Review of Gomorrah (2008) by Ben M — 30 Jun 2010

I am going to come right out and say it, this movie kicks every other mob movie's ass! I have never seen a more movie more real, more unsettling, and more unflinchingly visceral as Gomorrah, a masterpiece of cinema that needs no drama or emotion to hide the truth and reality that it presents. It is quite simply, in a league of its own.

Director Matteo Garrone expertly executes this intertwining and compelling tale of the corruption and crime that plagues modern day Naples. The film has a feel of that of an art film but that doesn't mean it is beautiful to look at. The entire setting seems to be covered with a layer of grit that turns the Italian city and countryside into a striking picture that has its own sort of beauty to it. The film is shot in an almost documentary style, there are no noticeable enhancements everything is shot in sort of a real-life texture. The camera captures the film perfectly, between the lighting to the subtle things that on screen all of them just...so.....BRILLANT!

The film showcases five stories that show every angle of the social strata of the country as well as how each relate to the ruling crime syndicate: the Cammora. There's a delivery boy turned coke mule, a tailor who sells out to the Chinese, a business man who questions his line of work, and a couple of cocky teenagers looking to take over the world themselves. Each story gets its own time to shine until each of them seems to fall apart slowly but surely. There is no overly dramatic killings or quotable lines (the entire thing is in fast Italian anyway) it just happens as fast and brutal as would in real life. There are no punches pulled, no holds barred every killing is thrown right at you some even out of nowhere so that each them in all their style is planted into your brain. It left me unsettled and riveted.

Whether it's the creativity in its approach or the innovation in its delivery, Gomorrah is a landmark film that instantly cements itself as a modern crime masterpiece. Myself as a gangster fanatic and an appreciator of artistic cinema loved and adored this film to no end.