De Niro and Pileggi release new film, The Alto Knights

Robert De Niro and Nicholas Pileggi recently spoke about their latest film, The Alto Knights. The two have been friends and collaborators for decades. De Niro remembers first hearing about Pileggi's work over 60 years ago, which led him to recommend Pileggi to director Martin Scorsese. Pileggi is known for his stories about organized crime, starting with the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Goodfellas. The concept for The Alto Knights originated back in 1974. Pileggi explained that while many stories have been told about the mob's rise and fall, this film focuses on the final chapter of that story, particularly the rivalry between mobsters Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. In the film, De Niro plays both Costello and Genovese. After some discussion with producer Irwin Winkler, he agreed to take on both roles. De Niro shared his enthusiasm about working with familiar faces again. He mentioned having personal ties to the film's setting, as both he and Pileggi have connections to the real-life social club called The Alto Knights. De Niro also emphasized the importance of having other actors to work with while filming. He took time to interview his cast members to find a good partner for the scenes where he plays both roles. Pileggi added that the film's dialogue draws heavily from real conversations recorded by the FBI, aiming to capture the authentic voice of the characters. The film's structure, which jumps through different time periods, evolved during production. De Niro noted that collaboration resulted in improvements, aided by extra time due to a strike and the pandemic. Pileggi described the filmmaking process as an orchestra, highlighting the collective effort behind the project. One notable scene in The Alto Knights features Frank Costello’s appearance before a Senate committee, a true event that Pileggi felt was crucial to include. He expressed how this moment represents a powerful slice of reality in the film. When asked about future projects, Pileggi kept his plans under wraps but mentioned a specific scene about Vito Genovese's divorce, which is based on actual court documents. This blend of fact and storytelling adds depth to The Alto Knights. The film is set to be released in theaters on March 21, 2025.