Excellent Cadavers (TV 1999)

Fact based story about the political battle that was waged against the Mafia in Sicily during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Chazz Palminteri plays Giovanni Falcone, a crusading ... See full summary »

Director:

Ricky Tognazzi

Writers:

Alexander Stille (book), Peter Pruce (teleplay)

Stars:

Chazz Palminteri, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Galiena

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chazz Palminteri	...	Giovanni Falcone
F. Murray Abraham	...	Tommaso Buscetta
Anna Galiena	...	Francesca Falcone
Andy Luotto	...	Paolo Borsellino
Lina Sastri	...	Agnese Borsellino
Arnoldo Foà	...	Judge Antonino Caponnetto
Ivo Garrani	...	Judge Gaetano Costa
Gianmarco Tognazzi	...	Ninì Cassara
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Mario
Mattia Sbragia	...	Judge Quinzi
Francesco Benigno	...	Pino Greco
Mario Erpichini	...	Judge Rocco Chinnici
Victor Cavallo	...	Totò Riina
Giuseppe Cederna	...	Judge Giuseppe Ayala
Stefano Benassi	...	Inspector

Storyline

Fact based story about the political battle that was waged against the Mafia in Sicily during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Chazz Palminteri plays Giovanni Falcone, a crusading prosecutor who tried to use money trails as a way to attack the mobsters. He is aided by a former mobster (F. Murray Abraham) who volunteers to turn state's evidence after his sons are killed by a renegade mob chief. With the mobster's help, the prosecutor was able to obtain over 300 convictions.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | independent film | based on book | based on true story

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Taglines:

They have a name for government officials who defy the mafia...excellent cadavers.

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Genres:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English Bosnian Croatian Serbian

Release Date:

16 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Falcone

Filming Locations:

Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,695 (USA) (14 July 2006)

Gross:

$10,390 (USA) (14 July 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dir International Films, Home Box Office (HBO), Tidewater Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The woman who catches the bouquet at Giovanni Falcone and Francesca Morvillo's wedding is Simona Izzo, director Ricky Tognazzi's wife.

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Connections

Featured in Excellent Cadavers (2005)

User Reviews

Well-done quasi-documentary

This film, largely created in Palermo, is a decidedly solid attempt, in a quasi-documentary form, at presenting many of the facts revolving about the courageous efforts of the Sicilian judge, Giovanni Falcone (played by Chazz Palminteri), to staunch the political power of the Mafia in Italy. Few real-life stories could be as dramatic or as meaningful to a nation as Falcone's sacrifice for his country. Director Ricky Tognazzi, son of Ugo, kept this work within a tight and neatly edited framework. The acting was solid throughout, particularly by Palminteri and Anna Galiena. It will probably be of limited interest to those not familiar with the facts upon which it is based, but will reward those who watch it by its well-crafted performances by cast and crew.