26 October 2023 , 15:04
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Netflix viewers have been "glued" to their screens after new mafia documentary Get Gotti landed on the streaming service this week.
The three-part deep-dive into the rise and subsequent fall of mob boss John Gotti has been dubbed a "must-watch" by true crime fans. The infamous gangster, who died from throat cancer in 2002, was known as the Dapper Don thanks to his love of expensive clothes and cars.
He was head honcho of the Gambino crime family - the organisation ran organised crime throughout New York City, and Gotti's flamboyant lifestyle made him a well-known figure in the city in the 80s and 90s. He was eventually arrested in 1992, when he was charged with five murders, plus racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, bribery, tax evasion, illegal gambling, loan sharking and obstruction of justice.
Gotti was arrested in 1992 (Getty Images)The new look at his crimes is told from both sides of the law and focuses on the FBI's battle to bring him down. Fans took to X to share their reviews of the series. One said: "NETFLIX new docu-series GET GOTTI is a must watch! Should watch? No, MUST WATCH!"
Another commented: "Get Gotti. I was glued," while a third admitted they were impressed with the new details provided by the filmmakers: "I thought I knew all about John Gotti, but Get Gotti on Netflix proved me wrong. Compelling stuff." One viewer was amazed, writing: "I started that Get Gotti documentary cause I needed something to play in the background while I did my lashes and I'm???? my jaw keeps dropping every ten mins how are they getting these people to admit to these things so casually?"
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Get Gotti looks at the criminal career of the head of the Gambino family from both sides of the law (NY Daily News via Getty Images)Gotti was sentenced to life in prison and spent most of the rest of his days in solitary confinement. He was allowed out of his cell for less than an hour a day, and the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal in 1994. Gotti went on to be diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. His son said his death could have been avoided if he had received a better level of healthcare in prison, as well as accusing the prison of causing his cancer.
In his book, Shadow of my Father, Gotti Jr wrote that prisoners were given water with carcinogens in, with everyone except the prisoners warned against drinking it. He also claims his father was given bad dental implants that he "pulled out himself", adding: "Regular dental care could have diagnosed the problem early.
Regular dental care could have checked the gum infections before they ate into my father's jaw, before they helped cause the cancer that killed him. John J. Gotti was treated worse than a Guantanamo terrorist. They at least get decent medical care."