# Gotti (1996 film)

Gotti is a 1996 American crime drama television film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Steve Shagan, based in part on the 1996 non-fiction book Gotti: Rise and Fall by Jerry Capeci and Gene Mustain. The film stars Armand Assante in the title role as infamous Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, along with William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. It aired on HBO on August 17, 1996.
Assante won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for his performance. Assante received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie the same year.

## Plot

The film starts In 1973 in New York, and ends in 1992, with Gotti's imprisonment. Gotti's association with three mobsters is also highlighted in the film: a father-son like relationship with Gambino underboss Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce, his deep but rocky friendship with Gotti crew member and longtime friend Angelo Ruggiero, and the respect and ultimate frustration that he felt for the man who became his underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano.
The film details Gotti's rise within the Gambino crime family, as an unofficial soldier (soldato) sent to prison following the murder of James McBratney, then being promoted to captain (or capo) after Neil's retirement, and finally becoming boss of the family by arranging a hit on "Big" Paul Castellano in 1985. Following the murder of Castellano, the film concentrates on the legal trials of John Gotti: one for assault and two for racketeering under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes.
Gotti's famous personality, trial acquittals, and media attention are all dramatized. The film ends with Gotti's conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment at Marion Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois when Gravano turns state's evidence and agrees to testify against Gotti in exchange for witness protection. The film is primarily based on the columns of reporter Jerry Capeci, who also wrote the novel that documented Gotti's rise and fall inside the Gambino crime family and served as executive producer of the film which was based on his novel.

## Cast

* Armand Assante as John Gotti
* William Forsythe as Sammy Gravano
* Anthony Quinn as Aniello Dellacroce
* Vincent Pastore as Angelo Ruggiero
* Frank Vincent as Robert DiBernardo
* Richard C. Sarafian as Paul Castellano
* Dominic Chianese as Joe Armone
* Raymond Serra as Frank LoCascio
* Tony Sirico as Joe Dimiglia
* Al Waxman as Bruce Cutler
* Scott Cohen as Gene Gotti
* Robert Miranda as Frank DeCicco
* Marc Lawrence as Carlo Gambino
* Alberta Watson as Victoria Gotti
* Tony De Santis as John Favara
* Gil Filar as Frank Gotti
* Gerry Mendicino as Peter Gotti
* Yank Azman as Judge Nickerson
* Frank Crudele as Nicholas Scibetta
* Frank Pellegrino as Carmine Russo

## Production

Shooting took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Assante put on 35 pounds to play Gotti.

## Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 60% rating based on five reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10. Jeremy Girard of Variety called it "a fairly standard-issue gangster flick" that is problematic for its matter-of-fact presentation. Caryn James of The New York Times criticized its "docudrama syndrome", in which biographical dramas adhere closely to the historical record to prevent lawsuits despite the need for more characterization.
Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times called it "one of the better mob movies of the decade, and surely the best gangster portrait ever made primarily for television". TV Guide rated it 2/5 stars and described it as too detailed for casual viewers and too inaccurate for enthusiasts.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 1997 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Two-Hour Movie for Non-Commercial Television | Zach Staenberg | Won |
| 1997 | American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movie of the Week or Pilot | Alar Kivilo | Nominated |
| 1997 | Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting | Avy Kaufman | Nominated |
| 1997 | Cairo International Film Festival | Golden Pyramid Award | Robert Harmon | Nominated |
| 1997 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials | Robert Harmon | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Armand Assante | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Anthony Quinn | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing – Music – Television Movies of the Week, Pilots or Miniseries | Bill Abbott | Nominated |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Mark Isham | Nominated |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Mark Isham | Nominated |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Gary Lucchesi, David Coatsworth, and Robert McMinn | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Armand Assante | Won |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special | Robert Harmon | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special | Steve Shagan | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special | Alar Kivilo | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single Camera Production | Zach Staenberg | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special | Robert W. Glass Jr., Ezra Dweck, Dan Wallin, and David Lee | Nominated |
| 1997 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Anthony Quinn | Nominated |
| 1997 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Armand Assante | Nominated |