For all of Brando’s eccentricities you really can’t deny how incredible his performance is here. He leads an acting master class and is closely followed by Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, John Cazale and of course Al Pacino who’s quiet demeanour slowly gives way to ruthless murderer. An even better sequel followed.
- White Heat (1949)
A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring break from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist. Shortly after the plan takes place, events take a crazy turn.
Nobody delivered intensity like Jimmy Cagney and White Heat is one of his best. Here we see him play a man so wired that he would rather pull the trigger than talk it out. Killing is just all in a day’s work for Jimmy.
- Casino (1995)
Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire. What better place for the mob to rule than sin city itself.
This is a true epic featuring a leading trio of actors at the very top of their game. Even the bright lights and noise of Las Vegas Boulevard can’t drown out the gunfire as DeNiro, Pesci and Stone battle it out.
We know that with great power comes great responsibility but if you’re a gangster in charge of a Casino it can bring you double crosses, life threatening situations and could cost you your life as well as your friends.
- Bugsy Malone (1976)
The rise of "Bugsy Malone" and the battle for power between "Fat Sam" and "Dandy Dan". A gangster movie where all the gangsters are children and instead of bullets they use ‘splurge guns’ which shoot out cream.
Alan Parker’s brilliant riff on the crime genre still holds up today. Who knew that a musical featuring kids in adult roles and guns that shoot dessert would work? Great work by a young Scott Baio (who peaked way to early) and Jodie Foster as the trademark gangsters’ moll.
- Carlito’s Way (1993)
A Puerto-Rican ex-con, just released from prison, pledges to stay away from drugs and violence despite the pressure around him and lead on to a better life outside of NYC.
Short sighted critics (are there any other kind?) said that Pacino was just re-treading Scarface territory here but if you look closer you’ll find a much more complex character.
All Carlito wants to do is go straight but he finds out that it’s impossible to run away from your past. Sean Penn is awesome as Carlito’s sleazy lawyer. Required viewing!
Alex Wagner ©
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