Gotti (2018): A Crime Biopic Lost in Its Own Legend
Gotti, released in 2018, is a crime biopic that attempts to chronicle the rise and fall of one of America’s most infamous mob bosses—John Gotti, the so-called "Teflon Don." Directed by Kevin Connolly and starring John Travolta in the title role, the film spans over three decades of Gotti’s life, from his early days in the Gambino crime family to his eventual conviction and death in prison. Despite the promise of a gripping gangster tale rooted in real history, Gotti failed to meet critical expectations and is remembered more for its ambition than its execution.
The film’s narrative is structured through the lens of Gotti’s relationship with his son, John Gotti Jr., who narrates parts of the story. This father-son framing attempts to humanize the larger-than-life figure of Gotti, showing not only his ruthless leadership within organized crime but also his role as a protective, even affectionate, family man. The story covers Gotti’s various criminal enterprises, including extortion, racketeering, and murder, as well as his eventual betrayal by his right-hand man, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.
John Travolta gives a committed performance as Gotti, physically transforming himself with heavy makeup and adopting the swagger and accent of the notorious mobster. Travolta’s portrayal is intense and sincere, and at times even charismatic, but it is ultimately undermined by a disjointed script and uneven direction. The film tries to cover too much in too little time, rushing through decades of criminal history with rapid-fire scenes and jarring time jumps. The result is a confusing narrative that fails to develop key relationships or offer insight into Gotti's inner world.
One of the film’s most criticized aspects is its glorification of the mob lifestyle. Instead of offering a balanced portrayal of Gotti’s brutality and the damage caused by his criminal empire, the film often leans toward hero-worship. Gotti is depicted as a defiant figure who earned public admiration for his style and defiance of authority, yet the film glosses over the violence, fear, and death that followed him.
The production itself faced a troubled path. It changed hands multiple times, saw delays in release, and was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its debut. It holds the rare distinction of receiving a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics at the time of release, despite some fans giving it more favorable ratings. Critics pointed to poor editing, inconsistent tone, and lack of narrative focus as the film’s major flaws.
While Gotti had the potential to be a compelling character study of a man who wielded enormous power in the underworld, it ultimately falls short. It neither captures the epic scope of The Godfather nor the gritty realism of Goodfellas. Instead, it remains a missed opportunity—an over-stylized biopic that tries to tell too many stories at once and ends up telling none of them particularly well.
In summary, Gotti (2018) is a film that aimed high but stumbled due to flawed storytelling, lack of depth, and a misguided tone. Despite John Travolta’s effort, the film struggles to justify its own existence in the crowded world of crime dramas.
