Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy) is no stranger to both the crime genre and collaborating with Robert De Niro, and their collective experience are fusing with The Alto Knights, which follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese (both portrayed by De Niro), as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.
As the biographical crime drama arrives in theatres this week, our Peter Gray spoke with the celebrated director about working with De Niro, balancing historical accuracy and creative interpretation, and what his hopes are for the film itself.
Looking at your career, it’s incredibly varied with the genres that you’ve entertained. And if I’m correct, this is your fifth time working with Robert De Niro. Being so familiar with him as a collaborator, as well as his experience within the crime genre, were there any insights into his performance in this film that surprised you or proved of benefit?
Well, there’s always moments that surprised me when you’re working with Bob. I mean, that’s why he’s such an amazing actor, because he’s so well prepared that if he improvises, it’s not just some random thing. Not that he’s not prepared or just going through the motions, but if things happen (he’s) connect to what the scene is about. So those surprises will happen periodically, and that’s the excitement, and that’s what makes De Niro one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. I mean, quite extraordinary.
When it comes to real-life figures and films based on fact, is there a debate on historical accuracy with creative interpretation?
I think when you’re doing a film, it’s a film. It’s not a documentary. How accurate can you be? Sometimes you’re trying to be completely accurate, and someone will say that it’s not the way it happened. There aren’t many times where there’s one truth to something in this particular film. Many of these things, in fact, did happen, in terms of incidents. (Vito and Frank) were childhood friends. They did evolve. (Vito) became the head of the mafia. He was much wilder in his behaviour, more ruthless. On the other hand, Frank, as he evolved, became much more deliberate. He looked at the mafia almost like a corporation. And that becomes the distinction which leads to the ultimate conflict that (this film) is based on. So there are these pieces of real information. How do we want to frame that? Obviously the dialogue is going to be made up, there were no audio tapes of these conversations.
Was there anything that surprised you the most about what you uncovered during your research?
No, I think what surprised me, and what I hope for, is that we’re going to deliver the performances that are necessary, and we are going to define the scenes in terms of their impact and their importance.
Well, you’ve definitely delivered. Thank you so much for taking the time out. And as someone who’s a Michelle Pfeiffer fan, getting to talk to you continues my six degrees of separation regarding those that have worked with her, so thank you for Wizard of Lies as well.
Oh, she was so terrific in that movie.
Fantastic. Thank you so much.
The Alto Knights is screening in Australian theatres from March 20th, 2025, before opening in the United States on March 21st.
