Get Gotti

This is an extremely comprehensive three-episode series on Netflix about the takedown and multiple investigations on known mafioso John Gotti of the Gambino Crime Family, NYC, USA.

There's plenty of testimonies from ex-members of the Gambino Crime Family to the law enforcement officers and judges and witnesses in taking him down.

Extraordinary accounts on an extraordinary man. Gotti sought fame and power and the ruthless rise to the top of the Gambino syndicate in whatever way possible in order to elevate his status as a legend amongst the five families.

He succeeded but in doing so it became his downfall. The strong arm of the law came in hard and it was brutal.

Bugged devices in his special operation bar and video footage of him and his gang members meeting casually on strolls around his protected areas.

There was FBI involvement and the surveillance was hot. Unfortunately due to the limitations of bugging technology in the 1980's it was difficult to accurately record conversations in the Gotti stronghold bar.

They tried multiple times and eventually got better. Historical footage and reenacting of this period is very well montaged by the filmmakers.

Dialogue is extremely strong in the documentary with the quirks from both law enforcement and the Gangsters on display. A unique insight into both operations and how they got their man.

It's a great American story and worthy viewing for any aspiring criminal as it shows that really crime does not pay. It's a vicious circle and you usually end up dead or in jail or on witness protection. The lucky ones get to do a bit of time and eventually walk free; often consulting the FBI/police on their specialist subject as part of a plea deal.

It's a great documentary and extremely well articulated. I've read the Real Godfathers' book and it's a very similar tone with the dialogue and how the mafioso acted.

This show should be used for the studies of young professional agents to understand the inner detail of the mob mindset. It's very accurate and very professionally done and highly-engaging. Excellent job. 8/10.

I assume you did ... as did I ... and I will stick to my no pun intended saying, claiming my innocence ... speaking of which: this brings us to Gotti ... who got acquitted a lot ... as in Jurys not finding him guilty for obvious crimes ... how that happened? Well this show is here to give us an insight to the rise and eventual fall of Gotti (everyone gets a reality check sooner or later).

The romanticizing of the Mafia and mobsters is quite common ... I reckon movies and other media outlets had a hand to play in that. If you see someone like Gotti (even my mom was like "he is so well dressed") ... there is a connection you want to build. Well this will be a deconstruction of that as much as possible.

Great interviews with surviving members - from both sides ... and a great look into what happened and how Gotti got away with so much stuff for so long ... which made him think he is invincible apparently ... kind of like Denzels character in Training Day, even though he obviously portrayed a cop ... if you are into docu series ... this is quite a good one.

Netflix's Get Gotti (2023) is a slickly produced docuseries that dives into the rise and fall of John Gotti, the Teflon Don with a flair for the dramatic. Equal parts history lesson and crime thriller, it walks the fine line between admiration and indictment, showing how Gotti's larger-than-life personality made him both a media darling and a federal headache.

The pacing is sharp, the interviews are juicy, and the archival footage reminds us why Gotti was the gangster who wouldn't quit-until he did. It's got all the mob lore, courtroom drama, and wiretap paranoia you'd expect, wrapped in a binge-worthy package.

Is it groundbreaking? Not exactly. But it's a polished, engaging watch that understands its subject's mythos. If you like your true crime with a dash of old-school swagger and a pinch of federal persistence, Get Gotti is a hit worth taking.

This documentary series boasts a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of Netflix's acclaimed true crime productions. Its greay quality and seamless transitions, coupled with cut scenes capturing the nostalgia of 1980s New York, contribute to its visual appeal.

However, the disappointment lies in the absence of any groundbreaking revelations or fresh insights. As a dedicated enthusiast of mob-related cinema and documentaries, my anticipation for novel perspectives was unmet. I know the gotti story well. Very well, but the absence of even one shred of new content was profoundly disheartening.

Regrettably, this series merely comprises federal agents recounting their experiences of planting surveillance devices in buildings, lacking the depth necessary to delve into Gotti's story.

For those well-versed in titles like "Fear City" or the HBO production on Gotti (which I highly recommend), this documentary does not offer much beyond its polished aesthetics and period-specific charm.

The whole Gotti story is completely overdone so I'm surprised this series even got commissioned, although it was a good watch in that it gave you the perspectives of people who'd also been there at the height of his power not just some grey FBI agents. Yes, that Mouw guy is still there, dining off his contribution, but a fair amount of the interviewees are from a range of backgrounds - his associates all still revel in the age of course, like it was the pinnacle of their lives - that Giovino woman especially almost can't get over her dalliance with fame and power.

The programme's main takeaway is that law enforcement seem idiotic as most of them were in direct competition to arrest the man himself instead of cooperating with each other. They overlook some of his more heinous crimes too, focusing mostly on the Castellano hit (not what he did to his poor neighbour John Favara). Also the prosecutor Giacalone comes out of this looking awful: she sent jurors home in limos (so they could be tailed and paid off) and later exposed an FBI informant who was then killed....totally incompetent and it's no wonder Gotti stayed free for so long.

It's mostly a nostalgic look back for a lot of these ex-wiseguys and agents, to a time when they were important, on both sides of the law. You almost can't believe this sort of criminal organisation was allowed to exist so brazenly back then now you look back at it. But overall RIP to all his victims, this guy was no hero.