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From Mafia to Messiah: Reviewing Alto Knights and The Chosen
Manage episode 475352308 series 2855713
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From the gritty streets of mob-controlled New York to the dusty roads of first-century Jerusalem, this week's double feature takes us through vastly different cinematic worlds with surprising results.
Robert De Niro's "Alto Knights" promised to be a quintessential mafia film with the legendary actor taking on dual roles as crime bosses Frank and Vito. While the prosthetics and visual differentiation between characters impressed, the film ultimately delivers a lukewarm experience that struggles to justify its place among 2025's most anticipated releases. Despite its documentary-style approach to the real-life takedown of American organized crime, the narrative drags and fails to captivate beyond mild historical interest. With sparse theater attendance and minimal marketing push, this 3.5/5 star offering demonstrates that even De Niro's star power can't elevate mediocre storytelling.
Meanwhile, "The Chosen" continues its remarkable journey as a faith-based phenomenon that transcends typical Christian content limitations. The first two episodes of Season 5 build methodically toward Jesus's crucifixion, using the slow-burn approach that has made previous seasons so effective. Phenomenal acting brings scripture to life without attempting to replace or alter biblical truth. When Jesus overturns tables in the temple, viewers witness His righteous anger and grief in a way that challenges our modern spiritual complacency: Are we grieved by what grieves God? This visual enhancement of familiar scripture earns the series a perfect 5/5 stars and serves as evidence that Hollywood's increasing openness to quality Christian content may represent a significant shift in entertainment trends.
Whether you're drawn to crime dramas or biblical narratives, this episode offers honest criticism and thoughtful analysis from a critic who refuses to watch anything less than everything. Subscribe now and join me next week for my surprisingly revealing take on the new Minecraft movie!
Chapters
1. Welcome to The Couch Critic (00:00:00)
2. Double Feature Review Introduction (00:00:34)
3. Alto Knights: A Mafia Film Review (00:01:00)
4. The Chosen: Biblical Storytelling Done Right (00:05:42)
5. Upcoming Reviews & Episode Closing (00:10:14)
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