Cosa Nostra News

Netflix has expanded beyond its original business model as a rental service of prerecorded entertainment. In addition to offering DVDs and streaming services for rent, it also has crossed over to the production side of the entertainment industry, producing and distributing its own television shows, documentaries and feature films, in addition to acquiring such programs from production companies. The Irishman: director, left, and  some of the best actors working in films today. Late last month, IndieWire broke the news that Netflix had nabbed the rights to Martin Scorsese ’s long-gestating gangster epic, The Irishman , the acclaimed director's ninth outing with Robert DeNiro. Also starring: Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and Bobby Cannavale (who turned out a stellar performance as Boardwalk Empire's desperately needed villian, Gyp Rosetti .)

Video added We support the independent authors, writers, artists, designers, filmmakers, etc., who create the stories and images that move us. Today, the Internet's DIY emphasis has stimulated the growth of new storytelling formats including ebooks, YouTube videos and podcasts, in addition to the traditional mainstays of stage, screen and T.V. And despite all the critics and industry prognosticators ever seeking to raise the bar as high as possible, at any given time a self published ebook or podcast or whatever may debut, gain traction and rocket to success, or become an underground classic or even a masterpiece.  You'll notice that th e independent film the following  story details may gain distribution at one of the many film festivals -- but even if it doesn't, the filmmakers can still distribute the finished property.  Emboldened by this artistic sentiment, contributor Nick Christophers, aka "Nicky Packs," (though I still call him Nicky V...

Kenji in Sweden.... Social media is a fantastic way to cultivate sources. I've made quite a few by simply contacting them with a private message. (I'm always privately -- and silently -- thrilled when some of them, especially journalists, say, " yeah, I've heard of you .") Anyway, I met Kenji Gallo via Facebook (I'd read his book Breakshot , which I highly recommend.) We've spoken many times and I occasionally link to his blog posts .  He knows his stuff; I know that for a fact. And he has firsthand experience. Kenji was a mobster, an associate of the ultra-violent Colombo crime family . He's half-Asian. That mixing of ethnicities, an Asian guy in the Italian Mafia, is the kind of setup that makes for a good film.

Here's a story I wrote for  Mob Candy's  celebration of the  Godfathe r's 40th Anniversary issue, a profile of Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo and the great actor who played him,  Al Lettieri , who died too young. Lettieri knew how to speak Sicilian fluently. You have to see Lettieri in Sam Peckinpah's 1972 violent masterpiece "The Getaway," based on the brisk book written by iconic pulp writer Jim Thompson.  T he Getaway , in which Lettieri plays a hood named Rudy Butler, the film's "heavy," was somehow released with a PG rating; this was quickly corrected and replaced with an R rating. The actor, who spoke Sicilian, put on weight (you won't believe you're looking at the sleek, barrel-chested guy who played the Turk when you see the film).

Watch this and other films for free... Well, today's my birthday -- and I'm giving you all a gift.  Join Amazon Prime now and get a 30-Day free trial -- then you can view over 40,000 movies and TV episodes via the program, borrow Kindle ebooks, and enjoy unlimited FREE two-day shipping on purchases, with no minimum order size. But this deal includes a deadline -- you must join by Friday, January 10, to take advantage. (On jump page I present a list of Mafia- related films you can watch for FREE....but it's not only crime films -- films and tv shows in every genre are included. See list here . I'm a horror fan and you'll have access to an especially larger number of horror flix via Prime, including a recently made Giallo-style film from Italy, Sonno Profondo (Deep Sleep) Limited Edition . Once the  Amazon Prime Video 30-Day Free Trial  is over, you can decide whether or not to sign on as a member for $9.99 a month or for one annual $99 payment (for me, this...

Check out Cosa Nostra News's online store for books, films and other mob-related items you may find of interest. (Comments are working now. If anyone has a problem commenting, please shoot me an email.   (Also the store itself is fixed -- if you already looked at it, you probably noticed the margin problem. That's fixed as well...) I'd like to invite you all to stroll inside my new eStore. The store is open 24/7 -- that's right, it never closes -- and you can drop by anytime by clicking on the above tab or right here:  Cosa Nostra News eStore. Books, films (on DVD and on-demand) and other products of interest to anyone who reads this blog are available in Cosa Nostra News's estore. Also feel free to recommend any items I may have left out (if you've written or read a Mafia-related book you think I should include, please feel free to leave me a comment (when you are able if you can't right now). Also, please keep in mind....