Caliber 9

I thought I was clicking onto a entertaining Euro-spy movie, but that was not the case. It turned out that I was watched a film that ranks just behind Goodfellas and the Godfathers. An absolute classic.

Fernando Di Leo's mobster movie is kept buoyed by a ferocious performance by Gastone Moschin and some of Di Leo's very best direction. Moschin, who would find lasting infamy as the dreaded "Fanucci" in THE GODFATHER PART II, plays a recent parolee suspected of ripping off mobster Lionel Stander. He's hounded by psychotic Mario Adorf and ruthless police commissioner Frank Wolff. Di Leo's directs the proceedings with a lot of flair and the movie moves at a very quick clip. Moschin has great chemistry with Barbara Bouchet (as his go go dancing girlfriend) and the entire cast is first rate. Adorf is a standout as the unrelenting Rocco, a mafia foot soldier who NEVER gives up his principles. The excellent music score is by Luis Enriqez Bacalov. A riveting thriller from beginning to end. Echoes of this film can be seen in the likes of RESERVIOR DOGS & THE DEPARTED (note the breath-taking ending).

In a Milan's fog and a grey atmosphere a robbery will be done, 300.000 dollars, a lone man was arrested and had imprisoned for four years, after released their former mates take him for an unfriendly account settling, even he denies that stolen the money they have suspect he wasn't telling the truth, this fabulous italian gangster picture gained worldwide fame, also his director too, who will leaves many discreet clues to trying to conceal the eager audience, Gastone Mochin plays the cold suspect Ugo Piazza, a kind of quiet crook who wants proves by any means his innocence, the casting is terrific having an older Lionel Stander as the boss known as American, a often louder Mario Adorf, a bad temper thief Phiippe Leroy and finally the beauty Barbara Bouchet who expose her skills in a sexy dance a provocative body language on the nightcub, intense picture that has a great music score!!! Resume: First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.5

This is an undeservedly little-known gangster movie. The story resolves around the traditionally motive of loyalty, betrayal, and the strange moral code of the Mafia (in Italy), but we are never quite sure what ending the story is going for. The film keeps up the pace nicely throughout and the excellent doubly-twisted ending comes as a total surprise. Gastone Moschin is very good in the lead as the apparent excon and victim of the Mafia's attention, but the acting prize goes to Mario Adorf's Mafia Lieutenant. He also has the best line, right at the end - which I cannot give away as it would spoil the suspense.