So far we’ve covered the Best War Films (Non WWII), the Best Westerns and the Best Sports Movies. In the next few weeks I’ll be doing Best WWII Films, Best Sports Documentaries and Best Films of All Time-if you’ve got any suggestions then wing them my way via twitter: @danielmartinadv or e-mail: dan @ danmartiextreme.com.
After last weeks Best Sports Films of all time I thought this week would be easy, Godfather, Snatch, Usual Suspects etc. but I got flooded with phenomenal film suggestions and had to go out and buy a few of them. I think in hindsight it would have been better to have separated crime and gangster films into their own lists. Thanks to everyone on twitter and facebook (if you disagree with me then we should meet in a public place and have a massive gunfight), here goes:
The Top Five Greatest Crime/Ganster Films of All Time (In No Particular Order)
Goodfellas
No one can deny this is THE genre defining best mob/mafia/gangster movie of all time. Godfather selfdestructed with multiple films but this was perfect. It pioneered the panning walk through scene. It’s an all time great.
American Gangster
This film is outstanding for hundreds of reasons-the cast (Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe), the time and place (Vietnam era New York), the story (it’s based on the truth) and the music. It’s in.
City of God
This is the first of two foreign language films in this catergory. Set in Brasil this film is brutal. It’s massacre brutal, it’s kids shooting kids shooting adults brutal, it’s filmed brutally and it’s immense. It’s in.
The Italian Job
Possibly the greatest crime film ever? Agreed. Everyone hates the ‘remake’? Agreed. The mini’s, the prison, the ending, it’s in.
Old Boy
A guy is kidnapped and held for 15years while his life is taken apart and organised for one five day game or lurid wanton desires and dark action. Watch it. It’ll freak you out and you’ll never go to Korea.
Just missing out were in order:
American History X, A Time To Kill, Scarface, Usual Suspects, The Shawshank Redemption and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
For some reason Home Alone wasn’t mentioned by anyone-this is particularly upsetting as I look like Marv the thief from the Wet/Sticky Bandits:
This is me with a tarantula on my face.
This is Daniel Stern from Home Alone on a mountain pass in Tibet.
Others considered were:
The Godfather, Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, The Departed, The Untouchables, Reservoir Dogs, Casino, Fargo, Departed, Die Hard, Once Upon A Time in America, The Sting, Donnie Brasco, Carlito’s Way, LA Confidential, Layer Cake, Snatch, The Untouchables, Ocean’s 11, Eastern Promises, Get Carter, Gangster No.1, Charlie, Long Good Friday, Mesrine, A Prophet, Harry Brown, Sexy Beast, The Lives of Others, La Haine, ID, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Infernal Affairs.
All great films but my Top 5 stands I think. Next week is Top World War II films-get your suggestions in on Twitter here. Fear not, Escape To Victory is in!