How to Become a Mob Boss is a documentary series released on Netflix on November 14, 2023. It is executive produced by Jonas Bell Pasht, Jonah Bekhor, Peter Dinklage, David Ginsberg and Jake Laufer. Peter Dinklage also serves as a narrator for the series with 6 episodes and a runtime of about 28-30 minutes.
The documentary series features George Anastasia, Sammy ‘The Bull’ Grevano, Renee Graziano, Elie Honig, Adam Selzer, Michael Franzese, John Binder, Geoff Schumacher, John Alite, Richie Roberts, Lewis Rice, Dana Renga, Robin Pickering Iazzi, Brian Kelly and others.
According to Netflix’s description, this docuseries guides you through a darkly satirical how-to guide that explores the rise and fall of history’s most notorious mob bosses – from Al Capone to Pablo Escobar – and their tactics for success.
How to Become a Mob Boss Review
The documentary is said to be a playbook guide to climbing the ladder of the crime world and becoming a leader that people fear and follow, without question. The first infamous gangster introduced was Al Capone, a barber’s son from Brooklyn who became king of the Chicago underworld. Al Capone’s life trajectory offers a lesson in unlocking your own potential.
Some of the tips offered to the viewers in Dinklage’s deep voice are – find the passion for crimes from a young age. Like any other rags-to-riches journey, everything starts from the childhood itself. As early as you learn the ways of the street, you can also climb the local gang lord ladder quickly, just like Capone who became a mob boss by 26. What really helped him reach there was his two mentors, who taught him business and how to conduct himself fearlessly.
The second mob boss was Frank Lucas, the heroin kingpin whose cutting-edge business plan made sure that crimes do pay. Coming from a place of no opportunities at hand, his story shows how one can make their own way if nobody offers you one. While Capone dealt with alcohol, Lucas used heroin as his way to riches. He found a direct business with Southeast Asian gangsters to get his share of drugs without a middleman. Give us a lesson to find the most effective root for your business.
The third one was Salvatore ‘Toto’ Riina, his plan of action to get what he wanted was violence. His rise through the ranks of the Sicilian Mafia was completely soaked by the blood of his rivals, whom he didn’t think twice before killing. Riina shows that to maintain dominance, you gotta tackle your competitors and rivals in any brutal way possible.
The fourth one was John Gotti, whose latest documentary was released on Netflix recently. He is one of the bosses who truly utilised the media play to create a celebrity-like persona in public. Despite being one of the most dangerous people, any ordinary person would associate with, his well-dressed and suited image did sobered it down. As Dinklage advises, maybe being a crime lord can guarantee your ticket to fame if the typical Hollywood route doesn’t.
James ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s Boston’s most notorious and successful criminal, who spent 16 years on the run made me wonder if presenting these criminals in a lighthearted manner was right. He is mostly known for killing anyone who would be an obstacle in his way, be it a journalist trying to expose him or women who wouldn’t accept his proposal. While his life story shows how he was always prepared to save himself, in case police found all the dead bodies he had buried. On the other hand, it felt wrong to talk about murder etc so casually, as a laughing matter.
The last one was Pablo Escobar, a drug lord, narcoterrorist and Politician, who reached a level of fame and power most criminals could only dream of. He might be one of the most popular ones on the list, due to the TV series based on his life. Initially, he seemed like a Robin Hood character who would help the poor. But time revealed his true colours when he bombed a civilian aircraft, just because he wanted one passenger on the plane to be killed. His story is showcased as a tenacious one, who found new ways to reduce or get away from his punishments.
The series gives you exactly what it said – all the tips and tricks of the criminal arts. Although it’s completely satirical, it also feels like their grave crimes get reduced to a laughing stock that happened once upon a time. As if someone would take their words seriously, it would only lead to some lethal tragedy. Other than that, the narration is the main point that keeps you engaged with witty remarks and puns, wherever needed. If you liked the previous How to Become anthology series, then this would interest you as well.
Rating: 3/5
Also Read: 007 Road to a Million: Who Won the 1 Million Euros Prize?
How to Become a Mob Boss is available for streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: EXmas Review: Feels Like a Parody of Christmas Movies
Leave a Reply