Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Great Film overall

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

With the way people are fascinated by the mob and organized crime these days, films about gangsters and mobsters are a dime a dozen. Some of these movies haven risen to the heights of movie glory ("The Godfather") while others not as much ("A Brooklyn State of Mind"). Then there are the gangster flicks that fall somewhere in between, like the 1997 CBS mini-series "The Last Don". Adapted from the novel of legendary "Godfather" author Mario Puzo, it centers around powerful mafia Don Clericuzio (played by Brooklyn native Danny Aiello) and the journey of his family through the decades. With his magnetic prescience, Danny Aiello is able to play the Don (in a rare starring role for him) as someone who not only has the wisdom and intelligence of an ancient tribal chief, but also as a baron or prince who will not hesitate to be ruthless when the occasion calls for it. In other words, he perfectly captures the type of Don that you'd expect to find in Mario Puzo's world. But the series isn't just about the Don, it's also about the journey of his family. Through the Don's narration and the film's series of events, we get a good look at the members of the family.There's Pippi (Played wonderfully by Joe Mantegna), the Don's nephew and main enforcer; Cross (the competent Jason Gedrik), the Don's grandnephew and manager of the Vegas casino; Dante, the Don's blood thirsty and mentally disturbed grandson (Played very well with a punk like zeal by Rory Cochrane); Rose Marie (Played by the beautiful Kirstie Alley), the Don's mentally train wrecked daughter and mother of Dante; and Giorgio (Played with administrative zeal by David Marciano), the don's son and consigliere. In addition, the movie boasts an amazing cast that includes but is not limited to Daryl Hannah as Cross' love interest, Burt Young as one of the Don's lieutenants, Michelle Burke as Cross' tough lawyer sister, a pre-"Law and Order: SVU" Christopher Meloni, and Mike Starr. To be sure, the series does not quite capture the glory and splendor of "The Godfather" or any of the other mob epics, like "Goodfellas" or "Casino". In all fairness to the movie though, it was probably made on a low budget since it was after all, a mini-series for network television. Had it been made for theaters or for HBO or any of the other deep pocketed premium channels, it probably would have had a grander look. Never the less, the series is very memorable, due to the caliber of its actors and it's ability to tell a good mob story without the hard hitting violence and profanity that we're used to seeing in "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos". The story fascinated me so much, that I am interested in reading the novel. It's for these reasons, that I recommend "The Last Don" as not only an entertaining mob film, but also as a movie about the price of power and wealth. The movie is available on you tube as well as on DVD, which is strangely an Australian released disc but one that works in all regions. So watch, be entertained, and remember to always respect the Don.

If you are a fan of the Godfather Trilogy, you'll like this feature. Otherwise, if you raise an eyebrow of interrogation, well, don't worry: after seeing this show, you will run to rent this another famous trilogy.Indeed, the «Last Don» has all the flavour of Mario Puzzo, that is to say an immersion in the big families of the Cosa Nostra. The thematic values already developed in the before mentioned classic movies, are met again in this adaptation of another of his novel: Family, Tragedy, Love, Honour, Wedding, Loyalty, Murder, Plots and Sicilia.It is always surprising how dichotomized or schizophrenic all those religious families can be. They give absolute devotion to the family, but they can wipe it all in one moment if the codes have been broken. There is no place for empathy, for forgiveness.The good point in the «Last Don» would be that the classic material is shown in new directions or territories: Childhood, Teenagers life, Hollywood, California. It may be interesting to find how the story could be the real sequel of the Godfather, part II. Maybe, Mario Puzzo, not really convinced by the part III, would have liked to tell the last story of his dreams. I didn't read any interviews of his motives to write the «Last Don», so I can't tell more.About the movie, sure, Clifford isn't Coppola, Aiello isn't Paccino or Brando, and TV isn't theater. But the story is very well introduced, all the actors are convincing. At the end, you'll get a fine feeling to this show, and that is what must count.And remember: Books are great too ! So, you are also invited to read the Godfather and the Last Don, available at your nearest library.

I thought this mini-series was very well done. Of course, it had it's slow and unbelieving moments but overall I enjoyed it immensely. The acting, overall, was good (kd lang and even the Don's reaction to things were a little off). I thought Kirstie Alley blew the other actors out of the water (then again, she had a lot more background to work with...and also, what a thing to go through, i am not surprised she went a little crazy). I think her acting was superb in this! I am looking forward to seeing the second part in the mini-series (whenever i can find the time to spare 4 hours...ha) But alas, it was a great mini-series and i recommend it. Besides you can buy both for around 6 or 7 bucks each (so it's worth buying over renting and then you don't have to sit for 4 hours at a time)!

About the most boring movie ever made on the subject. The book was good, but wasn't transferred into a movie that would have held one's interest. Maybe it was the use of the Don himself as a narrator, maybe the flat performance of Danny Aiello, maybe the fact that none of the characters came out with any depth...whatever "it" was, it resulted in an uninteresting movie.