Gomorra (Matteo Garrone, 2008): Italy

Reviewed by Jason Sanders. Viewed at the AFI Film Festival, Archlight Hollywood.

Before I went into the film Gomorra, I had heard nothing but great things from this film.  I have to admit, i was deeply disappointed.  For what the film was, the film was way over hyped, and I thought it was mediocre for the genre.  

Gomorrah tells the story of 5 different stories, and the non-glamorous side of the Italian Mafia.  One story is the aftermath of one Mafia boss, who pays the families of his men who are in jail.  Another is of a little boy who faces the question of what to do with his life: continue living with his mom, or join a mafia.  One story tells the side of two teenagers who love the idea of a mafia, but do not want to join one, and cause trouble for the local mafia in their town.  The mafia even affects business aspects of Italy such as waste dumping, and the making of clothes.

The film had good stories, and could have gone into depth, but the film went on leaving different types of plot holes, and left me asking questions about the facts of the film.  The one thing about the movie that I must say loved about the film, was the locations.  I am highly against faking scenes or locations in movies, and this film shows exactly what the director wants to show: the grittier and slob life of the Italian mafia.