Rugged and vindictive gang leader Cocchi (surperbly played with live-wire brio by Pier Paolo Caprioli) survives a bombing at a movie theater and vows revenge on both cold, ruthless hit-man Nick Lanzetta (a deliciously vicious and remote portrayal by Henry Silva) and steely, formidable Don Carrasco (a fine performance by Richard Conte). This sets off a chain of violence which threatens to destroy everyone involved in this fierce dispute between two warring rival Mafia factions. Writer/director Fernando Di Leo once again proves that he was one of the most capable and underrated filmmakers to ever work in the Italian crime thriller genre: the hard, gritty and uncompromising tone never gets remotely silly or sappy, the outbursts of raw brutality are truly jarring, the action set pieces are staged with considerable skill and flair (the bombing which opens the picture is especially exciting), the surprise ending is quite powerful, and there's a pleasing amount of tasty sex and yummy female nudity to further spice up the already engrossing proceedings. Moreover, we even get some pointed social criticism about prejudice against non-Sicilians in the Italian mob and how the lack of order and discipline creates chaos within the Mafia. The super acting from the top-rate cast also warrants praise: veteran supporting bad guy thespian Silva excels in a rare substantial lead, Gianni Garko marvelously snivels it up as wormy corrupt cop Commisario Torri, Claudio Nicastro does well as the excitable Don Giuseppe D'Aniello, and the lovely Antonia Santilli steams up the screen with her sizzling turn as D'Aniello's jaded, yet alluring junkie whore daughter Rina. Franco Villa's crisp cinematography gives the film an attractive glossy look. Luis Enriquez Bacalov's groovy, moody, syncopated score totally hits the funky pulsating spot. A bit too talky and a tad sluggish in spots, but overall a most worthy item.
Review of The Boss
