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Travolta Has 'Sit Down' With Junior & Co. About Gotti Biopic

From the U.K.'s Daily Mail website (photos courtesy of Splash News unless otherwise noted)

[Editor's notes inserted where I believe necessary, usually to correct, clarify and question. The writer claims Travolta "signed on" to play the role of John Gotti at this dinner -- but that is not so. From an article on Entertainment Weekly's website: "According to Marc Fiore — the CEO of Fiore Films, LLC — the Pulp Fiction star is in serious talks to play New York City mob boss John Gotti in Gotti, an upcoming film executive produced by Fiore about three generations of the crime family." But, in a parenthetical, the article adds: "(A source in Travolta’s camp says it’s one of four projects he’s considering at this time)."


Overall, I don't think the Brits understand the American mob or the film industry -- or maybe it's some of their journalists that don't; they already think the big bust -- one of the largest in history  -- is going to start a mob war over who the rat was, as if there were one rat; there wasn't even a single indictment involved, but several.]

By Georgina Littlejohn
Last updated at 1:26 PM on 27th January 2011

It takes a very strong individual to sit down with one of the world's most notorious crime families. [Ed. Note: It may, but Travolta was sitting down in a very public restaurant with filmmakers and a "retired" mobster - no danger involved at all. I have learned when it comes to the U.S. and the mob, the Brits don't understand it and get rather hysterical, interesting for a people not known for showing emotion.]


But if it could result in playing one of the biggest roles of his career, you can hardly blame John Travolta for jumping at the chance to hang out with the mob. [Biggest roles in his career? Jumping at the chance? That's pushing it quite a bit -- these kinds of meetings are common and the film could be a piece of crap for all we know -- it isn't even made yet and it's not like Scorcese is directing it and Steven Zaillian writing the script; Travolta has made some excellent films in his day -- Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Pulp Fiction....I doubt this film would top one of those three.]
The actor was snapped having a meal with John Angelo Gotti ["Junior" -- that's how he's known in the States], himself a former mobster, but also the son of one of New York's most feared - and sometimes revered  - crime boss, the late John Gotti.
Wise Guys: John Travolta meets Junior Gotti (to his left in glasses) and his friends for an Italian meal in Los Angeles to talk about his role as the late and infamous gangster John Gotti
Wise Guys: John Travolta meets Junior Gotti (to his left in glasses) [Actually to his RIGHT -- jeez, guys!] and his friends for an Italian meal in Los Angeles to talk about his role as the late and infamous gangster John Gotti



Travolta met with Junior Gotti - as he is known - hoping to seek his approval to play the [former] King of New York in an upcoming biopic. [How do we know this? Travolta hoping to seek Junior's approval? Ludicrous. The writer doesn't know where the true power here resides. He is blinded by the mob.Why did I run this?]



And thankfully for the star, there were no horses heads in his bed the following morning as he was given the family's utmost blessing. [Makes no sense. Writer is trying too hard with the mob refs]
Seeking approval: Travolta explains his plans for the film to an interested Junior Gotti as they talk over dinner
Seeking approval: Travolta explains his plans for the film to an interested Junior Gotti as they talk over dinner [How do we know that? Did the writer overhear their conversation? Travolta could have been talking about piloting a Gulf Stream]
It's gonna be good: Travolta gets animated as he fills the rest of the table in on the conversation
It's gonna be good: Travolta gets animated as he fills the rest of the table in on the conversation [Are we all looking at the same picture?]
Travolta and Junior Gotti met for dinner at the Italian restaurant Amici's in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood last night.[Should have been first sentence - why is this stuff here?]
They dined with a group of Junior Gotti's friends and family as well as the biopic's director Nick Cassavetes and executive producer Marc Fiore. [There. No Gambino hit men or enforcers.]
Travolta and Junior Gotti looked deep in thought as they chatted about the film and Travolta's role.
So what we'll do is this: Travolta talks to a captive audience including director Nick Cassavetes (far left)
So what we'll do is this: Travolta talks to a captive audience including director Nick Cassavetes (far left)
Where the deal went down: Travolta and Gotti met for dinner at Italian restaurant Amici in Brentwood
Where the deal went down: Travolta and Gotti met for dinner at Italian restaurant Amici in Brentwood [Deal? So Travolta signed on? For all we know, he took the meeting because a friend of a friend asked him to. These kinds of meetings are par for the course -- we don't even know the extent of either's parties interest in the other from this story. A single dinner meeting does not a deal make.]
And after what looked like a very relaxed evening, they were all smiles as they left the restaurant arm in arm.
They beamed as they hugged and posed for the cameras, while Travolta also signed autographs for waiting fans.
Friends for life: A happy-looking Travolta and Gotti leave the restaurant arm-in-arm after a successful dinner meeting
Friends for life: A happy-looking Travolta and Gotti leave the restaurant arm-in-arm after a successful dinner meeting [Is Gotti holding a pocketbook???]
One of the family: The pair warmly embrace as they head their separate ways
One of the family: The pair warmly embrace as they head their separate ways
One of the family: The pair warmly embrace as they head their separate ways
And speaking to the cameras, Junior Gotti said he had seen all of Travolta's films and was sure he could take on the role of his father.
He said: 'He's a tremendous actor and he'll feel the part. He nails every single one and he can do this too, I'm totally confident.'
Buona notte! Travolta and Gotti share a laugh as they bid everyone farewell and head to their cars
Buona notte! Travolta and Gotti share a laugh as they bid everyone farewell and head to their cars
The film, titled Gotti, will tell the tale of three generations of the Gambino crime family, who John Gotti, who died in 2002, headed after the murder of the previous boss, Paul Castellano. [Three generations? Aside from the two John Gottis, I wonder who the other generation refers to? Castellano?]
Gotti is an Italian surname meaning 'Goths' which originated from Naples and the surrounding region.
Gotti was known as both 'The Dapper Don' for his taste in expensive clothes and flamboyant outspoken style and 'The Teflon Don' for his ability to evade arrest. [Well, win fixed trials, not so much evade arrest.]
Which John would you like? Travolta signs autographs for fans outside the restaurant after his role as Gotti is given the go-ahead
Which John would you like? Travolta signs autographs for fans outside the restaurant after his role as Gotti is given the go-ahead [Again, is it a fact that Travolta is playing Gotti? I will do serious search to confirm this]
In 1992 he was eventually convicted of 13 murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loansharking and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He died from throat cancer in June 2002 at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.
The King of New York: John Gotti, pictured here in January 1990 in court listening to the opening arguments of his murder trial which resulted in a life sentence
The King of New York: John Gotti, pictured here in January 1990 in court listening to the opening arguments of his murder trial which resulted in a life sentence
127 Hours star James Franco is also reportedly in talks to do the film playing the role of Junior Gotti - who authorities believed took over as the head of the family duing his father's incarceration.
Fiore said: 'It's going to be the new Godfather. It's a story about a father and a son, but the father happens to be John Gotti Sr.'
Fiore has said previously that the entire family has signed exclusives to be consultants on the film - which Fiore hopes to begin filming in summer 2011 - including Junior Gotti Jr who worked on the script.
He added: 'We have a real inside look. John, Jr. will answer any question you ask him. The Gotti family, they don't try to put a sweater over things.' [Junior will use the film as propaganda to try to change his father's reputation, as well as his own. I doubt the film will be any good if it goes against common sense and serves as PR for the Gotti name.]
It will be the second time the family's story will be told after a made-for-TV movie called Gotti: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Mafia Don was made in 1996 by HBO.
It starred Armand Assante as Gotti and Hollywood veteran Anthony Quinn played Neil Dellacroce, the underboss of the Gambino crime family.
Gotti's daughter Victoria also brought the family to the small screen in August 2004 for the reality TV show Growing Up Gotti.
It featured the life of Victoria and her three sons; Carmine Agnello, Jr., John Gotti Agnello, and Frank Gotti Agnello, but was axed the following year due to plummeting ratings.
It's a classic: Travolta leaves the restaurant in his vintage car
It's a classic: Travolta leaves the restaurant in his vintage car


Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd© Associated Newspapers Ltd

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