Robert Altman has a knack for meandering dramas, but he’s equally adept at stripped-down crime movies. Elliott Gould shines as the hang-dog Philip Marlowe, a sleuth who falls for the murderer he’s tracking. Martin Scorsese masterfully piles on problem after problem for De Niro and Sharon Stone in this gangster classic. It’s a template for all thrillers since.
1. The Departed (1995)
The Departed is a thriller that’s a fine example of why remakes shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. Director Martin Scorsese and screenwriter William Monahan took the premise of 2002’s polished Hong Kong police-and-gangster movie Infernal Affairs and made it feel completely their own.
The cast, especially Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, is top-notch. The script allows both actors to take their characters to the edge without going over it. The gliding camerawork by Michael Ballhaus and the shadowy lighting from Kristi Zea and Thelma Schoonmaker help to create a seedy underworld atmosphere.
The story revolves around two moles—police officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon)—who are on the trail of Boston Irish American crime boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As each organization becomes aware that there’s a mole in their midst, they engage in a game of cat-and-mouse that results in some bloodshed and some unexpected twists. In addition, the film available on look movie ag has an excellent supporting cast that includes Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin and Vera Farmiga. The Departed is a thrilling, complex and brilliant “Best Picture” Oscar winner.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street (1987)
One of the most gleefully vulgar crime movies in recent memory, this adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoirs packs an electric punch. Leonardo DiCaprio gives the role his own stamp, letting go of his trademark impersonations for spontaneous bursts of energy that cut through the film’s slick veneer.
A heist movie with heart, Steven Soderbergh’s sprawling thriller cracks open a colorful window into the way drugs are spawned, supplied, sold, and used, revealing the overlooked labor and death that goes into meeting consumer demand. Denzel Washington, Topher Grace, Luis Guzman, and a host of other stars add their cool to the mix.
Ridley Scott may be best known for epic historical sagas and sci-fi blockbusters, but his stripped-down thriller about a woman’s attempt to escape a criminal lifestyle proves that he’s just as adept at creating tense and involving dramas. Farley Granger and Cathy O’Donnell spark with fiery chemistry, making this tale of a career criminal and his wife a riveting ride.
3. Goodfellas (1990)
Like its immediate predecessor, The Godfather, Goodfellas is a mob drama of epic proportions. But unlike most films, it is able to explore more than the superficialities of mafia culture. It also delves into the complex dynamics of loyalty and betrayal. And unlike many other films, it is able to achieve this without resorting to excessive violence or gore.
The film is based on the true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn native who was recruited by wiseguys in his neighborhood and rose quickly through the ranks. The film was adapted by Nicholas Pileggi, who also wrote the book upon which it is based.
It features an incredible cast including Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, and was nominated for 38 awards including Best Picture. It revitalized the gangster genre and continues to inspire filmmakers today. It is an all-time classic that has captivated audiences for decades and is considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time. The story is gripping and the performances are exceptional. Its unflinching look at mob life is a powerful and unforgettable experience.
4. Set It Off (1990)
A heist thriller starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in her film acting debut. Set It Off offers a close-up of the multifaceted struggles of Black women who try to break out of the hood and make an honest living. This movie is particularly effective in highlighting how intersectional racism thwarts these efforts with Stony investing her hopes and dreams into her college-bound little brother only to see him die in a display of needless police brutality.
Out of desperation, the friends enlist bank teller Frankie to teach them how to rob banks and use their skills to get back at the world that seemed so intent on keeping them down. The film is a time capsule of the ’90s and features solid performances from the cast. Families can discuss why the women felt that robbing banks was the only way to get back at a system they feel is rigged against them. This could lead into a conversation about the need for better education opportunities for working-class kids in urban areas.
5. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3(2009)
An inventive premise—armed criminals hijack a New York City subway train and threaten to kill one passenger every minute until a ransom is paid—gives this Tony Scott thriller its pop. Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, and Martin Balsam star in a classic good-guy-bad-guy showdown.
A gang of armed criminals hijack a train in the middle of rush hour, turning an ordinary day’s work for transit dispatcher Walter Garber into a life-and-death game. Unable to stall the criminals, Garber must shrewdly outmaneuver them, in what could end up heroically or tragically.
This Italian crime movie is a masterpiece of authentic tension, with its characters taking inspiration from American mafia types. Gomorrah is a gripping story without romanticizing criminal activity, delivering real-world violence that is hard to look away from.
This stripped-down crime drama from David Mamet shows that he can be just as adept at low-budget crime movies as he is at big-budget ones. Gene Hackman and Delroy Lindo are superb as aging friends who pull off their last heist together before calling it quits. Their careful chemistry and acute performances make this film more than just another heist flick.
