Mario Puzo's The Last Don
by Graeme Clifford
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Danny Aiello, Daryl Hannah, Jason Gedrick, Joe Mantegna, Penelope Ann MillerDirector: Graeme Clifford
Producer: Frank Konigsberg
Producer: James T. Davis
Producer: Joyce Eliason
Writer: Joyce Eliason
Producer: Larry Sanitsky
Producer: Scot J. Kelly
Writer: Mario Puzo
DVD: 2 Sides, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 258 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-12-22
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Reviews of Mario Puzo's The Last Don
DVD Review: get your pop corn ready
Summary: 5 Stars
to me beter than yes the godfather more cold blooded and ruthless a true puppet master the corleone's would not stand a chance danny aiello is masterful well done riviting worth the dollar any day is a goodday to watch this classic a must have joe mantenga best role plays the families top hitman the storyline is good the new pinical of mafia movies the sun has set on don vito the last don is like casino mixed with the godfatherDVD Review: Very imaginative and in-line with Puzo's other works
Summary: 4 Stars
MARIO PUZO'S "THE LAST DON" is intended for those who are keenly interested
in the backdrop and in the behind the scenes look at the individuals running
their own business operations generating a lot of earnings, profits and cash,
in this instance, in the underworld.
Danny Aiello, does an outstanding job as the head honcho, who is lays out the
medium and long term strategies and plans of his group, and guides along his
caporegime grandsons, consiglieri and family members day in, day out.
Joe Mantegna's acting, as well, is on par, playing the hammer or collector
of illegal debts for the group, with a valid balanced approach between hard-line
rubouts and enjoying life outside work, interacting with a number of sensual women,
in the picture, such as Daryl Hanna, Penelope Anne Miller, Kirstie Alley, and more.
A significant amount of time is spent showing his married lifestyle, comprised of
his kids growing up, and guiding them along to a young adulthood until independence.
Jason Gedrick brings freshness to the picture, by living out the workoholic lifestyle of
a young single man, who runs the operations of a casino, in this case, with parallel
money laundering and the catching fraudsters at the tables- who cause illegitimate losses
to the casino. A chemistry with Hanna, is definitely the case on screen, as the two
are ambitious and successful individuals in their areas.
Extending over 4 hours, the movie captures the imagination of the viewing public, and
drawsm into the picture, that itself, although not released on DVD as widescreen
unfortunately, is still spectacular with its glossy, quality look and its sharpness and
focus throughout the filming.
The audio is comprised of instrumental or orchestral numbers that are no-nonsense,
adding beauty to the work overall, in a classical or European sense, that will
appeal mostly to those with a learned palate since it's not pop or rock based.
If there are perhaps some flaws to this picture, it would be the predictable nature of
events and in how things turn out, as well as the ending that panders to Hollywood, since
the guy gets the gal, and the bad guys get what they deserve. Another flaw is namedropping
Schwartzie, and Van Damme as stars and simulating the filming of a picture inside a picture
with kd land as the director, which is a distraction in the overall work, and dates it,
although it perhaps lessens the introspective social view of the characters.
A curious aspect, also Hollywoodian, is the tendency to introduce a disability or disease to
the public by showing a character suffering from it, in this case, the autism of Hanna's daughter.
The positive aspects, aside from those already mentioned, is obviously the
presence of Europe, its culture, values, gastronomic lifestyle on people ; the characters,
Italian Americans, are shown as being at ease living in Sicily and Italy as much as in the
USA, equally patriotic and relaxed in both lands, with professional contacts on
both continents, for business purposes.
Aiello is notable in his portrayal of the Don, who is a deep philosophical thinker, having no
no guilt or remorse for past actions based on direct knowledge of the injustices and poverty
experienced in Sicily, from the government and from the entrenched Establishment there against
the common man, who, "in God's world, a prison, must earn his daily bread in face of others who
are merely carnivores, giving no mercy".
A rapport is built with viewers, by laying out a system of human values, discipline, a conduct
that is imposed on and followed by members of the organization, showing its hierarchy, and a bit how
one joins it and progresses from being a soldier in an enclave, to making your bones, being a made man, etc.
Known issues with society are shown, such as confidential informants, double agents, corrupt law defectives,
payoffs to Senators, with the "quid pro quo" as a modus operandi, as the mob being called upon
to right injustices, as a vigilante vs unpunished individuals having beat the justice system, etc.
There is a parallel with Puzo's earlier work, in that the most successful and talented capo is
the one who was first financially successful outside of the organization, not having wanted originally
to belong to it, balancing other goals outside of it, and leading his own life, etc
Viewer reactons may vary in face of the wisdom given in the narrative, suggesting love is unreliable
as compared to gratitude, obedience and harmony..."She's dangerous...from being too skilled in bed."
A cynical comment is made of CEO, some of whom are weak from the need for eroticism, and in turn,
easily manipulated by personal relationships of colaborators.
A mention is made of the witness protection program, the RICO laws, how informants can rebuild their lives
after serving as a stool to the FBI not without repercussions since, as Aiello shows, stools are
not tolerated, immediately ordering a hit.
The violence is modest in this movie, in terms of rubouts; the code words being preferred in face of
wiretaps and bugs such as confirmation or communion.
The tourism attractions of Las Vegas and Nevada is spectacularly shown.
In the Puzo tradition, fundamental life-altering events are also shown, such as marriage , birth , death ,
communion, baptism, the ups and downs of relationships, the rivalries, etc, and as such, he formula is
reminiscent of his other works yet more restrained than earlier works in terms of brutality.
DVD Review: The Last Don, DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been looking for a copy of the DVD, Tne Last Don, for years. I finally got a computer and went online in search. To my surprise I foumd a copy. I ordered it, and received it. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am so glad I checked the internet. Thank you Amazon, you brought back some really good memories to us.
The Julianas
DVD Review: Fantastic Mafia Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this on tv, and bought it as a gift to a Mafia fantatic, and he loved it!DVD Review: The Last Don by PK Reyes
Summary: 5 Stars
Now this was a good Mafia Movie! Action, Action, and more Action. The acting was supuerb! Danny Aiello out done himself in this. This movie is about a mafia family, how father finally wanted the family to go legit. They were too far in to get out. Movie not for anyone under 13. The movie is rather long, but it won't matter because the action, drama, story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time! This movie has a great group of actors. The movie is long, but the actions seems to never end. I tried to find this movie in the library, video stores, I had difficulty finding it. Oh I found the book, but I remember seeing the movie years ago as a mini series.Thank you Amazon for having it available. What other little treasures do you have??
Description of Mario Puzo's The Last Don
If you have an appetite for Sicilian soapers, then you're like all those other people who made Mario Puzo's The Last Don the highest Nielsen-rated show for the week in mid-May 1997 when it originally aired. And who could blame you, since the story line of this TV miniseries is chock-full of all the familiar elements that make up a bestseller--power, money, sex, murder, gambling, madness, fame, Hollywood, loyalties made and broken. The story proper begins with a little Romeo and Juliet when Rose Marie, daughter of Don Domenico Clericuzio (Danny Aiello), falls for the youngest son of the warring Santadio family. On their wedding night, Rose Marie's new husband and the entire Santadio family are slaughtered by the Clericuzios to avoid further conflict between the two families, and Rose Marie goes completely insane and grows up to be Kirstie Alley. But not before she gives birth to another Santadio, Dante (so named because he has to live in Hell), in whom she invests all her hatred for her own family. So he grows up to be a psychotic hitman, played with sly and sadistic ingenuity by Rory Cochrane. The Clericuzios' chief executioner, Pippi (played with smooth aplomb by Joe Mantegna), is responsible for killing Rose Marie's husband, and wants his own son, metaphorically overburdened with the name "Cross," to follow in his footsteps. The sins of the fathers are visiting all over the sons in this picture, and naturally the two kids will have to resolve this inheritance. The acting is the main attraction here. Aiello in particular invests The Don with a stately grace that is just right. --Jim GayGeneral DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Twilight (Two-Disc Special Edition)Universal; Release date: 2009-03-21; DVD
Best price: $15.88
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Full-Screen Edition)Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Lost: The Complete Fifth SeasonRelease date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $36.99
Price in other shops:
The Proposal (Single Disc Widescreen)BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-10-13; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
![Angels & Demons [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Angels-Demons-Blu-ray-B002O5M4SU-X.jpg)
Angels & Demons [Blu-ray]SONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2009-11-24; DVD
Best price: $18.90
Price in other shops:
Four ChristmasesNEW LINE HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-24; DVD
Best price: $12.66
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Two-Disc Limited Special Edition + Digital Copy)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Julie & JuliaRelease date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Angels & Demons (Single-Disc Theatrical Edition)SONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2009-11-24; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
WisegalSTARZ/SPHE; Release date: 2008-12-02; DVD
Best price: $8.92
Price in other shops:
The SicilianLIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2001-11-20; DVD
Best price: $2.25
Price in other shops:
MobstersUNI DIST CORP. (MCA); Release date: 2003-09-30; DVD
Best price: $4.53
Price in other shops:
WannabesDEMEO,WILLIAM; Release date: 2003-02-18; DVD
Best price: $2.56
Price in other shops:
This Thing of OursMAVERICK ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2006-03-07; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Gotti: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Mafia DonHBO HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2000-09-19; DVD
Best price: $3.71
Price in other shops:
Youngest GodfatherRelease date: 2005-02-08; DVD
Best price: $3.97
Price in other shops:
Boss of BossesTURNER HM ENTERTAINM; Release date: 2001-10-23; DVD
Best price: $12.30
Price in other shops:
Bella MafiaDVD
Best price: $16.95
The Last Don IIGEDRICK,JASON; Release date: 1999-05-25; DVD
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops: