Excellent Cadavers has only two things going against it: A) it gives away the ending in the first couple minutes of the movie, and B) it is way too short and never gives us a chance to really hear the whole story. The ending is awfully truncated, but then again the main character's life is just like the movie.

F. Murray Abraham and Chaz Palminteri both turn in expectedly strong performances, as do a number of native Italian actors doing their best to deliver their lines in English and generally doing quite well. Fausto Lombardi (from RATS and TERROR EXPRESS) has a good cameo as a mafioso interviewed while in prison. Dubbing voice provider Andy Luotto, who made no impression on me at all as Ben Gunn in TREASURE ISLAND IN OUTER SPACE, turns in a surprisingly heartfelt performance as Palminteri's second-fiddle who takes over the battle later on.

The romance for once feels fairly realistic and not too tacked-on. The woman he falls in love with sort of reminds me of an Italian Charlotte Rampling (the eyes anyway). It actually works more toward the movie's benefit than it's detriment, as well as the numerous mafia gun battles and assassinations which are all generally handled quite well.

Definitely worth a purchase if you can find it. It tends to pop up in bargain bins where you'd least expect it to be.

"Excellent Cadavers" is an HBO docudrama which tells the story of Italian hero Giovanni Falcone; a Sicilian judge who dared to take on the Mafia in its homeland and did more to rid Sicily of its age old scourge than any other man since Mussolini. As with most docudramas, this film leapfrogs through time hitting the historical high-points while trying to maintain continuity and build a dramatic tale. The result is a better history lesson than dramatic biography and a film which will play best for those with a specific interest in the Sicilian Mafia of the late 20 century. (B-)

Because it's based on facts, you begin to watch this movie knowing perfectly well what's going to happen and what the ending will be - nevertheless, it's gripping and deeply involving. The story of judge Falcone is faithully recreated - though too shortened for my liking - and does him justice. Chazz Palminteri plays Falcone much better than I expected, and while F. Murray Abraham does not look like the real Tommasso Buscetta, he does a fair portrayal of a "man of honour". The role and part of Toto Riina, while secondary, is worth mentioning too - it's truly frightening!