| Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Barry Levinson[1] |
| Produced by | Marc Fiore[2] |
| Starring | Ben Foster Al Pacino John Travolta |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures (USA) Paramount Pictures (non-USA) |
| Release date(s) | 2013 |
| Country | United States |
Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father is an upcoming Barry Levinson film starring Ben Foster, Al Pacino and John Travolta. It is the story of crime boss John Gotti and his son. The film will show according to Fiore Film the relationship between a "father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who, while brought up to lead a life of crime, chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself and the Gotti name".[2]
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John Gotti Jr. was head of the Gambino crime family, which in its time was the largest and most powerful crime organization in the United States. Known as the "Dapper Don," John Gotti's flamboyant style and outspoken nature made him one of the most notorious mobsters of the 20th century. Gotti died from throat cancer in 2002 while serving a life sentence. In 1988, at the age of 24, Gotti III. became a "made man," and was officially inducted into the Mafia, making him the heir- to head the Gambino crime family and follow in his father's footsteps. However, in 1999, Gotti III paid a his last visit to his incarcerated and dying father telling him he was ending his life of crime and departing from the family business. During the years that followed his father's death, Gotti III had a long legal battle ahead of him and served three jail sentences, totaling approximately nine years, for a variety of charges. Gotti III was released from prison in December 2009.[3]
In April 2010 it was confirmed that Gotti III was making plans for both a biopic and a documentary on his life and his relationship with his father.[11] American actor and director Sylvester Stallone was initially reported to be attached to the project, but by December 2010 both he and Gotti denied they were working together.[12][13] Gotti cited creative differences; "Stallone wanted a mob ‘shoot ‘em up’ movie. This is a father-and-son story"[13] The biopic project was formally confirmed in September 2010.[14] In a press conference on April 12, 2011, actors John Travolta and Joe Pesci were confirmed to have joined the project, playing John J. Gotti and his friend and fellow Gambino mobster Angelo Ruggiero respectively.[15] Travolta had previously met with Gotti III to discuss the role and received his endorsement.[16] Shortly after this announcement, intended director Nick Cassavetes left the project for the film Yellow and was replaced by Barry Levinson.[17][18]
Nick Cassavetes was originally on board to direct Gotti before scheduling issues with his indie drama "Yellow" forced producers to release him from his contract. Barry Levinson then took the directors chair in May 2011.[1] The subject of the film has garnered criticism from alleged victims and critics of the Gottis are expressing outrage over their glorification. "It's like putting salt in an open wound," says Scott Favara, the son of John Favara, who accidentally killed the John Gotti Jr. son, Frankie Gotti, in a 1980 car accident (Favara was driving and didn't see the boy on his bike). Favara soon disappeared and was last seen being shoved into a van. His body was never found, and varying accounts surfaced that mob associated murdered him and disposed of the body by putting it in a barrel of acid or entombing in concrete. Scott Favara, a policeman, says John Gotti Jr. "destroyed our family." [19] Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, of the non-profit international volunteer organization, who has a long running feud with the Gotti family and was shot several times in 1992 by a man later identified as an associate of John Gotti III's, also heavily criticised the production. "What we saw was an orgy of romanticism of organized crime," he says. "This movie is being billed as a love story between father and son. The media is just rolling over for them." [19][20]
There are also script limitations due to the subject matter on the film as The Son of Sam Law prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes. Therefore the film is only allowed depict crimes committed by the father John Gotti Sr and not of John Gotti Jr as he is involved in the production of the movie.[21]
During casting legal action has arisen as Joe Pesci sues film producers after being dropped from the role of Angelo Ruggiero, a friend John Gotti, for $3 million. Pesci claiming he put on more than 28 pounds to play an overweight enforcer Pesci claimed the producers, Fiore Films, reneged on the deal and offered him a lesser role and a salary of $1 million.[22] In legal papers , Pesci’s lawyer said: “He has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build.” However, Marc Fiore, rejected the claims, saying Peci's representatives told him months ago that Pesci was leaving the project until the original director, who had left, was replaced.[23] Pre-production is set to begin September 2011.[2]
Filming will occur in New York beginning Jan. 3 2012.[2]
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