is that law enforcement seem idiotic as most of them were in direct competition to arrest the man himself instead of cooperating with each other. They overlook some of his more heinous crimes too, focusing mostly on the Castellano hit (not what he did to his poor neighbour John Favara). Also the prosecutor Giacalone comes out of this looking awful: she sent jurors home in limos (so they could be tailed and paid off) and later exposed an FBI informant who was then killed....totally incompetent and it's no wonder Gotti stayed free for so long.

It's mostly a nostalgic look back for a lot of these ex-wiseguys and agents, to a time when they were important, on both sides of the law. You almost can't believe this sort of criminal organisation was allowed to exist so brazenly back then now you look back at it. But overall RIP to all his victims, this guy was no hero.

The rise and fall of crime boss John Gotti is an interesting story. There's even a secondary story, that of different U. S. enforcement agencies that were competing to convict him, rather than cooperating. Unfortunately, this Netflix documentary spins the story out to a far greater length than it requires, with too many talking heads saying things like "this time, I really thought we'd got him" ad naseum, and endless details provided that add little insight to the overall narrative. I feel that with Netflix there's often a presumption that "more is more", and what could have been gripping if briefer becomes repetitivie and dull. The series also allows former gangsters to laugh about their crimes under interview without challenge as if it was all good fun, which leaves a sour taste.

Well made and perfectly watchable but little more than an overview of the main events and certainly doesn't contain anything that hasn't been covered before in multiple docs and books before, often with a lot more info and context. In particular no mention of the fact there was at least one credible mob attempt to kill him after the Castellano hit, nothing about his son being run over and killed in 1980 (and the subsequent 'disappearance' of the driver), and nothing about perhaps the most absurd/arrogant murder attributed to him and caught on the ravenite tapes; having an underling 'whacked' for missing a couple of meetings!!