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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Cincinnati-Filmed 'Gotti' Opens Friday In Theaters

Brian Douglas
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"Gotti"
The "Gotti" wedding reception was filmed at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hall of Mirrors.

To promote Friday's opening of "Gotti," filmed here in 2016, you can catch stars John Travolta and Kelly Preston talking about the John Gotti bio picture on TV talk shows this week.

Credit Brian Douglas / "Gotti"
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"Gotti"
John Travolta as John Gotti.

Travolta, who worked nine years to get the film made, appears on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" tonight (11:35 p.m. Wednesday, Channel 5, NBC), and on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" Friday (9 a.m., Channel 9).

Preston visits "The View" Thursday (11 a.m., Channel 9, ABC).

Expect them to bring a movie clip with them. When Preston appeared on "Good Morning America" Monday, she showed a courtroom scene filmed in the Hamilton County Courthouse with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters as the judge.  

The trailer includes scenes from Fountain Square, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hall of Mirrors, the courthouse, Finneytown and other locations throughout Cincinnati.

https://youtu.be/m290GmN","_id":"0000017a-3b4f-d913-abfe-bf4f58b60001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/m290GmN-Q7Q">https://youtu.be/m290GmN","_id":"0000017a-3b4f-d913-abfe-bf4f58b60001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/m290GmN-Q7Q

"Gotti" is listed as opening Friday at AMC Newport on the Levee. (I can't find it listed for any other area theater.)

Credit "Gotti"

"Gotti" credits also list appearances in the film by restaurateur Jeff Ruby, local actor Ken Strunk and videographer Bob Gerding. Actor-director Kevin Connolly ("Entourage") directed the film.

The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival May 15. Reviews were brutal. Here's a link to my story, First Reviews Murder "Gotti."

IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote: "It's a strange thing to say for a guy convicted of murder, but John Gotti deserved better than this amateurish biopic." One review said that Travolta, a producer on the film, "plays the Teflon Don like a cross between Ray Liotta and Alec Baldwin's impression of Donald Trump." Ouch!

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.