Nicole C The actors did a great job with their characters, and rightly so as most are locals of the area. The usage of non-professional actors/ local talent really helped in capturing the authenticity of the story. Also, the location-shooting did a great job in capturing the core of the Mafia, while also establishing its widespread influences. The spaces we see are limited, but many. What I mean by this is that because of the different story-lines, we see many different spaces, but what we see of these spaces is limited. They do not travel much in their own settings (except for Franco and Roberto who travel across the country).The first scene of the film establishes the violence of the subject and the aggressiveness of the Mafia. The film does show quite a bit of explicit content. This helps to deny the glorification that being part of the Mafia is usually depicted as bringing. Unlike how conspicuous consumption and success is shown in Scarface (which is also referenced in this movie), Matteo Garrone makes an effort not to show that side of glorification. The Mafia members here are ruthless, violent and seemingly do not have morals. It takes little to agitate them and loyalty plays a big part in maintaining one's safety. This again shows the reality of the film and the lives of the people in Naples.The endings of the different story-lines complement each other in sending the message that you are either with or against the Camorra. Although in the case of Roberto, his future is left ambiguous which is a little confusing.Overall a great portrayal of the Camorra system in Naples, with well established story-lines and great acting. What makes this film terrifying is the fact that this is based from reality and that the people living there have no choice but to go along or face the consequences (usually death).Read more movie reviews at: championangels.wordpress.com

poe426 GOMORRAH comes about as close to being a documentary about The American Way as anything else. Take it from someone who sees exactly these kinds of crimes on a daily basis: Crime is the Universal Language- especially when it comes to "illegal narcotics." (In the past five days, we've had four murders here in Crack Town; a man was shot down in cold blood a few years ago less than a hundred feet from where I live; the body of a young woman suspected of preparing to testify against local meth dealers was found rotting in her apartment a few blocks away; the housing project where I used to live, notorious for its open-air drug dealing, was finally shut down when one of the dealers shot the father of two kids when he asked them not to deal drugs in front of his apartment (the man was shot in the head, at point blank range, and I just happened to drive by as a school bus full of underage eye-witnesses poured out into the street to look at the still-bleeding victim); when "authorities" made an arrest, the scores of large dumpsters in that complex were set alight and allowed to melt to the ground (I saw light flickering outside my back door and looked out to see what was going on: I saw flames that reached all the way up past the telephone lines- right next to my car, which just happened to be the only car in any of the parking lots; moving my car required ducking under flames that extended out over the hood and backing it across the parking lot; I was later told by firefighters that MINE had been the only 9-1-1 call made that night), etc. (I could go on for quite some time, but you get the idea. Oddly enough, Crack Town actually made the cover of a national magazine just recently; it was picked as the most "beautiful" place to live or somesuch nonsense.) While I have no desire whatsoever to see "all illegal drugs made legal," I think that writers like Johann Hari (CHASING THE SCREAM) make good arguments for Decriminalization. English comedian Russell Brand has made EXACTLY the same argument(s), pointing out that it's often the shortcomings of Society itself that results in drug addiction. (I can honestly say that, with only two exceptions, I've never met anyone in my life who WASN'T a User.) GOMORRAH never came close to shocking me the way I think it was meant to shock the viewer, but that's not a knock against the film nor the filmmaker(s): it's just a sad comment on Our Times.

kenjha A tailor, a delivery boy, a waste collector, a tax collector, and two punks walk into a bar...that may have made for a fun movie. Instead, these characters become involved with the mob and the result is a dreary drama. The script is so disjointed that during the first half hour, a multitude of characters is introduced and it is not clear who is doing what to whom. Eventually it becomes apparent that five stories are being told. Unfortunately, none of the five stories is the least bit interesting and film goes on way too long. Not only is the script lackluster, but the direction makes matters worse, with the annoying hand-held camera and clumsy framing.

adamray101 This was one of the greatest gangster films to hit the first ten of the 2000's.But it's not your typical gangster film. What rocks Gomorrah from it's cradle is the utter destructive environment you're set in. The balance of power lies in the hands of the ignorant, the poor, the youth, and the insecure. This film is no Godfather, no Scorsese classic mafioso flick, nor is it near any Cocaine ridden Scarface. This films is pure, raw, and covered in the dust of violence, respect, and street workers.Although the children in this film are portrayed by being innocent and driven by their fellow neighbors and friends to become gangsters, it really drives you to the reality of the city. These so-called "thugs" and "wanna-bes" are just a taste - for Gomorrah, it's the real deal.As for the adults, it's a game of war, drugs, toxic, and money. It's not about friendship, respect, or bad blood. It's about real gangster hustling and real gangster moves, that takes you to a horrendous neighborhood with a smile.I was watching this as if it unfolded like a documentary. The action, the adrenaline, the consistent edge you're looking over was so real because the actions from these talented actors were so natural in their environment. You feared your every move, you triumphed along with their every rock pile, and you dared not to blink to miss anything.This film takes a leap into the future for great film making. I highly recommend this to a very quiet audience, someone who is calculated, who can see chaos in its beautiful form of mayhem, and is a fan of guerrilla style adrenaline film making. This piece will knock you on your ass and wake you up.9/10.Adam Ray