With a complicated plot, this serie takes you through the life of the young Nikki Balsamo, a rising member of the Montreal Mafia. The story is so intense that you can't wait to see the next episode. The fact that the main character doesn't express his future intentions adds to the greatness of the serie. The cast is filled with some of the best French-Canadian actors ; Michel Côté, Claude Blanchard and the young Romano Orzari. Absolutely a must see.
7 Reviews
Absolutely brilliant
Rooster9920 September 2006
The Omerta trilogy is the best series I have ever seen on television. It centers around the RCMP's attempts to take down the head of the Montreal mafia. It is hard-hitting, violent, realistic, and incredibly intense. It is one of the rare shows where I had to keep watching each episode in the DVD set one after the other, hoping I could keep fitting one more in before I had to go to bed.
There are 3 stories in the Omerta series; Omerta 1, 2, and 3. Omerta 1 and 2 are sequential in terms of the story, and should be watched in order. Omerta 3 introduces a new character, and follows his rise in the mafia. What is interesting is that the time-line in Omerta 3 covers both before and after the action in the first two, characters which had been killed off earlier can make appearances without causing plot holes. It was an effective way of creating a full series using many of the same actors.
I would have to say that of the 3 series, each became more polished until you arrive at Omerta 3, which is truly fantastic. There are 11 episodes in series 1, 14 in series 2, and 13 in series 3. I would highly recommend you watch them in order, although you can watch series 3 independently of the first 2 and still follow the storyline. All 3 are in French, and a very heavily accented Montreal French at that. Also, in the DVD sets that I watched, there was no English audio track nor any subtitles. If you can understand the language, I strongly urge you to check out this unique series which preceded the Sopranos by a number of years. You will not be disappointed.
R.
There are 3 stories in the Omerta series; Omerta 1, 2, and 3. Omerta 1 and 2 are sequential in terms of the story, and should be watched in order. Omerta 3 introduces a new character, and follows his rise in the mafia. What is interesting is that the time-line in Omerta 3 covers both before and after the action in the first two, characters which had been killed off earlier can make appearances without causing plot holes. It was an effective way of creating a full series using many of the same actors.
I would have to say that of the 3 series, each became more polished until you arrive at Omerta 3, which is truly fantastic. There are 11 episodes in series 1, 14 in series 2, and 13 in series 3. I would highly recommend you watch them in order, although you can watch series 3 independently of the first 2 and still follow the storyline. All 3 are in French, and a very heavily accented Montreal French at that. Also, in the DVD sets that I watched, there was no English audio track nor any subtitles. If you can understand the language, I strongly urge you to check out this unique series which preceded the Sopranos by a number of years. You will not be disappointed.
R.
English-Canadians are missing out.....
Rooster998 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Thank God for libraries, otherwise I would never have discovered this series. It's brilliant, some of the best TV I have ever seen. If you liked the Sopranos, you will love this. The action all takes place in Montreal, with rival mafia gangs fighting it out for supremacy and control of the streets. Nicola Balsamo is a rising star in the mafia underworld, but he is torn between trying to go straight to stay with the love of his life, and living up to his past. The only problem I could see with this series is that it nearly cost me my job, as I ended up watching all 13 episodes on DVD in just a few nights. I kept thinking, "Ok, just one more ep..." I don't know if an English-language version exists or not, but I highly recommend you try to watch it in the original Quebecois French. Although some of the expressions were new to me, the story is not difficult to follow although some of the subterfuges could get quite complex. The characters are interspersed with English, French, and the occasional Spanish speakers, anything non-French is subtitled. Quite a few characters are Anglophones, and just like in present-day Montreal, the French-speakers have to swap back and forth between the languages depending on who they are talking to.
This series was terrific, the tension was relentless, the twists and turns kept me glued to my seat. This is far better than any English-Canadian television I remember seeing recently. We anglophones are missing out! R.
This series was terrific, the tension was relentless, the twists and turns kept me glued to my seat. This is far better than any English-Canadian television I remember seeing recently. We anglophones are missing out! R.
Go see it now!!
davidbeland28 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This series fascinates me since the first time i saw it. The acting level is incredibly high, well written, the casting is amazing (except for few exceptions in season 3, in my opinion) well directed and even the music, by Michel Cusson, is totally awesome!! I've heard few cops and criminal experts describing this series as very accurate in terms of how the organized crime, finance sector, secret service and rotten politicians works together in Montreal (you just have to read the news these days). Much more than an average mafia vs biker series.
An undercover agent risking his life in a prison to get informations, a pedophile cop selling informations to the mob, an undercover agent killed by ____________, impossibles and shredded love affairs, bad blood between police colleagues, bad blood between capos, corrupted politicians and police bosses are a glimpse of what you will find in this captivating and realistic story.
My favorite is season 2. The new godfather Gino Favara (Ron Lea) steal 115 millions (and steal the show too!) from the New York mafia boss Carlo Lombardo (Louis Di Bianco) to buy gold from the Russians. He also tries to grab the financial structure of the famous rock star Rick Bonnard (David La Haye) to launder his money but he needs the collaboration of the financial genius Paul Spencer (Marc Messier) who's not willing to collaborate. He also have to deal with his alcoholic and out of control brother in law who happens to be one of his capo.
Season 3 is also excellent but i had few problems with Tony Potenzza (Paolo Noël) & Victoria Sogliuzzo (Geneviève Rochette) performances from time to time to be perfectly honest. But the rest is so top notch it compensate for a few unconvincing scenes. The story is build around a love affair between Nicky Balsamo (Romano Orzary) and Victoria Sogliuzzo.
In conclusion, Omertà is never boring, very addictive, complex, always realistic and down to earth series. Almost impossible to be disappointed. I've read that there's an English dubbed version but the one i have is in french only, unfortunately.
An undercover agent risking his life in a prison to get informations, a pedophile cop selling informations to the mob, an undercover agent killed by ____________, impossibles and shredded love affairs, bad blood between police colleagues, bad blood between capos, corrupted politicians and police bosses are a glimpse of what you will find in this captivating and realistic story.
My favorite is season 2. The new godfather Gino Favara (Ron Lea) steal 115 millions (and steal the show too!) from the New York mafia boss Carlo Lombardo (Louis Di Bianco) to buy gold from the Russians. He also tries to grab the financial structure of the famous rock star Rick Bonnard (David La Haye) to launder his money but he needs the collaboration of the financial genius Paul Spencer (Marc Messier) who's not willing to collaborate. He also have to deal with his alcoholic and out of control brother in law who happens to be one of his capo.
Season 3 is also excellent but i had few problems with Tony Potenzza (Paolo Noël) & Victoria Sogliuzzo (Geneviève Rochette) performances from time to time to be perfectly honest. But the rest is so top notch it compensate for a few unconvincing scenes. The story is build around a love affair between Nicky Balsamo (Romano Orzary) and Victoria Sogliuzzo.
In conclusion, Omertà is never boring, very addictive, complex, always realistic and down to earth series. Almost impossible to be disappointed. I've read that there's an English dubbed version but the one i have is in french only, unfortunately.
If you liked the Sopranos
Mankind-619 February 2001
Omerta is a 13 part mini-series that was a huge hit in Quebec. Shot in French and available in English dubbed, this is a very entertaining, full of suspense and well acted series about the mob and the people who try to stop it.
Best Canadian made TV series
MGG494 January 2006
Ask me to name the TV series I appreciated the most and I'll tell you Omerta is THE one. It is the story of mafiosi's in the Montreal underground world. The story is highly credible, realistic. The suspense keeps you breathless from the beginning to the end. "Never a dull moment", is the motto of this series. Dino Tavarone, the "Godfather" in this series, is fantastic. This was his first TV appearance and he made it through the casting because he is a "natural". Michel Côté, the police inspector who tracks the Godfather, has nothing of the stereotype of the policeman. But the dialogues and the screenplay serve him well, making him highly credible. We see so many replays on TV these days, I don't even understand why this one has not been re-broadcasted yet.
intense, deep and human drama
v2x26 October 2004
It is a hard look at a community true the eyes of a man. He tell his story with the voice of Romano Orzari that act the leading part. The sexiest voice I have ever heard. Let just say the organized crime put the personna Nicky true the rigner. That explain that at the end he
give some back and betray them. What is remarkable is the power play Romano Orzari support throughout the film. He pretty much blast every scene he is in. Amazing leadership. The frontal nude scene will be remember for ever in Canada. I am sure, by the way he performed sex on screen, that every women watching went back on their seat a bit and went: oh dear! I know I did. Wow! talk about full equip! border line scary. His female costar unfortunately totally disappeared, couldn't keep up.
The dynamic between Romano and Michel Coté was magic. I am very surprised that those two have not worked together since. They create a very interesting combination. Ultimately, Omerta 3 is in the bit of the actual trend we see on film and TV: reality art. I have seen other work of Romano since and he is staying loyal to that trend or new tendency. I like it. like Burned Eden, it strong and real and most of all in his art: It is very natural. I love that.
give some back and betray them. What is remarkable is the power play Romano Orzari support throughout the film. He pretty much blast every scene he is in. Amazing leadership. The frontal nude scene will be remember for ever in Canada. I am sure, by the way he performed sex on screen, that every women watching went back on their seat a bit and went: oh dear! I know I did. Wow! talk about full equip! border line scary. His female costar unfortunately totally disappeared, couldn't keep up.
The dynamic between Romano and Michel Coté was magic. I am very surprised that those two have not worked together since. They create a very interesting combination. Ultimately, Omerta 3 is in the bit of the actual trend we see on film and TV: reality art. I have seen other work of Romano since and he is staying loyal to that trend or new tendency. I like it. like Burned Eden, it strong and real and most of all in his art: It is very natural. I love that.
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