Romanzo Criminale (15)

Romanzo Criminale (literally translated "Crime Novel") is based on the best selling book of that name by Giancarlo De Cataldo. It tells the story of a trio of childhood friends, as they progress from juvenile delinquent petty crime to becoming the crime kings of Rome as adults in the seventies and eighties. The characters are based on real life criminals and their exploits are set against and occasionally cross paths with events in what was a turbulent time for crime and terrorism in Italy's recent history, such as the abduction and assassination of Aldo Moro and the Bologna train station bombing.

Leader of the gang is Lebanese (Favino), so named after his drug of choice. It is he who suggests they spend the ransom money from their first major operation, the kidnapping of a wealthy aristocrat, as seed money to take over the Roman crime world, including the lucrative drugs trade. His loyal henchman is handsome, ice cool Freddo (Rossi Stuart), while the third major "shareholder" in the business is Dandi (Claudio Santamaria) who is enamoured by the proceeds of a life of crime - fast cars, expensive clothes and the beautiful prostitute Patrizia (Mouglalis), who becomes his girl. Determined to nail the gang is keen young detective Scialoja (Accorsi), who is also attracted to the charismatic Patrizia, while outside but involved with the group is Jasmine Trinca as Roberta, Freddo's girlfriend, who has no idea what her lover really does for a living.

Director Placido is painting on a very broad canvas as he traces the rise to underworld power of this criminal Roman empire over some fifteen years, as they crush their rivals, form an alliance with the Mafia and then inevitably implode, when the honour among thieves falls apart. Lebanese becomes literally power mad, Freddo dreams of going straight with his girl and Dandi starts his own operation on the side. While at times echoing The Godfather in its "family" loyalties and the way it draws you in to empathise with these reprehensible but fascinating characters, this is a very Italian film, stylish, violent with a good sense of the period and more than a suggestion that corruption is not just among the thieves but in the state as well. The actors, all veterans of Italian cinema, are totally convincing and it also uses Rome itself very effectively as the city, where these guys live and operate both in the back alleyways and in the shadow of structures such as the Colosseum and the Spanish steps; world famous tourist attractions but here just incidental background for an assassination or two. It's powerful stuff and totally engrossing.