This can be a good movie if you go in prepared. So let me try and prepare you.
First of all, it's important to know that Gomorra has five interweaving storylines.
Five.
This is crucial, because if you're like me, and don't like to know too much about a movie before you watch it, you're going to be confused as hell.
Secondly, Gomorra is a movie about the REAL mafia. In Italy. So there's no Brando, no Pacino, and neither Joe Pesci nor Ray Liotta kick the crap out of ANYONE.
This is where the film can get a little disappointing. The real mafia is actually "kinda lame," in the immortal words of a friend of mine who saw Gomorra in theatres last summer. There's no smooth-talking, everyone seems to be hard-up on cash, and there's barely a tailored suit in sight.
Thus, it seems that the point Gomorra is trying to make is that life in the Italian mafia isn't as glamorous as Hollywood makes it out to be. In the most literal sense, crime just doesn't pay. The real mafia, as portrayed in Gomorra, is made up of petty thugs, greedy low-lives and wannabes. It's probably a very accurate portrayal, but it isn't exactly a flattering, or more importantly, an exciting one.
So if you're going to rent Gomorra, make sure you're not expecting car chases, epic shootouts or nerve-racking heists. Instead, you're going to get a picture of the ACTUAL mafia--it may be a bit dull and slow-moving by traditional standards, but it's definitely an interesting take on an established genre, and with the right attitude going in, it's actually pretty good. It manages to be aesthetically and cinematically gorgeous, while making a strong and unapologetic statement about the hazards and errors of regarding organized crime with admiration and respect.
But if you'd prefer not to stir the pot, you can always watch Goodfellas for the ninth time.
That's OK too.
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