The first Last Don was an okay adaptation of Puzo's excellent novel, but this "sequel" is plain trash. Characters who were fully developed in the first film are turned into caricatures of killing machines. There's a real feeble effort to turn the climax of Last Don 2 to something like Godfather 2, but if fails, miserably, and let's face it, Jason Gedrick, while a fine actor, is no Al Pacino.
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drgibson4 August 2001
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The sequel to the wonderful "The Last Don" is a bit on the lighter but funnier side. Yet it works just as well. I have not seen the TV version, but the complete mini-series. It is longer (about 50 minutes) but I got more plot, more violence (the sequel is more graphic than the original) and oh, yes, more nudity (the first one had no nudity at all, and I should know since I watched the complete mini-series as well: four hours and a half). We get to admire the beauty of Andrew Jackson's buttocks. By the way, he is doing a very funny and successful imitation of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Most of the original cast returns. The only one who doesn't return is Daryl Hannah (who played Jason Gedrick's wife). She had been replaced by someone else, but it doesn't matter because her character is disposed off very quickly. Danny Aiello returns as the pivotal character, but he dies of old age (he was 86 years old) in the first 10 minutes. Even Joe Mantegna returns as Jason Gedrick's father, even if he was killed in the original movie. He comes in his son's dreams. Really. Give me a break. That it is the only thing that sounds shallow in this film. And again, the always fabulous Kirstie Alley comes back with a more important part: she falls in love for the first time in 30 years, with a Catholic priest nonetheless. And again her world crashes again, just when she was happy. Her last line in the movie is immortal. She tells Giorgio's future wife (Giorgio was her brother and one of her husband's killers): "I hope you will be just as happy as I was."
The sequel is a welcome continuation to the Clericuzio saga. If the Trimark bosses can hear me, bring on the third part. I can barely wait.
8/10.
P.S.: Does anyone know that "Last Don 2" was filmed in Toronto? I recognized one of the location in the movie. When Rose Marie comes to get her lover from the church, she goes to a church called "St. Cecilia Church". Well the location is very real because I pass almost every day by this church. Fellow Torontians, the church is located at the intersection of Annette St. & Pacific Ave. -
RuffRuff28 August 2003"The Last Don (Part I)" is not a spectacle but at least it's a very decent gangster film. Part II is a complete disaster, filled with a ridiculous plot, shallow (and highly unconvincing) characters, and poor acting from the likes of Miss Patsy Kensit.
The plot is nothing new: the head of the mafia family dies, the good nephew Cross, whose wife is murdered, comes back to the family and takes control of the family business. The film tries to make Cross a tragic hero being haunted by the past (his dreaming of his dead father), and portrays him as an angel being forced to become a mafia boss. We repeatedly see him showing "mercy" at those who betray him, yet as soon as he walks away, his henchmen always finish the job for him. Is the film trying to tell us that Cross is, after all, innocent of (some of) the crimes, that it's his henchmen, but not him, who are truly evil? Give us a break.
It is easy for Kristie Alley's character to gain our sympathy. After all, her husband and son are killed by her own family members. Her hatred towards her family (she spits and attacks the Don's dead body) is perfectly understandable, but one really wonders why she never leaves them. Instead, she cries every day, curses every one, and has no problem living on the expenses of her family which she detests, and retires to her little bedroom in the family house every night. She seeks consolation in the priest and falls in love with him, and when her family intervenes and uses the bishop to persuade the priest to give her up, she goes home and returns to her normal life of crying and cursing. Perhaps she is meant to be a doomed woman, unable to break away from the "evil clutches", but it is naive to assume that she's a totally innocent victim. There is no way that she can get away from the responsibility for causing her own sufferings.
The most incredibly pathetic character in the film must be the Austrian film star Dirk von Schelberg, obviously modelled on "Arnold". Dirk, with his very blond hair, fake German accent and unnecessary affection (to Claudia) in the public, is meant to be a contrast to his scheming, black-haired and cold-blooded Italian family-in-law. His character is completely hollow, and his presence (making a film called "The Fumigator" in which he kills giant insects) is a sad joke. It's even more pathetic to see Claudia genuinely mourns over his betrayal (his casual affairs), and her efforts to revive her studio from the Fumigator crisis.
Last but not least, is of course, Miss Patsy Kensit, who plays an undercover cop in Cross' family (as the teacher of Cross' "autistic" adopted daughter -- and no, the girl is not autistic, but mentally-challenged, and the film fails to tell the difference between the two) and suffers from a tremendous conflict when she genuinely falls in love with Cross. Her character lacks substance (it's embarrassing to see her trying to prove her loyalty to Cross) and Kensit's performance is poor beyond words, which is, as a matter of fact, up to her usual standard. -
I caught "The Last Don II" on the channel True Entertainment (an offshoot of the True Movies channels, which always show old and crappy American TV movies) the other night, when my mum wanted to watch it, as she had seen the first "Last Don" series many years ago, and was curious to see how they had continued it. We were both disappointed. Why? Because "Last Don II" is actually a comedy. It may not be sold as one, but believe me, it really really really IS. For one thing, the music for TLD2 sounds like the spoof "Godfather" music that Alf Clausen always does in The Simpsons whenever Fat Tony and his crew appear in it (which is ironic, considering that Joe Mantegna - the voice of Fat Tony himself - appears in this too, as part of some outlandish dream sequences). And who composed the music for this? None other than Angelo Badalamenti, the man who gave us such memorable and inventive music in his collaborations with David Lynch. For shame. And then there's the acting. Is there any? Very little, it turns out. Most of the cast members are as wooden as an elm tree. (This isn't helped by the presence of both Kirstie Alley AND Patsy Kensit, who are both the dampest of squibs in an ocean of damp squibs in this series.) But a few of the cast who emerge unscathed from this include a very young Alison Pill (who deserved better material, but thankfully went on to be extraordinary in "In Treatment," "Milk" and "Scott Pilgrim"), Jason Isaacs (HELLO TO JASON ISAACS!) and one cast member who I thought was Stephen Root, but apparently isn't, but who near the series' end breaks out through the dull dirge that has gone before, and realises that he's in a comedy, and so acts accordingly by going completely over the top of OTT...and then they throw him off the top of a building. (Boo!) And then there's the death scenes, which are tragically mishandled. How is it possible that scenes involving a man getting crushed by a shipping container, a woman being blown up by a bomb in a box, a man being strangled in a prison cell, and so on, be the most hilarious parts of the whole series? It's amazingly awful, and breathtakingly bad. It's almost the worst thing I've ever seen...but I've also happened to see David Lynch's "Wild At Heart", which thus far remains the worst film I've ever seen. Anyway, you've been warned. Only watch "Last Don II" if you're viewing as a comedy, and have a steady stream of alcohol to numb the pain. (Watch with friends, as well, for maximum enjoyment!) =))
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Are-Jay22 November 2001The story is good as is the plot and action. But the actors and actresses are a joke. This movie tries to rival the Godfather, but fails miserably. First of all, Jason Gedrick (a great actor) plays a lousy mobster. He is too soft and frail looking for a mafia tough guy. The characters of Claudia, Georgio, and the undercover FBI female cop --- were all played by lousy actors and actresses. They need real Italians like - Joe Pecshi, Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, Alyssia Milano, Tony Danza, or others. This movie may have been made for TV, but any solid Italians would laugh at this movie as it doesn't portray alot of Italian culture in it. Italian Culture is important for mob movies. I don't remember any of the characters speaking alot of Italian in the movie. And the character who played Claudia's unfaithful husband--- OH Please! What a loser! As if a Mafia girl would ever get involvoed with a fruitcake loser like that. But Kirsty Alley did a great job acting in the movie. Probably the best person in the movie.
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rps-230 August 2001I don't understand our fascination with the underworld (viz. the immense success of "The Sopranos.") but I share it. Perhaps it's like our fascination of the Nazis, an intriguing mix of elegance and evil, "The Last Don" is an obvious clone of the Godfather, including its score and the dark, warm toned cinematography. But that is not to say it isn't an excellent piece of work and a gripping story. There is graphic sex and blood spattered rat-a-tat-tat violence. But, unlike the Sopranos, the language is restrained. Interesting that women voters of all ages on IMDb gave it a unanimous ten. Do they enjoy the blood? Or perhaps their secret fantasy is bedding a Catholic priest. The film was shot in and around Toronto. The city once more demonstrates its remarkable diversity. But is it too much to hope that someday Toronto might play itself rather than stand in for New York. You probably could do a pretty good film about the Toronto mob!
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ceremonium245 April 2008I am. and always will bee a huge fan of Mafia movies; it has always been a way of life in the world. All these people saying these movies are an insult to Italians everywhere are ignorant. That is why we have movies, to do on screen and to watch things which reality will sometimes not allow us to do in real life! The Last Don and it's sequel are well worth the time to watch these movies. Do you think that real mobsters always looked like mobsters in real life? Hell, look at Anthony Spilotro. He was only 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 165 pounds! He was the Chicago Outfit's most notorious hit-man, but he didn't look like it! Anyway, anyone who hasn't had the chance to see these two great movies should do so!
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West_2330 July 2004I thought this was an amazing follow up to the first mini-series. You learn some more about the characters. Especially Rose-Marie (played by Kirstie Alley) who had, one of the worst lives in cinema history. Just when I thought her life was horrible enough it just gets worse in this second parter (and it had a chance to flourish). The move did what it was supposed to do, I felt for the character, I was horrified, saddened, angered, and so forth. Kirstie Alley once again proved her acting abilities with taking on the role of the daughter of the Don who goes "crazy". Superb!
:::SPOILER::: Also, the idea of the family crumbling and needing to rebuild it after the loss of the Don was done well. You could see the walls coming down around them, their own being quickly killed off. But they regained their power in the end. I thought this was a great follow up to a wonderful first mini-series. -
tuesda214 August 2018I scored this film a "7," as there were three subplots that distorted the concept of a Don. Were the following to be eliminated, this movie had the potential to equal its predecessor:
1-The Kirstie Alley/Jason Isaacs involvement. 2-The fumigator 3-The autistic child
It definitely is worth a look, as it presents the mob in a slightly unique light. -
M0rphin28 December 2005The characters were fakes, and the story needed some fresh cold water in the face. The movie is just like the comment Rob Johal made, something like "An insult to all Italians everywhere" or something. That guy is hilarious, and fake, just like the movie. "It's an insult to all Italians", "they need real Italians", he screams. Then again, his name is Rob Johal and he is from Canada, and he spells Joe Pesci "Joe Pechsi". The guy is as Italian as the characters he is criticizing, he probably thinks is some kind of mobster or something. That's the exact problem of the movie: the director, the actors and the writer were probably as genuine as our friend here. Like Italians, like movie.
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marktreut19 July 2001If only to see Cross, Gorgio and that psychotic moustachioed hit man of theirs finally get their just deserts! And I do not mean them getting lovely ice-cream with their wine for dinner in that palatial mansion! I mean a burst of machine-gun fire followed by all the sorts of tortures that they have inflicted on so many!
It is so discouraging to see the villains get away with it, even if the villains are the heroes! -
blondieblondze21 July 2007I saw this one first and I LOVED it. Then I went out and bought the first one. While the first one was excellent, this one is still nice to watch. I gave the movie an 8. But I give Jason Gedrick a 10!!!!!! I've always found him to be geeky and very blasé as an actor. But he is great in this role and he looks gorgeous!
The only thing I really didn't like was the casting of Patsy Kensit. I never really thought Darryl Hannah was "the most beautiful woman in the world" she was okay. Kensit just doesn't compare to some of the other women who have played romantic roles in these movies - and her acting seemed choppy.
Other than that, this movie is just like I said in the title - decent. -
patate-28 February 2000Very unlikely. Younger generation of mobsters kill everyone, just as The Godfather series has made us expect if it wasn't the cast is not credible, acting is one-dimension, sets are not credible. Yawn. I wished everyone who think this was good could see the Omerta tv series which was way beyond this.
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fart_fire694 September 2003Well, I thought the acting was better, and things didn't seem rushed compared to the first one... but I don't think this is what Mario Puzo was going for. I liked it a lot better then the first movie, but i thought the first movie did not live up to the book. The mafia war was great with all the back stabbing and having the FBI involved. The whole Rose-Marie business was a bit much. They butchered it too much. If you watched the first one, might as well watch this one for the mafia war.
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mitch-6222 March 2002The Last Don II was not written by Mario, or even based on any outline he came up with. I was glad it finally came out on video though, as I collect anything with David Marciano in it.
Last Don II served a good purpose. It tied up a lot of loose ends, gave some closure to certain characters, and allowed us a more intimate peek into what happened when time caught up with some of them.
It is a good advancement of the story line, tightly plotted, with some good twists and surprises. I enjoyed it, enjoyed the scenery, the sets, the costuming. The sets evoked a mood of unavoidable destiny, of the inflexibility of fate that surrounds some people.
Tragedy was inevitable, the triumphs small, the power structure unbreakable. Its rare to see American history brought forward into modern situations the way this film did, and I think it succeeded at that.
It seemed to be showing bits of a very small percentage of American culture, and there didn't seem to be much to attach it's message to the average viewer's life, and that seems to be a necessary ingredient for success in films. Still, I enjoyed the story, the way the film was put together, and the acting. I would have preferred someone older in the leading role, but that wasn't the story, was it?
Though Mr. Puzo had nothing to do with the film, I still think it was a successful sequel to his work. -
anvourl18 August 2002Even though I am not a fan of Mafia movies, I have seen quite a lot of them. So, considering what I have seen so far, I think that The Last Don II has not given realistic Mafia characters. Also, I think that so many people from different places are presented in the film, e.g. Hollywood, the Catholic Church, that it's difficult to watch the plot as it is developing.
Also, what I found completely unacceptable is the moral approach of the director. Cross is the worst of all the criminals who surround him; Without the least hesitation, people are tortured and killed according to his orders.***SPOILER*** He doesn't show any kind of remorse or sorrow, he doesn't even spend a second thought on the death of the woman (based on his orders once again)that he kept telling her how much he loved her and that he couldn't bear the thought that she might get killed!And it is the woman who risked everything for keeping him save;and Cross knew that because if he didn't believe her he would change the dates of the upcoming attacks to protect himself against the FBI.
And yet he's presented to us as the sweetheart murderer, the criminal with the appearance of an angel. He lives in a palace, he uses expensive cars, he's dressed in the most elegant clothes, he orders the death of people and we are... "praying" that nothing bad happens to him because we couldn't stand it! The whole idea is completely outrageous! -
bkoganbing18 December 2017Mario Puzo's continuing saga of the Clericuzio family continues with The Last Don II which has Godfather Danny Aiello passing on, but before that bringing back his grand nephew Jason Gedrick and proclaiming him his successor as head of the crime family. At the same time Michelle Burke, Gedrick's sister has taken over a film studio as part of the family enterprises and things are looking good for both.
But as Joe Mantegna said to his son, trust no one really. Ironically the same advice that Herod gave to the Emperor Claudius in I Claudius. And I did say Mantegna who if you remember the original series was killed. He comes back as a ghost for Gedrick and Gedrick listens because Mantegna is the only one who has no interests of his own on this earthly plane.
Both Gedrick and Burke deal with some attempted power plays to get them out. In the case of Burke it comes from former studio head Robert Wuhl who was fine in the first film, but really comes into his own in the sequel. He steals the film whenever he's on the screen and he's so incredibly arrogant and hateful that you will cheer when he gets his just desserts.
As for Gedrick his being betrayed by someone very close whom I will not reveal except to say jealousy can strike us all.
Also outstanding in this one as in the first film is David Marciano who is Aiello's son and passed over for succession, but quite content apparently in his role as consigliere.
The Godfather was a period piece and The Last Don takes us into more modern times, but some things never change in the culture Clericuzios operate in.
If we're lucky there might be a third installment. -
Squishy-124 January 2003If you're the sort of sick pervert who enjoys lurid depictions of terrified victims suffering horrific deaths, yet quails at the sight of blood, this is just the sort of cr** you're looking for; knifings, suffocations and strangulations galore, cutting "discreetly" away from the doomed victim and going to commercial as they are murdered. Ugh. Beyond that, it has no value whatsoever. "Mafia fans" have got to be the lowest rung on the Evolutionary Ladder.
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I enjoyed the movie,Jason Gedrick was wonderful,romance,breath-taking,and what every woman dreams of.When I viewed the movie I couldn't get that guy out of my head(Cross)he had characteristics of a mafia that I would like such as;jealousy.kill or be killed,secretive,a for real look,and most all passion.So to top it off very nicely he made the picture wonderful for me.I haven't seen The last Don 1 yet,but trust me when I say I will soon.I don't know that picture had to be good to me for me to want to see it twice,I never watch anything more the once if it doesn't capture my heart and this picture did,so The last Don 2 was more than good to me.
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jlmurn3325 March 2015I re watched this recently, and just shook my head. Putting aside the overacting that border-lined on caricature, and many poor attempts at creating "atmosphere", The Last Don II made the unforgivable omission of having little to no focus on eating! This is a crucial element to any mob movie, any movie about Italian-American culture in general for that matter.Where were the sausage and peppers,the spaghetti with the "Sunday gravy"? How could this be omitted. Meals are also an important element of setting someone up to be whacked. In movies, and historically, wise guys are often "hit" while sitting down to dinner. This is part of the reason so much gusto goes into eating; because a wise guy knows that any meal may be his last, so, one may as well enjoy that meal to its fullest!
On another note, I found it amusing just how Canadian this production was. I didn't need to see the CN Tower in the background, or to read the credits. As a Canadian who has grown up watching many lukewarm tax credited productions, you can just tell! -
Tanusha16 August 1999So real, so vitality, so absorbing movie! The Mario Puzo's characters live with us. Don, Cross de Lena, Dante, uncle Georgio.... they became the part of our life. This film make us to take thought.
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How can I justify a good review on this movie? Let's see...I can't. There should have never been a sequel in the first place. Though this movie was a big disappointment, it was way better than Mario Puzo's Omerta TV mini-series. Why, you ask. Because there was no Omerta TV mini-series based on the Mario Puzo novel. If you read the novel and watch the Omerta TV mini-series, you will understand. Anyway, if you decide to watch this movie(though I do not recommend it) I advise you to read novel first (if you have the time and patience), then watch the first part, and then the sequel. It should be more enjoyable that way...if that is possible.