Tag Archives: Mafia

The Gentlemen: The Road To Kingdom [S2E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A delightfully terse and messy return to a fascinating series.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Netflix service that I used to view this series.

The Price to buy a Cash-strapped Lord.

The Gentlemen Review –

Back in 2024, when I heard that they were going to make a spiritual homage to the movie The Gentlemen on a vibes level while keeping the title, I was a touch concerned. I shouldn’t have been, because Guy Ritchie’s works tend to be interesting if nothing else. The first season was full of style, but a bit uneven; it was absolutely enough to make me want to see where they go in a second outing.

So, to set the scene, we open with Edward “Eddie” Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead (Theo James), having a very, very, very bad day. Three months earlier, things are looking a lot better for the Duke, as he starts his manipulations for Susie’s (Kaya Scodelario) father, Bobby (Ray Winstone). All he has to do is grease Lord Richard Hawthorne (Hugh Bonneville) to get a peerage in the House of Lords, and keep his new Italian fixer Cico (Michele Morrone) in line. What is the worst that could happen? Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.  

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The Alto Knights – Movie Review

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TL;DR – An interesting experiment that looks back on America’s past, anchored by Robert De Niro’s dual performances. Compelling right up to the point it starts meandering everywhere.    

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I was invited to a press screening of this film.

Robert De Niro playing two different mobsters.

The Alto Knights Review –

When it comes to mobster films set in and around New York, there are few names as crucial as Robert De Niro. So, when you hear that he is taking not just one lead in a new mob film but pulling double duty as both of the main antagonists, based on a real event, well, that is a scenario that calls for attention.   

So, to set the scene, it is 1957 on the streets of New York City where professional gambler Frank Costello (Robert De Niro) has just arrived home after a charity dinner and is waiting for the lift up to his penthouse apartment when he hears his name called out from behind, and Vincent Gigante (Cosmo Jarvis) promptly shoots him in the head. Frank survives, but he is the boss of bosses, who would put a hit out on him. Well, a rival did not just betray him but the one person he once called a friend, Vito Genovese (Robert De Niro).   

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