“One of Lattuada’s Best!”
– Stanley Kaufman, The New Republic Online

"The Sweetness of Comedy, With the Punch of an Espresso Chaser!"
– Michael Fox, SF Weekly

"One of those movies you shouldn't refuse!"
– Eleanor Ringel, Atlanta Journal Constitution

"AN UTTER BLAST! Happily blends low comedy, high sentiment, neorealism and farce – ALMOST A FILM FESTIVAL UNTO ITSELF!"
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times

"A Gem!"
– G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle

"The Missing Link in the Mob Movie Arc!" 
– Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

"Extraordinary!"
– Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald

"Scandalously Entertaining!"
– Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Odd and Wonderful. A Unique Experience!"
– Jim Emerson, Chicago Sun-Times

Black and White Pleasure"
– Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

"Essential viewing!"
– Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

"! "
– Jan Stuart, Newsday

"FILLED WITH DELICIOUS TOUCHES! Great comic acting, brilliant scriptwriting, a terrific music score, vibrant direction! A MASTERWORK!"
– Phillip Lopate, Film Comment

"Another superb Rialto restoration job! Builds up to a HILARIOUSLY SHOCKING turn of events!"
– J. Hoberman, Village Voice

"UPROARIOUSLY DELIGHTFUL! The kind of zesty, irreverent wit that helped define the golden age of Italian comedy - Alberto Sordi is impeccable!"
– Aaron Hillis, Premiere

"THE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL'S UNEQUIVOCAL HIGH POINT! A rousing mix of dark humor, sweaty palms and gangster mentality that consistently raises the boundaries of the mob film! A testament to director Alberto Lattuada!"
– filmcritic.com

"Inventive! Daring! A LONG-LOST COMIC CLASSIC! Alberto Sordi gives one of his finest performances!"
– Kent Jones, NY Film Festival

"THE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL'S SHOWSTOPPER! Unwraps Italian society with sympathy, humor and pure delight! Sordi is in top form, of the caliber of Peter Sellers!"
– Megan Ratner, Bright Lights Film Journal

“You won't forget Mafioso”
– Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

“The mother of all Godfather movies!”
– Jay Carr, AM New York
 
“Admirers of the Corleones or of Tony Sopranos will revel!”
– Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

“Like discovering a lost world”  
– Stephanie Zacharek, Salon  
  
“Sordi’s is a marvelous performance in a marvelous movie!”
– Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor

“! A Brilliant Feat of Sustained Comedy! An Absolute Delight!”
– Marc Savlov, The Austin Cronicle