The Wannabe (2015)

Obsessed with mob culture, and desperate to fit in, Thomas sets out to fix the 1992 trial of John Gotti. He believes if the plan is executed, it will put him at the center of all that he ... See full summary »

Director:

Nick Sandow

Writer:

Nick Sandow

Stars:

Vincenzo Amato, Patricia Arquette, Nicholas Belleas

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincenzo Amato	...	Richie
Patricia Arquette	...	Rose
Nicholas Belleas	...	Stunt Performer
Jay Bulger	...	Eric Roberts
John Buscemi	...	Sausage Vendor
Stan Carp	...	Oxygen Mask
Lawrence Cioppa	...	Card Player #1
Dario Cipani	...	Kid with Sparkler
Christine Cornell	...	Christine
Adriana DeMeo	...	Annie
Doug E. Doug	...	Twin
Chris Camaj	...	Sallyboy (as Chris 'The Eagle' Camaj)
Duccio Fabbri	...	Cesare Staderini
Michael Gasparro	...	Newsstand Vendor
Neal Huff	...	Judge Glasser

Storyline

Obsessed with mob culture, and desperate to fit in, Thomas sets out to fix the 1992 trial of John Gotti. He believes if the plan is executed, it will put him at the center of all that he idolizes. The plot is foiled, setting off events worthy of mob lore. The Wannabe intertwines real people and true events, past and present, with fantasy.

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Plot Keywords:

two word title | 

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Taglines:

Respect isn't earned. It's stolen.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use, language, some sexuality and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Obcecado pela Máfia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Electric Entertainment, Traction Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vincent Piazza and Michael Pitt both starred on HBO's Boardwalk Empire and both have now played this same character in two different movies about the real life story of Tommy and Rosie UVA. Piazza in The Wannabe and Pitt in Rob The Mob.

User Reviews

Mob adoration in a semi true 90's tale

Thomas idolizes the Mob and especially 'the Teflon Don' – John Gotti, seeing him as a modern day Robin Hood and the incidental crimes as sort of a necessary evil – sort of thing. Anyway we join them in 1992 when Gotti is on trial and the Teflon becomes 'Velcro' as all the charges start to stick.

Now Thomas is going out with a girl of questionable intellect and indeed taste who is brilliantly played by Patricia Arquette. Desperate to become part of the Gangsta scene Thomas hatches a plan to free his idol but in so doing he sets off a chain of events that he will become useless to control.

So is it any good? Well it is very watchable but sometimes feels very small in that it is a very personal tale about – essentially- two people and how they believe their own bull. Whilst this does not detract from the entertainment it also leave unmolested the underlying issues of worshipping the worst in society. That said it is still a well made and acted film that will appeal to any who like mob lore but it is not in the same league as the 'Goodfelllas' of this world.