9. Scarface (1983)
Scorsese and De Niro had long wanted to upgrade Howard Hawks’ 1932 crime classic Scarface. They just couldn’t figure out how. Turns out, you had to go all the way.
Oliver Stone hung out with gangsters to write the script. Brian De Palma dunked Miami Vice headfirst in blood, cocaine and style. Al Pacino became Michael Corleone’s monstrous id made flesh.
Following Cuban refugee Tony Montana’s (Pacino) roaring rise from dishwasher to druglord, Scarface is a terrifying black comedy of lust, wealth, power, destruction and – most of all – excess. Nothing exceeds like it.
De Palma’s first ever gangster film combines arty flourishes (watch the darkening colour of Montana’s suits trace the rot of his soul) and berserker violence (even if the motel chainsaw massacre is off screen) in a way even Marty wouldn’t have dared to.
Killer Scene: Coke, blood incestuous rage and our leetle friend... Finales don’t get better.
8. Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
Sergio Leone turned down The Godfather to make this epic tale of a Jewish gangster (Robert De Niro) who journeys from ghetto to exile in Prohibition-era New York.
The resulting masterpiece, alas, was too much for Warner Bros, who criminally removed 90 minutes from his four-hour version. (“Such
a stupid move,” sighed co-star James Woods.)
Seek out the original, then, to appreciate this elaborate saga, even if it does feature two graphic rape scenes and a persistent opium den motif that convinced some the whole movie is one long, drug-induced hallucination.
Killer Scene: For sheer audacity, the opening scene with its endlessly ringing phone.
7. Miller's Crossing (1990)
Rapid-fire chit-chat and machine-gun violence pepper the Coens’ ’30s-set, Dashiell Hammett-inspired gangster flick, which its DoP Barry
Sonnenfeld described as “a handsome movie about men in hats” – no bad pitch for many well-upholstered crime movies.
The plot thickens fast, but suffice to say that Gabriel Byrne’s adviser to Albert Finney’s mob boss gets caught up in a lovers’ triangle and a two-way gang tangle over “friendship, character and ethics”.
The story is pastiche, perhaps, but the directors immaculately tailor the trappings of fast-talking fatalism and sharp-dressed doom.
Killer Scene: “Look into your heart!” John Turturro pleads for his life.
Comments
ebrown2112
Jun 23rd 2009, 14:04
I disagree about the exclusion of The Departed, but I agree about Goodfellas at #1.
Alert a moderator
weirdr0b0t
Jun 23rd 2009, 18:53
i had forgotten about the departed, and i agree that should have been in there!! What about Road to Perdition as well!! That movie should definitely be in there!!
Alert a moderator
adammiller2k
Jun 24th 2009, 1:43
forget the departed, infernal affairs is so much better! and having both in the list would have been stupid. great list though. i know i might get hounded for this, but if you had room for only 1 new wave "gangster movie" i'd replace breathless with truffaut's "shoot the pianist" that's a stonking good movie. do the vengance triology not count as gangster movies? i know they are revenge tragedies, but then so is get carter (what a movie). ps tokyo drifter rocks!
Alert a moderator
Desperation
Jun 24th 2009, 11:39
I think Carlito's Way should have been higher.
Alert a moderator
weirdr0b0t
Jun 24th 2009, 18:38
and you figure s****h or lock Stock or even RocknRolla would have got a mention!!
Alert a moderator
Film2517
Jun 25th 2009, 15:26
a pretty accurate list but Gomorrah is the most notable exclusion on it.
Alert a moderator
SUPERmovieFREAK
Jun 25th 2009, 17:25
Okay this isn't that bad a list. You've definitely got some all time classics in there like the Godfather Part 1 & 2, Mean Streets, Goodfellas etc, etc. I disagree with Goodfellas being number 1, The Godfather is the greatest movie and greatest gangster movie EVER made (but okay I can deal with Goodfellas being Number 1). But there are some films in there I've never even heard of. What the hell is Casque D'or, never heard of it. Or The Killing, never heard of it. The Big Heat, never heard of it. Instead the complete shmucks you are, you’ve gone and missed major classics out like The Untouchables. How could you forget that? It’s got a small but classic role by Robert DeNiro and the legendary Sean Connery. Plus like people have said above you’ve also missed out major modern classics like The Departed, Gommorah, Road To Perdition and Rock ‘n’ Rolla. AND WHAT THE HELL ABOUT Eastern Promises and A History Of Violence. Two great movies by a great director and I still can’t believe you missed them out. If I was a Don and I saw that list I’d have you all whacked you shmucks.
Alert a moderator
Hip2thabone
Jun 26th 2009, 13:56
Seriously this list is totally f****d up. How can u have pulp fiction higher than donnie brasco or infernal affairs? What about a movie called "SHOTTAS"?
Alert a moderator
hazey
Feb 5th 2011, 14:45
Breathless is not a gangster flick..the main protaganist is a small time hood!
Alert a moderator
DAO999
Jun 21st 2011, 23:35
Once upon a time in America is the worst gangster movie I have ever seen. epic piece of garbage. The acting was horrible and over the top. The scenes were comical. Tried way too much to be overly dramatic; having actors looking off in the distance, as if in deep thought every 5 mins, was beyond lame. The dialog was horrible. The ending was stupid. I love movies and I’ve seen enough gangster movies. I am beyond confused why this movie is well received. I did watch the extended original version and still couldn’t believe how bad it was. It wouldn’t make my top 50 gangster movies. Pulp Fiction needs to be moved up. Also Reservoir Dogs, The departed, and Road to Perdition need to be on this list. Sorry; I’m 2 yrs late on my posting
Alert a moderator
glenmarks
Oct 16th 2011, 5:16
What about "New Jack City"?
Alert a moderator