Corleone - The Complete Series - 6 DVD BOXSET - Totò Riina

I enjoyed this very much: it is grim, violent and enthralling. The acting, editing and not least the location all contribute powerfully to the hold the series exerts on us. A few personal observations: the boy who plays Toto in the first episode is particularly impressive. It seems to me a pity that he could not have been kept on for at least another episode. His successor creates an initial problem because of the lack of much physical resemblance, and as the storyline develops and he ages the make-up is far from subtle. I have to admit that I can’t quite make up my mind whether he has the physical presence to carry through his increasingly powerful role, though some of his acting is excellent.It is not of major concern to me that the story is allegedly based closely on fact. Unless one is knowledgeable re reality it has little bearing on enjoyment of the film. The one character introduced with no claims to having existed in reality is highly effective in alleviating much of the gloom and in holding the sequences of the story together. Many of the secondary roles are impressively done, including the female characters, and on the whole the incidents are gripping and convincing, if just occasionally striking a false note. So a few minor criticisms but I’d recommend “Corleone” as a compelling and absorbing experience.

I caught this by accident on SKY Arts catch up and was fascinated.Took a long time to find a quality DVD version with English subtitles and this release is first class.I pre-ordered itI have watched it all through since it arrived.What intrigues me is the fact that it is based on Fact and the Toto Riina who is still alive at 83 basically did everything that is shown in the movies.I believe he has watched to series in his prison in Italy.We have to respect and admire Falcone and the others who basically single handed took the Mafia on and did not live to see the end result.Riina, initially I found myself having sympathy with at his extremely poor childhood and his singled minded determination to over come thatAs in the case with all "dictators" he lost the plot eventually and I do believe he was sold out by Provenzano.The acting is first class, the production is first class and the story is factually quite true with the exception of Schiro who is a fictionalised representation of the fight of Good against Evil.When we watch movies such as the Godfather it is easy to forget just exactly what the Mafia does. The pain and terror it causes to normal human beings.This movie hides nothing and we realise just watching it how far these people are prepared to go in the pursuit of money and power. The movie deromanticises the Mafia and exposes the corruption at the very top of Politics.

Based pretty much on fact (with the exception of the role of Schiro who acts as a thread running through this long series) "Corleone" covers the rise of a number of Mafiosi from the town of Corleone in Sicily. Starting with the death of his father Toto Riina and his friends start to work with local mafiosi as a way of escaping the grinding poverty of farm-work. Poverty and hunger drive this brotherhood. Regarded as hicks by the snappier Palermo captains Riina uses his formidable intellect and clear strategies to hammer his way to the top of the heap, reaching as far as attacking the Italian state itself.Throughout the series (there is over 10 hours of TV here) all parties seem to have doubted Riina's willingness to up the stakes. Rivals are driving around without bodyguards to visit their girl-friends, judges go for a nice drive to a restaurant, it is as if they simply lack the imagination to predict the result. Eventually even men of honour crack and the arrival of the penitenti (super grasses) breaks through even the wall of omerta.Before Riina the mafia bosses were men who lived openly and grandly, but Riina was willing not to be seen, effectively living as a small farmer tending his vegetables and fruit, albeit an immensely wealthy small farmer. What was Riina's end plan after riling the State? The TV series portrays him as seeking a pardon in return for peace. Remarkable but bloody

If you're expecting a version of The Godfather this is not it. The Godfather had charm, charisma and the glitz and glamour of the periods in which it was set and is watchable many times over, whereas Corleone has none of the above but it is watchable simply because it has none of the above. As it progresses it may well become far better than it promises now (I am half way through). What it appears to have is grit, menace and violence in abundance which may appeal to many. The one thing I have failed to do is home in one character that I can empathise with; none of the characters have a great appeal. But production wise, it has been brilliantly done, atmosphere, the early poverty and the gradual history of he Mafia and it's spread. As said, I have not seen it all yet so I may be pleasantly surprised.

happy friend.

This is a series which won't disappoint. Although the acting seems ( at times) to be "over the top" ( when viewed from a perspective of more emotionally restrained cultures), it is probably not too far from how the real life persons being portrayed actually behaved.Nevertheless I do wonder how faithful the series is to the actual events - I suspect that at times any similarity is "co -incidental" at best.Even so, I enjoyed it.Each of the 6 episodes lasts for 90 to 100 minutes.I'd have preferred to have rated the series at three and a half stars but Amazon won't allow half stars. Oh well, if I am going to err it is on the side of being a bit conservative. How anybody can rate the series as worthy of 5 stars escapes me. At least my rating will help to adjust the average rating to more appropriate levels.