Crime Novel (Romanzo criminale) poster & wallpaper
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Kim Rossi Stuart, Anna Mouglalis, Pierfrancesco Favino, Claudio Santamaria, Stefano Accorsi ... see more see more... , Riccardo Scamarcio , Jasmine Trinca , Gigi Angelillo , Toni Bertorelli , Antonello Fassari , Elio Germano , Franco Interlenghi , Donato Placido , Massimo Popolizio , Gian Marco Tognazzi , Francesco Venditti

Giancarlo De Cataldo's best-selling tale about three lifelong friends effectively take control of organized crime in modern-day Rome comes to the screen in this sweeping crime drama from director Mich... read more read more...ele Placido. Libanese (Pierfrancesco Favino) is the cold-hearted leader of a juvenile delinquent trio that also includes undyingly loyal Freddo (Kim Rossi Stuart) and power-hungry Dandi (Claudio Santamaria). After kidnapping and casually murdering a baron (Franco Interlenghi), the scheming friends soon form the shady alliances with the local gangsters, corrupt cops, and secret service members that will allow them the opportunity to effectively corner the market on heroin sales. Meanwhile, determined Inspector Sciloja (Stefano Accorsi), who has made it his goal to bring Libanese and his cronies to justice, stealthily manages to trace back the marked ransom money from the baron's kidnapping to Dandi's girlfriend Patrizia (Anna Mouglalis) - an alluring call girl whom the inspector soon finds himself falling for. But Inspector Sciloja isn't the only one to fall under the spell of a female who seems strangely out of his reach. On the other side of the law, Freddo becomes enamored by the decidedly pure Roberta (Jasmine Trinca), whose attempts to educate the smitten thug in the beauty of the Italian Masters seem to be made in vain. In projecting a fictionalized tale of murderous criminality against the larger backdrop of Italy's turbulent social history during the waning decades of the 20th Century, director Placido strives to craft a film that is not only entertaining, but historically relevant as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

4,848 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

15 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Michele Placido

Release Date: September 30, 2005

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Stats: 399 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (399)

  • pier007
    October 23, 2008
    pier007
    Friends since childhood; Libano, il freddo and il dandi. three hoodlums who share an appetite for thrills and easy money, start a vicious attack to take control of the city.
    Michele Placido is primarily an actor, a very good one, he is not too sharp at the director's seat; his fi... read morelm is overlong, a bit stylistically plain and even feels somewhat fragmented, however, it has an interesting background information, and the acting is well done.
    It's not only a gangster movie, but a slice of italian history, showing the rise of 'Banda della Magliana' the chiefs of the underworld in Roma, their chess-like strategies, and their links with notorious and devastating rebellious acts like bombings and the kidnapping and murder of prime minister Aldo Moro by the red brigades.
  • 76Majikat
    October 3, 2008
    76Majikat
    A very different style gangster film, with a deep look into all the characters involved. Quite fast moving, which left me a little lost in parts, but extremely well acted and ultimately a great film.

    4 STARS
  • RossCollinsUK
    May 20, 2008
    RossCollinsUK
    Crime Novel? More like Crime Epic. This Italian gangster flick spans the 70s and 80s following the lives of a childhood gang who become the most wanted of the criminal underworld. Unfortunately it takes itself too seriously, lacking the style of a South American gangster flick, t... read morehe polish of an American gangster flick and the wit of a British one. You also need to have a good appreciation of Italian political history to see this movie as anything other than a promising idea that becomes a pointless bore.
  • gor41
    July 25, 2007
    gor41
    Stylish 'by the numbers' gangster flick
  • brunolot1
    February 14, 2012
    brunolot1
    A "must-see"! The background is the social and political situation in Italy troubled by the terrorism and dangerous liaisons of a Christian state and the organized crime. The film mixes violence, friendship, betrayal, love, generosity, beauty, hate, revenge. Love and women have a... read more central role in the motivation of the protagonists in the collapse of the certainties and the impulses of criminals. The plot is amazing and acting is good by most part. Good choice of songs for a soundtrack.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
July 6, 2007
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The universal nature of crime -- and its dark appeal -- is driven home with bullets and bravado. Full Review

Rick Groen
July 6, 2007
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

In short, Romanzo Criminale is interesting at first before overstaying its welcome and growing ever more tedious. Full Review

Jay Weissberg
April 25, 2006
Jay Weissberg, Variety

First half plays as a respectable addition to the classic ensemble gangland genre, offering a gangster's-eye view of recent Italo history. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
April 25, 2006
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

Even though the story reputedly portrays a real gang of street punks that did rise to some power in Rome from 1977-92, the movie feels totally generic.

Brian Gibson
October 20, 2007
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

It's hard to get much juice when it's all quick slice-and-dice in the first half-hour. . . . the moral slipperiness between criminal and politician, thug and cop, just doesn't ooze out here beyond all...

Dragan Antulov
September 28, 2007
Dragan Antulov, Index.hr

Italija dobila svog "Kuma" i "Dobre momke" Full Review

Angela Baldassarre
July 20, 2007
Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico.ca

In his eighth directorial effort, Romanzo Criminale, Placido takes aim at terrorism in his country during the 1970s . Though the proceedings are fascinating and powerful, it's unable to maintain momen... Full Review

Bruce Kirkland
July 6, 2007
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies

The electrifying promise of the opening scenes gives way to tedium. Full Review

Alan Morrison
December 30, 2006
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine

An ambitious, bloody and engrossing work. Full Review

Matthew Leyland
November 11, 2006
Matthew Leyland, BBC

Revenge is a dish served once too often in Romanzo Criminale, an Italian crime epic that runs out of appeal well before it runs out of ammo. Full Review

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