The Alto Knights

“The Alto Knights” explores one of the most pivotal moments of organized crime history. This compelling story of friendship and betrayal, jealousy and greed, corruption and an epic power struggle reveals the deadly decades-long battle between notorious mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese—both portrayed by Robert De Niro—and unravels the truth behind the near downfall of organized crime in America. De Niro’s Frank and Vito are childhood friends whose lives take different paths, but whose destinies as powerful mob bosses are forever intertwined. When we meet the two men, Frank is respected as a highly influential yet diplomatic mafia boss in New York City; and Vito, formerly a boss who once handed over his position when forced into a sort of exile, is a violent, ambitious man who will stop at nothing to regain his seat at the top. Ultimately, it is their differing ambitions combined with their hugely contrasting personalities that will set the former friends against each other for good. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photograph digitally using the Sony VENICE 2 camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is superb with a very filmic appearance. Black-and-white stills and footage add to the period realism, Dante Spinotti's cinematography is wonderful. Every scene is stoked with realism of the various time periods. Backgrounds and sets are perfectly captured. The black-and-white segments exhibit good gray scale. Color fidelity is excellent. Colors exhibit warm and rich hues. Flesh tones are perfectly natural with closeups especially realistic in tone. Contrast is excellent. Blacks are deep and solid. Shadow delineation is revealing. Lighting design is excellent with perfect illumination that sets the mood of each scene. Resolution is superb with facial features that reveal skin pores, lines and hair. Backgrounds and sets exhibit fine detail with object texture well defined. The imagery throughout is sharp and clear. This is a fantastic gangster period filmic experience. Too bad a 4K Ultra HD version was not released, which surely earn a "5" rating. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding. Atmospherics nicely enhance the realism. Sound effects also enhance realism and at times are powerful, such a gunfire. Foley sound effects are perfectly in sync with picture. David Fleming's orchestral score is wonderful as well as the period music segments. The music fills the soundstage and extends to the surrounds. Surround envelopment is enveloping. Bass extension is deep with sub-25 Hz power with the .1 LFE used to enhance dramatization. Dialogue is often ADR produced and forward sounding while also well integrated spatially. DeNiro's narration as gangster Frank is perfectly centered and perfectly forward,

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of an aggressive extension of the orchestral score, which is pervasive, and music segments, brief atmospherics and gunfire. The music really carries the height layer and enhances sound field dimensionality.

This is a terrific holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that is captivating throughout with excellent fidelity and depth, and which creates the perfect mood for a period gangster affair. (Gary Reber)