While shows like The Sopranos are works of fiction, the mafia is, in fact, real.
A new three-part Netflix documentary shines a light on the conflict between warring mob factions in Philadelphia during the 1990s, and the FBI’s efforts to take down the two kingpins at the forefront.
Often sensationalized for film, television and books, Mob War: Philadelphia vs. the Mafia puts the reality of the mafia into sharp relief.
Watch With Us is kind of obsessed with it, and we decided to explain why it should be at the top of your Netflix queue this weekend.
It Spotlights a Lesser-Known Mafia Syndicate in the United States
People know the names John Gotti and Al Capone, the Chicago Outfit and New York’s Five Families, but what about Philadelphia’s mafia? Does it even exist? Well, the Philadelphia mafia became perhaps overly known during the 1990s, when a succession of high-profile mob hits regularly made front-page news in the City of Brotherly Love, with these murders taking place in broad daylight.
It was a brief but bloody conflict between two warring mafia kingpins: the old guard led by John Stanfa, and the “young guns” spearheaded by Joey Merlino — a classic conflict of generational divide. After the arrest of Nicky Scarfo in 1986, a spot opened up for a new mob boss in Philadelphia. The two candidates who stepped up to the plate were deeply opposed and incompatible, and it set off a chain reaction of violence to determine who would be the new head honcho.
The Story Is Fascinating and Doesn’t Overstay Its Welcome
At only three episodes, Mob War: Philadelphia vs. the Mafia has a short window in which to cover a lot of information, but it ends up being the perfect amount of time for the story at hand. Director Raissa Botterman knows not to pad out too much time with unnecessary talking head interviews and reenactments (the latter of which are used sparingly), and does a great job at sticking to the facts and players at hand.
Because the story, while perhaps convoluted at times with so many characters and unclear loyalties, is engaging on its own, and Botterman presents the story straightforwardly. Eventually, things got so out of hand with the violence at play between the two mafia men —there was an attempted drive-by assassination of Stanfa along the Schuylkill Expressway, for one — the FBI eventually got involved to bring an end to things. But it was still difficult to build a case of evidence against an organization that manages to be so secretive despite such brash violence, and required life-risking moves like sneaking into mafia hangouts and planting bugs.
The Show’s Engaging Filmmaking Keeps Things Interesting
It’s easy for mob documentaries to get overstuffed with interviews, photos and old clips. But Botterman gets a little more creative with her filmmaking, crafting a pace that manages to match the high-octane thrills of the real story she’s telling. The series features fast-paced editing and exciting music, in addition to an eccentric cast of personalities with outfits that you think mobsters only wore in movies.
It also helps that Botterman films her interviews in a revolving door of different places instead of in a stock, uninteresting interview space, from a dimly-lit bar to the offices at the Philadelphia Inquirer and even a parked car. There are inherent limitations to certain kinds of documentaries, and most are usually dictated by the quality of the subject itself. So it’s nice that Botterman goes the extra mile to add a little extra creative oomph to a story that probably didn’t need it.
Stream Mob War: Philadelphia vs. the Mafia now on Netflix.
