Watch Sharkskin

Sharkskin is a captivating thriller movie that was released in 2015. The movie features an incredible cast, including John Aprea, David Proval, and Robert Costanzo. The story is set in the 1950s and revolves around an Italian American mob boss, Tony "The Prophet" Pro, who becomes a target of assassination after refusing to join forces with a powerful New York City crime syndicate.

Tony is approached by a group of businessmen who believe he could help their organization prosper. Their partnership would involve Tony Pro leaving his past in organised crime behind, but he declines their offer. As a result, the group of businessmen teams up with the other crime syndicates in New York City to take down Tony's organization. They establish a hit squad to take out Tony, and the team includes a former soldier, Louie "The Lip" LaMendola (played by David Proval), and a trained assassin, Frankie Delano (played by Robert Costanzo).

Tony's son, Vinnie (played by Michael Badalucco), becomes aware of the assassination plan and decides to handle the matter himself. He approaches a friend who has connections with the Jewish mob and plans to get his father protection from them. Vinnie also hires a private investigator, Ben Bonacci (played by Tony Sirico), to investigate and gather more information on the hit squad's plans.

As the day of the hit draws close, tensions between the members of the hit squad grow, and things become complicated. The assassination plan becomes an intense cat-and-mouse game between the two parties, with each trying to outsmart the other. The movie builds its suspense slowly but steadily, with a significant dose of action and thrilling moments.

Sharkskin takes its inspiration from classic mobster movies such as The Godfather and Goodfellas, but it also has its unique twists and turns. The movie does an excellent job of showcasing the paths that lead to organised crime and the way of life it creates, as well as the consequences that come with such a life.

The movie establishes its 1950s setting quite well, with accurate costumes, cars, and music of the period. Director Dan Perri also uses camera and lighting effects that distinguish the various scenes and characters. One scene, in particular, stands out where Tony Pro is having an intimate conversation with his wife, and the camera is focused on a soft-lit close-up of his face. This scene shows the contrast between Tony's calm exterior and the violence that he might turn to if necessary.

The cast of Sharkskin does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. John Aprea as Tony "The Prophet" Pro, commands attention whenever he is on screen, with his calculated and intense portrayal of a veteran mob boss. David Proval and Robert Costanzo do a great job of portraying their hitman characters, with Costanzo standing out with his subtle but deadly performance. Michael Badalucco's portrayal of Tony's son is a standout performance, with him bringing enough emotions to his character's journey.

The dialogue in Sharkskin is both realistic and intriguing. The script does well to build the characters and their personalities, providing the audience with an understanding of their motivations and principles. The movie also has several comedic moments that lighten the mood while still retaining the thriller aspect of the movie.

Overall, Sharkskin is a highly entertaining thriller that combines classic mafia themes with fresh twists and turns. The movie's pacing and attention to details make it a must-watch for fans of the genre. With a top-notch cast and crew, Sharkskin does not fail to entertain and thrill the audience.

Sharkskin is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.