10 best gangster movies

Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'The Godfather'

Plot: An aging patriarch of an organized crime family transfers control of his covert empire to his son.

Impact: This 1972 film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is considered one of the best films in the history of American cinema. It brought into the American culture many memorable phrases, including this one. Who said it?

Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'The Godfather, Part II'

Plot: The 1974 sequel/prequel to the first "Godfather" film followed the life of the Corleone family under the direction of son Michael.

Impact: Some say it's better than the first, and the film has become the standard by which other gangster movies are measured.

Stars: Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The two stars never appeared together in the film, and would not be onscreen together until this film, nearly a quarter- century later.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'Goodfellas'

Plot: This 1990 Martin Scorsese-directed film centered on Irish-American Henry Hill and his friends, who try to work their way up in the mob.

Impact: As well as being a box office smash (how much did it make?), the movie is also loved for its accurate period soundtrack.

Stars: Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro and Lorraine Bracco, who would go on to have a role in another fictional mob family.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'Casino'

Plot: This 1995 film directed by Martin Scorsese is a fact-based story following two mobsters and a trophy wife through greed, murder and deception.

Impact: Based on a real-life character, the movie was criticized for promoting this. The film was also notable for a soundtrack heavy with music from this classic British band.

Stars: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'The Untouchables'

Plot: First a classic television series of the '50s, this 1987 movie is the telling of the story of federal agent Eliot Ness battling gangsters in Prohibition-era Chicago.

Impact: The film was critically acclaimed as well as a financial success. How many Academy Award nominations did it garner?

Stars: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro. What famous gangster does De Niro portray, who eventually died of an STD?

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'Scarface'

Plot: In 1983, director Brian De Palma remade the original movie (written by a now-prominent director), this time setting it in South Florida and depicting an ambitious Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana who takes over a drug empire.

Impact: The epic crime drama has made its mark on everything from video games to comic books. There was even talk of reviving it for the small screen.

Stars: Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. "Scarface" was the nickname of what Chicago crime boss?

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'The Departed'

Plot: Martin Scorsese won an Academy Award for his work on this 2006 tale of corruption and crime in Boston, a remake of a Hong Kong film that follows two men from opposite sides of the law.

Impact: One of the highest-rated releases in 2006, it has been ranked beside other Scorsese classics such as this film. It went on to gross enough to become the director's most successful film.

Stars: The film stars a new generation of actors, such as Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, as well as veterans Martin Sheen and Jack Nicholson.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'Donnie Brasco'

Plot: Based on a true story, this 1997 film follows FBI agent Joe Pistone, who infiltrates the Bonanno crime family in the '70s using the undercover identity of the title character.

Impact: The film was nominated for one Academy Award.

Stars: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino and Michael Madsen. Donnie Brasco wasn't Depp's first role as an undercover cop.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

'Once Upon a Time in America'

Plot: At nearly four hours in length, this 1984 tale of Jewish gangsters in New York during Prohibition qualifies as an epic. Who was the director?

Impact: Despite the long run time and mixed reviews, the film reportedly was good enough to earn this from Cannes Film Festival goers.

Stars: James Woods and Robert De Niro.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

A Bronx Tale ( I Replaced This Movie from My Blue Heaven )

A father becomes worried when a local gangster befriends his son in the Bronx in the 1960s.

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

Always Loved this one...............

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Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

And this one.............

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RobFunk · Oct 9, 2010

I think these are the best FIVE in no particular order:

Casino
GF 1
Donnie Brasco
Scarface
Carlito's way

Why Rob rarely shows any love for GF2 : In my humble opinion, there is not enough action to offset the DRAMA and ACTING. A beautifully crafted film, just isn't my serving of cappuccino.

Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

RobFunk said:
I think these are the best FIVE in no order:

Casino
GF 1
Donnie Brasco
Scarface
Carlito's way

It is tough to list 5 ......But if I did

The Godfather 1
Goodfellas
A Bronx Tale
Casino
Donnie Brasco

again, Tough to leave out Scarface & Godfather 2
liked Carlito's way too.

Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

Hard to leave this one off the list as well.............

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RobFunk · Oct 9, 2010

Wonder what Wil's opinion will be if he responds to this thread. He will probably mention some obscure film I haven't heard of.

Betallsports · Oct 9, 2010

RobFunk said:
Wonder what Wil's opinion will be if he responds to this thread. He will probably mention some obscure film I haven't heard of.

More or less an Old Time Gangster Movie.

Since he's from the mass area, I posted The Departed

Bjizzle06 · Oct 9, 2010

I think gf2 is the GOAT of the genre. Those young Vito flashbacks scenes were perfectly executed. As for the other four...

2. GF1
3. A Bronx tale
4. Casino
5. A better tomorrow (old school john woo, Chinese gangster movie)

LAMatty · Oct 9, 2010

me being from the LA area i side a lil with the west coast gangster movies. Colors, Menace II Society, Boyz N Tha Hood and other movies like that. but cant knock the mafia style movies as i love them just as much. i think it is a preference to the individual person, their age and area they grew up in.

JudgeWapner · Oct 9, 2010

White Heat.
On The Waterfront.
Miller's Crossing.

10 best gangster movies

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