PDX Movie Maven: Gangster Films

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Gangster Films

This is a tough category for me - where does this category start and stop? Can a prison film be a gangster film? I'm thinking of Shawshank, which definitely has gangsters in it. Can a Western be a gangster film? How about the new 310 To Yuma?

But, when we talk gangster films, my niece means Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas and Casino. Let's go with that. My favorites:

1. Goodfellas: to take a cast this great and have it find the incredible energy this movie has is genius. Martin Scorcese made an amazing film here - compare this to Shutter Island.
2. American Ganster: Denzel Washington plays a real character who brought the drug users a superior product at a great price. And he was definitely a gangster.
2. Bonnie and Clyde: This movie, like the others, also shows the downside of being a gangster. And the fashions are great.
3. Devil in a Blue Dress: this one drops you in post WWII LA. Very cool.
4. Kill Bill (both): only Tarantino could make a movie so violent, stylized, with a cool sound track to go with it.
5. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: this has Robert Downey Junior (N, do you consider this ganster?)
6. Kung Fu Hustle: from Korea (Stephen Chow) and a real blend of genres.
7. LA Confidential: this one also one awards, and introduced Guy Pierce and Russell Crowe to the US.
8. Pulp Fiction: more Tarantino
9. Road Warrier: remember what Mel Gibson was like?? There are gangs here, so I'm putting it in the category.
10. Training Day: I hate Ethan Hawke, but I love the plot of this one. Denzel one the award for this one.
11. True Romance: maybe this should be categorized as a ganster film? It has some romance too.
12. Usual Suspects: one of my favorites, and nothing but gangsters.
13. Out of Sight: also a favorite of mine - Don Cheadle is even in it. This one makes you remember what JLo was like back in the day.
14. Miller's Crossing - How can I not include this?? This movie is perfect.

That's too many in a category, but I really do love all of these.

2 comments:

UnknownMarch 25, 2010 at 8:58 AM
"I'm funny? Funny how? Funny like a clown? I amuse you?! Tell me how the (expletive) am I funny!" I agree w/your #1 spot. Is your list in preference order? Like your first favorite is Goodfellas? But I do love Donnie B b/c I read the autobiography & alot of it took place in Milwaukee. Now I have lots of movies to check out. I'm suprised Casino isnt on your list. Sharon S. was amazing here! What about the godfather series? Your werent impressed? I havent seen #5, but I will add it to my list =) Cool that you have so many movies lots of people have never even heard of! Yay! Thank you!
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PDX movie mavenMarch 25, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Joe Pesci is so amazing in that movie - where is he now??? Why isn't he working all the time? I love love love Goodfellas, but Miller's Crossing is probably my fav.

I have never been able to finish Casino - the reason is stupid. Sharon Stone's character tears me apart. I need to watch it again.

It started out as an alpha list, but that didn't work too well. I kept getting distracted. Have you seen True Romance?
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My Favorites

Anatomy of a Murder - groundbreaking film (the first time the word "panties" was used) with Jimmy Stewart and many other amazing performances. I watch it continually.
Bubba Ho Tep - There is a mummy in this Texan nursing home - the same one where Elvis is living!
Horseman on the Roof - this is a great adventure and love story.
Hustler - Paul Newman is not just a pretty face. Piper Laurie is amazing here as well.
It Happened One Night - this movie is timeless, and the first to sweep all the big Ocsars (actor, actress, movie, director)
Lady Eve - see Preston Sturges entry
Like Water for Chocolate - very romantic, and love it more each time I watch it.
Misfits - a wonderful movie about being trapped.
Murder My Sweet - the best noir ever.
Nosferatu - early vampire film and it really creeps me out
On the Waterfront - the acting here is incredible. Brando was the best - every line meant something
Pride and Prejudice - 5 hour BBC version (I know this was TV, but it's the best version of P&P)
Smiles of a Summer Night - My fav Bergman film by far, and one of my all time fav films
Yojimbo - my fav Kurasawa - so much better than all the copycat movies from Hollywood

Women Who Kick Ass

Alien, Aliens, etc. - this changed women's roles in movies forever. Get away from her, you bitch.
Crouching Tiger, HIdden Dragon - I love wire work - and this movie introduced me to it. How had I missed it before that?? Michelle Yeoh rocks here. There's another great female role, too, but I can't stand the actress, so I'm not going to mention her name.
Devil Wears Prada - Miranda, played by La Streep, is an ultimate evil businessperson. Usually this is played by a guy.
Girlfight - breakout film for Michelle Rodriquez. Here she's a gal from a crappy home who wants to be a boxer.
Jackie Brown - this might be my favorite Tarantino. Jackie has a plan and she sticks to it, manipulates, and outsmarts everybody to get her way.
Kill Bill (1 and 2) - the Bride mows everybody down here and it is fun. Plus these are fantastic movies - and Uma isn't the only gal kicking ass: Lucy Liu, Vivica Fox and Daryl Hannah are nasty mean too.
Long Kiss Goodnight - this is not a good film. I'm not going to pretend it's a good film, but I think it's fun. Geena Davis kicks ass and Samuel L Jackson is the sidekick. Big warning - this was directed by Renny Harlin, Geena's husband at the time. I think they made a pirate movie eventually.
Serenity - Joss Whedon loves strong women. (This is a movie blog, so I won't get started on Buffy. If you haven't watched it - rent a disc or two.) In Serenity, Joss has a multitude of strong female characters: the mechanic, the pilot, the weapon.

Surprises

Freeway - A very young Reese Witherspoon plus Brooke Shields, Kiefer S. and Amanda Plummer. Aren't you curious already? This is a modern take on little red riding hood, and very violent. I believe you'll also see a young Brittany Murphy.
Lars and the Real Girl - there is a reason this got a screenwriting nomination. If you tell someone you're warching a movie about a man in love with a sex doll, they'll think you're a perv. This movie defines quirky and there is no sex.
Penelope - this is a modern fairy tale with fantastic performances! Penelope's parents (Catherine O'Hara!!) alone are worth the movie. The world created here is lovely, and Peter Dinklage is more than a character actor.
Stardust - I don't understand why this wasn't a blockbuster! Obviously I am not the target audience for blockbuster movies. This movie is a fantasy in a far off land (behind that stone fence) with witches (Michelle Pfeiffer) and spells and flying ships. Ricky Gervais is in it - does that make you curious?
Stranger than Fiction - I am not a big fan of Will Farrell as I am not a fifteen year old boy. However, this is not your typical Will F movie (Will F fans were very disappointed upon getting to the theater). This movie combines Farrell with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman. My favorite scene is when Will gives his love interest (Magge G) flours.
True Romance - I used to recommend this all the time, but a lot of people thought it was too violent. It is violent, but it feels legit to me. Patricia Arquette's charater is loads of fun, bringing new meaning to the good-natured prostitute cliche. James Gandolfini gets what's coming to him.

Teen Flicks (and not just John Hughes)

10 Things I Hate about You - I like this so much better than Taming of the Shrew. Also, this was the first time I saw Heath Ledger. I am no less impressed now.
Adventures in Babysitting - When she sings the blues, I'm always impressed - it never gets old. And Vincent D'Onofrio is so cool here.
Breakfast Club - What happened to Molly Ringwald? She was sooo cool - she ate sushi for lunch!
Clueless - a close second (for me) to Sixteen Candles. Cher is awesome - and this movie has Wallace Shawn! What a great way to re-invent Emma.
Heathers - High School would have been easier if you could have just killed the competition.
Sixteen Candles - For me, this is always the best. There is so much here - Long Duck Dong alone has generated a million quotes ("now I have somewhere to put my head"), not to mention Jake Ryan and the King of the Geeks.

Westerns

310 to Yuma - the new one with Russell Crowe is far superior to the old. Very unusual.
High Noon - By the end of the movie, I am dying for Gary Cooper to kick ass. The way he looks at the townspeople is priceless.
Lonestar - I would call this a Western, but it's modern. It also has a stong noir feeling to me, plus one of my fav actors, Chris Cooper.
Misfits - I would call this a western - it's in the desert (Reno?) and it's about horses and cowboys. I think it's Marilyn's best film, plus it's Clark Gable's last.
Once Upon a Time in the West - I watch this all the time. Henry Fonda is so good as a bad guy! The pacing and the music are perfect.
Searchers - this movie is copied endlessly - the doorway scenes, for example - watch for them in other films.
Seven Samurai - OK, it's foreign and not technically a western, but this Kurosawa film begat a lot of Westerns (the Magnificent Seven).
Shootist - John Wayne is old and Ron Howard is young. Great movie - slower pace.
Silverado - what a great cast! This movie is a great modern Western, and gets past the jinx of having too many stars
Stagecoach - my favorite John Wayne - and his breakout role
True Grit - "Fill your hands you son-of-a-bitch!" Maybe this is my fav John Wayne.
Unforgiven: By the end of the movie, you want the violence, but this movie is anti-violence. Weird.

Scary - what does scary mean to you?

28 Days Later - these zombies are fast - they're played by soccer players and track stars. And they're still not the scariest thing in the movie.
Alien and Aliens - the impregnation scenes alone are nightmare worthy.
Birds - please, you agree, don't you?
Drag Me to Hell - I don't like too much new stuff that is considered scary, but this movie is great. It is scary and does not take itself seriously at all. I laughed all the way through the show.
Freaks - this movie is scary to me; I am very uncomfortable watching it. Others don't find it scary, but it's also a classic. It's worth watching.
Gaslight - man and wife and emotional and psychological abuse.
Ju-On - do not watch the American version (the Grudge) - to be seriously scared you need to watch the original. I have watched it several times and still don't understand the plot, but it scares me every time. How can a noise be so damn scary??
Night of the Hunter - Robert Mitchum makes a fantastic villain. When I was a kid, this put me over the edge, and it still works for me as an illustration of evil.
Nosferatu - I need to do a vampire list, but this will be on multiple lists. It is a silent film - that doesn't bother me - but it bothers some.
Rear Window - I have watched this 1000 times and I still yell at the screen. Can you imagine shooting an entire movie while sitting in a chair? This must have been torture for Jimmy Stewart.
Ring - again, watch the Japanese version. Talk about a creepy movie. You'll jump a couple of times.
Silence of the Lambs - do I have to say anything? I think Hannibal is a much better villain than Darth Vader. I don't care what the lists say.

PDX Movie Maven

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Gangster Films

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