Wild 90
Wild 90

Movie spotlight

Wild 90

1968
Movie
82 min
English

Norman Mailer’s first feature filmmaking effort stars the director and his two longtime collaborators Buzz Farbar and Mickey Knox as a trio of gangsters holed up in a ramshackle New York apartment, drinking, braying, and fighting.

Insights

IMDb6.0/10
Director: Lawrence SchillerGenres: Documentary, Crime

Plot Summary

Wild 90 is a raw, cinéma vérité documentary that plunges viewers into the dangerous world of 1960s New York City organized crime. It follows the day-to-day activities of a group of Mafiosi, offering an unvarnished look at their illegal operations, volatile relationships, and the criminal underworld they inhabit. The film captures the gritty reality and atmosphere of their lives, providing a stark and unfiltered glimpse into a notorious segment of society.

Critical Reception

Wild 90 is an obscure but significant piece of documentary filmmaking, noted for its gritty realism and early exploration of the criminal underworld through cinéma vérité techniques. While it may not have garnered widespread mainstream attention upon release, it is recognized by film historians for its direct and unpretentious approach to a taboo subject. Its impact lies more in its historical context and its bold capture of a specific time and place within organized crime.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its authentic, fly-on-the-wall depiction of criminal life.

  • Noted for its unvarnished and often brutal portrayal of organized crime.

  • Considered a significant, albeit lesser-known, example of early documentary realism.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews and consensus for 'Wild 90' is not readily available due to its niche status and age.

Fun Fact

The film features real-life mobsters and criminals, including Frank Lucas, who would later become the subject of the critically acclaimed film 'American Gangster'.

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