One of my favorite categories is gangster films. And, according to several film publications it is the favorite category of the majority of American viewers. Clearly, one movie (series) is responsible for this focus - The Godfather. In an earlier post we talked about movies that were as good as the book and The Godfather almost certainly qualifies. The book was good but the movie was great. There have been several other classics in this segment and several are highlighted below.
As with many of my "categories" definitions are arbitrary. So, while Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are somewhere on my top 100 overall list, they do not qualify for this one. Nor do the Yakuza films (Japanese gangsters).
And, ordinarily a movie like Leon (also called The Professional) would not qualify either. It is more of a "hit man" film than a true "gangster" movie. But it still fits into the slightly broader category of Film Noir. Either way, its my blog so... I am highlighting this movie before going on the Top 10. This is a Luc Beeson film. It is ranked among the top hundred films on numerous film lists and the top 500 for almost every list I have seen. And, the best part of this film is the first 10 minutes. The star is one Frank Senger. In addition to being a seasoned actor Frank is my brother-in-law. This film plays often on cable and is another one of those that I stop at frequently to watch at least a few minutes. Well worth the rental.
Now, on to my Top Ten Gangster Films - in order...
The Godfather (1972) - One of the great movies of all-time. So much has been written and all of it justified. Even after a third or fourth viewing this movie still really holds together. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. One little known fact - five Coppola's had bit parts, Carmine, Gian-Carlo, Italia, Roman and Sofia. [Remember the guy who played Johnny Fontane (Frank Sinatra)? His name was Al Martino and other than GF Part II and Godfather for TV, he never acted in any other movie until 2006 when he starred in a bomb call Cutout.] The Godfather cost $7MM to make and it has grossed about $300MM - just at the box office. Add in all the merchandising, video game sales etc. and the gross is upwards of $1Billion. Leela is the only person I know who has not seen this movie. We will have to tie her down at some point and make that happen.
Goodfellas (1990) - I liked this movie almost as much at The Godfather. Not a dull moment. Ray Liotta was fantastic as the main character - Henry Hill - as were DeNiro, Pesci, Jackson, Bracco, Imperioli and Sorvino. A Martin Scorsese film, and a couple of his relatives had bit parts. Martin directed about 50 films and had bit parts in 23 of them. The movie was also known as Made Men and Wiseguy. Liotta has been in tons of films but none of his other performances come close to this one. Pesci and Bracco won and were nominated for Best Supportings.
The Godfather, part II (1974) - Won six Oscars. The Best Sequel ever, by far. (A later post will tackle the subject of best sequels, and this movie will be far and away in first place.)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984) - Commented on in an earlier post - this movie is often called the Jewish Godfather. Another DeNiro film, also with Pesci and James Woods, Tuesday Weld and Treat Williams. The film is long but a great saga - 3:47 run time. After a while you just want it to keep on going.
A Bronx Tale (1993) - Robert DeNiro's directorial debut. Chaz Palminteri and DeNiro star, only this time, DeNiro is the straight laced neighborhood bus driver trying to protect his kid from the neighborhood hood. Good vs. evil on lots of different levels.
Miller's Crossing - Great prohibition-era gangsta flick with some excellent but slightly lesser knows - like Albert Finney, John Turturo, Gabriel Byrne and Steve Buscemi (of the Sopranos). If you like this genre you'll really like this film. Very noirish feel to it and an excellent storyline. A Coen brothers written and directed film.
Bonnie & Clyde (1967) - One of the original modern gangster films with Faye Dunnaway, Warren Beatty, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons (Best Supporting Oscar) and Warren Oats. Also a part for Gene Wilder, in his first movie role after a couple of TV bits. Shot in B&W, very effective moody movie about the two famous gangsters, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker - who were actually just a couple of lawless kids on the run. Then they went a little crazy. The final scene is pretty intense, especially when you consider the 1967 release date. Quite a scandal over the violence at the end.
The Departed - (2006) Maybe this was really a good cop / bad cop movie but underlying it all was a mobster and his connections into the Boston PD. This time it is the Irish mafia. So, it makes my list. Leo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin - what a great cast. The dynamic between Damon and Wahlberg was outstanding. And Nicholson was made for this kind of part. Another Martin Scorcese picture.
The Untouchables (1987) - Other than The Fugitive I cannot think of a better movie made from a TV show. Kevin Costner was himself and did a great job. I always love Sean Connery and no different in this one. Andy Garcia was good too as his brooding self. Really enjoyed Charles Martin Smith in his role. He's been in a ton of movies always in these kind of background parts.
Scarface (1983) - Pacino, Pacino and more Pacino. One of the most violent movies around, this film has generated an amazing following. A so-called Scarface Nation (the name of a book given to me by the Pickle's). All kinds of amazing facts/trivia available from that source.
Honorable Mention:
Donnie Brasco - Pacino, Depp, Madsen. The best scene is the exchange of Xmas presents.
Mean Streets -Scorcese, DeNiro and Harvey Keitel. Almost made the list.
James Cagney - Many of his films qualify. Try: White Heat, The Roaring 20's or Public Enemy - all excellent early gansta pics.
Special Mention:
Casino -DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Pesci and James Woods. Great movie. Also almost made the list, but the category isn't quite right.
Not on this list - The Godfather, Part III - there are very few movies where even the sequel is any good, much less the third, fourth or fifth in the series (see, e.g. Star Wars, Rocky, Halloween, Superman, Harry Potter, Fast and Furious, Alien). This is another one of those continuations that should never have been made.
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