Gangster Movies

gangster movies

We understand gangster as a career criminal who almost always rises to the top member of some criminal organization. And he will not stop until he becomes the leader of it.

Gangsters they have established themselves as emblematic figures within society. Some have received the status of "Robin Hood" or defenders of the poor.

In the United States, these gang members are famous throughout the term. Part of this notoriety is thanks to Hollywood, (although characters like Al Capone or Frank Costello have "merits of their own").

Gangster movies are almost always greeted with enthusiasm by audiences.

 Of course, there are also exceptions and resounding failures.

The Godfatherby Francis Ford Coppola (1972)

Based on the novel by Mario Puzo (who wrote the script with Coppola), The Godfather es the quintessential movie when talking about gangster movies.

It has been critically acclaimed. There are many lists that have it in the first position within the best films of all time.

Winner of three Oscars, including Best Picture

 The Godfather: Part IIby Francis Ford Coppola (1974)

For many of the fans of this trilogy, this film breaks the rule that "second parts are never good." What's more, much of the public considers it better than the first.

Winner of six Oscars, repeating in the Best Film category, in addition to the first in Robert De Niro's career.

Public Enemiesby Michael Mann (2009)

Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is commissioned by J. Edgar Hoover, founder and first director of the FBI (Billy Crudup) to hunt down John Dillinger (Johnny Depp).

Based on the novel by Brayan Burrough, portrays the myth around the criminal career of Dillinger, famous bank robber during the time of the Great Depression.

Gangs of New Yorkby Martin Scorsese (2002)

A fratricidal battle between gangsters in mid-XNUMXth century New York. Two gangs clash for control of the city: the Natives and the Dead Rabbits, made up of Irish immigrants.

Scorsese, whoever he "specialized in gangster movies”, Despite having refused in the 70s to take charge of the second part of The Godfather, built a story with epic bombast.

 City of God, by Fernando Meirelles (2002)

Beyond Hollywood and the United States, stories about gang wars are also told (and lived).

Brazilian production that narrates the confrontation between Ze Pequeno and Mané Galinha, two criminals who, in command of their respective criminal groupsThey seek to take control of a favela in Rio de Janeiro.

Oscar winner for Best Editing.

Live at nightby Ben Affleck (2016)

This is the best example that gangster movies fail too. Despite a huge budget and being one of the most promoted films of the winter of 2016, it did not arouse any interest in the public.

Ben Affleck's resignation from directing is said to The Batman, It is due to the millionaire losses left by this tape.

Usual suspectsby Brian Singer (1995)

Halfway between a gangster story and a thriller, Regular Suspects It is perhaps the highest rated film in Singer's filmography.

An ensemble cast consisting of Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palmienteri, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Stephen Baldwin and Kevin Spacey (Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). A story that keeps the viewer in suspense and without clear certainties, until the final sequence.

The untouchables of Elliot Ness, by Brian de Palma (1987)

The Chase of Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) until Al Capone is captured (Robert De Niro), set in Chicago in the early 1930s.

The film portrays the fall of one of the icons of "evilMore representative of American popular culture.

The Godfather: Part IIIby Francis Ford Coppola (1990)

It took 16 years for Coppola and Puzo to complete the trilogy. However, the result was rather disappointing.

Only film in the trilogy to not win an Oscar, despite being nominated in six categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Scarface (The price of power), by Brian de Palma (1983)

 If we ignore the two deliveries of The Godfather, for many this is the best gangster movie ever.

Narrates the Rise, Glory, and Fall of Tony Montana (another mobster with the face of al Pacino), Cuban who emigrated to the United States in search of the American Dream.

Dick Tracyby Warren Betty (1990)

In the 30s, Chester Gould popularized a famous newspaper strip, in which Dick Tracy, a skilled and incorruptible police inspector, fights organized crime.

Warren betty He starred in and directed what was the character's second foray into film. After his debut in 1945 in a film directed by William Berke.

Al Pacino, Madonna, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke and James Caan complete the cast.

Winner of three Oscars, is an underrated and forgotten gangster film, despite the box office success of the early 90s.

A dangerous therapyby Harold Ramis (1999)

Again Robert de Niro, who has played Al Capone himself in the cinema. And he was also part of the Corleone clan. Here In this comedy he plays a gangster who has to go to a psychiatrist after a sudden panic attack.

Underworldby Luc Besson (2013)

Again Robert De Niro puts a comedic tone to the personification of a gangster.

Luc Besson, French director and producer specializing in action cinema, went behind the cameras to narrate the adventures of a family of gangsters.

Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones complete the cast.

Dirty game (Hellish Affairs) by Andrew Lau (2002)

Production "Made in Hong Kong". Chang Wing Yan is an undercover agent for 10 years inside a dangerous criminal organization. At the same time, Lau Kin Ming, a member of the same triad under surveillance, lives in the police force.

Una film well received by specialized film critics, with a wide diffusion worldwide.

Martin Scorsese directed an award-winning remake of this gangster film in 2006 under the title of Departed. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Walbergh, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin starred.

Image sources: Macguffin007 / The Navegant Zone


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