On paper, “The Alto Knights” looks like a project that can’t miss.

A gangster movie starring Robert DeNiro, penned by Nicholas Pileggi (the writer of “Goodfellas” and “Casino”) and directed by Barry Levinson (who directed “Bugsy”) feels like a sure-fire success – with each person bringing some quality experience to the project.

Despite all this fire power, “The Alto Knights” ultimately fizzles – a pale retread of better movies in the genre that is technically efficient but lacks the pizazz to make it stand out.

It’s like listening to a setlist of your favorite musician’s greatest hits, but the songs are performed by a cover band and not the actual artist.

“Alto Knights” is based on a true story about childhood friends Vito Genovese and Frank Costello (both played by DeNiro), who rose through the ranks to become two of the top mob bosses in New York.

Frank is more level-headed, using his power for political gain, while Vito is more of a hot-head – and more willing to go into darker territories with his growing power.

The friendship is ultimately tested when Frank ascends to the top spot, with Vito feeling like he should be the one with all that power.

The idea of clashing mob bosses that led to the fall of the mafia as we know it, is certainly an intriguing premise, but Pileggi’s script gets bogged down in a lot of mundane moments that are about as exciting as watching paint dry.

This is a film with a lot of talking about taking action, but not really that much action. It’s a lot of blustering from DeNiro’s Vito (a role that almost certainly had to be offered to Joe Pesci at some point during development), with Frank delivering long voiceovers breaking the fourth wall looking directly at the audience (a trick that is never actually explained. Like, who is he supposed to be talking to?).

DeNiro is fine in the lead roles and the few moments when both characters are on screen together are interesting, but for the most part Levinson’s direction plays it safe, relying way too much on familiar moments from other films in the genre. The director’s pacing is rather glacial, making this film (clocking in at just over two hours) feel longer than “Goodfellas,” “The Irishman,” and “Casino” combined.

“The Alto Knights” just never can step out of the huge shadows of its predecessors, with even some of the elite talent in the genre unable to make this more than a middle of the road disappointment.

If You Go
“The Alto Knights”
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Debra Messing
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Rating: R for violence and pervasive language
Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)
Grade: C