The Mafia: An Exposé

Calling Oliver Stone: here's your early Christmas present. From Marilyn Monroe being murdered with a drug suppository to the Mafia ordering the hits on the Kennedy brothers to the allegation that MCA is tied up with the mob (now wait… they did release Martin Scorcese's Casino), the wild speculation flies faster here than rumors about Monica Lewinsky's sexual liaisons. Compressing 10 volumes into one "best of" may not have been a terribly smart idea (there is nothing remotely approaching a coherent history of the Mafia offered here), but for sheer finger-pointing chutzpah, it's hard to match. Unfortunately, for those who like to know their sources, the interviewees are not identified onscreen (I'm not counting the guys who purposely appear in shadow). I recognized many speakers--including New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and author Pete Hamill (Snow in August), as well as the usual criminal subjects (Capone, Giancana, Gotti, etc.)--heck, I even recognized some of the authors of Mafia histories (I'd already seen them on the better A&E production Mafia: The History of the Mob in America [VL-9/94]). But too many faces were strangers to me (not that I'd want to meet these people, mind you). Those interested may want to consider the 10-volume set (very reasonably priced at $49.95) rather than this "highlights" reel. Optional. (R. Pitman)