TOP
10 GANGSTER FILMS
Gangster movies are one
of the most interesting and most widely debated genres of film, and
this is for a number of reasons. Ranging from one's favourite actors,
to the types of gangster you prefer, everyone has a good reason for
favouring one film more than another. There have been a number of
fantastic gangster movies made in the last century, and to celebrate
the release of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, available on Blu-ray,
DVD and digital platforms from May 18, 2015 courtesy of Icon
Film Distribution, we will take a look at the Top 10 Gangster
Films...
10. Casino
(1995)
Casino follows
the character of Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a gambler the
Mafia places in charge of the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas. It is
based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Nicholas Pileggi,
who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Scorsese. The two
previously collaborated on the 1990 hit film Goodfellas. The
film was a box-office success, making $116 million worldwide on a
$40–50 million budget. A fan favourite the world over, Casino
earns its place in this top 10.
9. The
French Connection (1971)
One of the first real
urban crime thrillers to grace the big screen, The French
Connection had its viewers immersed in the film for its duration,
mainly as a result of the films focus on hyper realism. New York City
cops Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy
"Cloudy" Russo (Roy Scheider) are conducting an
undercover stakeout in Brooklyn. After seeing a drug transaction take
place in a bar, Cloudy goes in to make an arrest but the suspect
makes a break for it. After catching up with their suspect and
severely beating him, the detectives interrogate the man who reveals
his drug connection that reaches all the way over to France.
8. Sexy
Beast (2000)
Arguably the best
Gangster film to come out of the UK in the past 20 years, Sexy
Beast made a cult hero out of the main villain, Don Logan (Sir
Ben Kingsley). Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the film
centres on Gal (Ray Winstone) and the lengths his arch nemesis
will go to get him back to London from Spain to carry out one final
job.
7. The
Untouchables (1987)
Directed by Brian De
Palma and written by David Mamet, The Untouchables is based on
the autobiographical memoirs of the same name. Starring Kevin
Costner as government agent Eliot Ness, it also stars Robert
De Niro as gang leader Al Capone and Sean Connery as
Irish-American officer Jimmy Malone (who was based on the real life
agent and member of the "Untouchables" Irish-American Marty
Lahart). De Palma displays his filmmaking genius in this film, and it
deservedly earns its place in this top 10 list.
6. No
Country For Old Men (2007)
Meticulously scripted,
excitingly tense, violent beyond measure and yet maturely sorrowful ,
No Country For Old Men marks the first time the Coen brothers
have faithfully adapted somebody else’s work to their own liking
and considerable strengths. Cormac McCarthy’s incredible,
best-selling 2005 novel of the same name describes a contemporary
American West (the action is set in 1980) where drug trafficking is
the new Gold Rush, and Josh Brolin becomes caught up in one of the
most dangerous games of cat and mouse ever seen. A true masterpiece.
5. Scarface
(1983)
One of the most popular
films in cult history, Scarface earns its place on this list with
ease. After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a
Cuban government official, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) stakes a
claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who
stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in
the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through
Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian
drug cartels and his own drug-fuelled paranoia serve to fuel the
flames of his eventual downfall.
4. Reservoir
Dogs (1992)
Quentin Tarantino's
trendsetting movie that took us on a ride with five criminals put
together for a heist that goes wrong—each character was aptly named
after a color and to top things off the cast were all A-List talent.
Tarantino tells the story the way only he can, and even after being
released over 20 years ago, the film carries the same knockout punch
it did back then.
3. Goodfellas
(1990)
If a film can go on to
inspire arguably the greatest TV show ever made in The Sopranos,
then it goes a long way to emphasising the effect this film had on
millions of film lovers around the world. Goodfellas is one of
the most influential films of the last 25 years, and could well be
one of Michael Scorcese's finest. Goodfellas tells the story
of the true-life descent into big-time crime of Henry Hill (Ray
Liotta), and the colourful group of friends he fraternised with.
2. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (2014)
Jessica Chastain alongside Oscar Isaac, demonstrate why they are currently two of the most in-demand actors on the planet with their excellent portrayal of a family involved in business that pushes the boundaries of the law to the limit. At a time when New York City is experiencing a spike in criminal activity, small businessman Abel Morales (Isaac) fights to make himself a living, support his wife Anna (Chastain) and protect his interests. Always looking for a way to expand his business, Abel nevertheless strives to keep things honest and to do things by the book. However, when he becomes the target of opportunistic thieves, he takes matters into his own hands to track down those responsible. But, in doing so, he also attracts the attention of the Assistant District Attorney (David Oyelowo) who takes an unwelcome interest in Abel’s business practices...
1. The
Godfather Part II (1974)
It is often debated
whether The Godfather II is better than the first of the
Godfather trilogy as it wouldn't exist without the first, but
this author feels that this is the greater of the two films. The
time-hopping structure allows Francis Ford Coppola to flesh out the
Michael Corleone's world in violently fascinating new dimensions, yet
somehow, the brutal drama of the original is sustained effortlessly
across half a century.
Honourable mentions -
Boyz N The Hood, The Departed, The Long Good Friday, The
Godfather, Gomorrah, Fargo, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,
Layercake, Once Upon a Time in America, Miller's Crossing, Leon, King
of New York, Bonnie and Clyde, The Killing, Pulp Fiction
***
A
MOST VIOLENT YEAR comes to Blu-ray, DVD and digital platforms from
May 18, 2015 courtesy of Icon Film Distribution.
