feathermaye's Friday five: Mobster Movies
Yesterday I shared a commentary piece that my husband wrote, comparing two of his favorite actors. The conversation surrounding his piece got me thinking of the various movies I've seen with both of these actors, and which were my own favorites. As a result, I went to bed with (mostly) Mobster Movies on my mind.
I dreamed of gunfire in the streets, horses heads in beds and dramatic acts performed in the name of 'the family'. So tinted were my dreams that I would not have been surprised to wake up to find Marlon Brando sleeping next to me. Fortunately (on so many levels), it was still just Scott.
So, much like a song stuck in your head that has to be sung to be released, I am motivated to get these films off my mind so that I can move on to something else.
In chronological order (according to each film's represented era, not when they were made), I present to you feathermaye's 5 favorite mobster movies! (None are really family-friendly, if you've got young kiddos at home.)
1.) Gangs of New York **Although this is a fictional drama, it is loosely based on actual historical events. The filmmakers took a bit of creative license in rearranging history to fit their needs, but the end result is a marvelous epic that tells the beginnings of the various mobs' histories in America. Leo DiCaprio plays Amsterdam Vallon, the vengeance-bound son of Priest Vallon, who was killed in a brutal rumble between the local rival gangs. Amsterdam was imprisoned shortly after the street melee and emerges several years later with a hardened heart and a single-mind to accomplish his goals. Along the way he encounters Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz), a masterful pickpocket, and Bill "The Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), who actually held the blade that took Priest Vallon's life.
2.) The Godfather Series **Featuring, at various times and throughout the saga, Marlon Brando, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. This is literally the godfather of mafia movies! These 3 films encompass every ounce of blood, sweat and olive oil that goes with Italian mob life. If you've never seen this series, or never marathoned them on a rainy-day weekend, you really should. The philosophies to be learned from Don Corleone don't just apply to mobsters! (As in, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.")
3.) American Gangster **Inspired by a true story, this is a powerful race to victory between a black gangster and a blacksheep cop. To the gangster (Denzel Washington), victory means ruling the streets; to the cop (Russell Crowe), it's cleaning them up. Spanning several generations amid much brutality and bloodshed, this film gem finally gives a glimpse into the often-overlooked history of the black gangster in America. This one is not to be missed!
4.) Reservoir Dogs **Okay, I admit it--I'm a Quentin Tarantino fan. Although this isn't my favorite Tarantino flick, it is a great one and it fits nicely within the gangster genre. This also has a star-studded cast including Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn and Steve Buscemi. They are a meticulously-organized group of professional criminals brought together to pull off the perfect robbery, but end up getting brutally ambushed instead. Tim Roth, gut-shot in the back seat of a speeding car, is delightfully gruesome. The dialog is sharp (as only Tarantino-speak can be) and the pace is quick. This one is also shot-through with the unmistakable brand of humor than Quentin always lends to his work.
5.) Eastern Promises **This is a very tightly-written thriller with Viggo Mortensen as a Russian Mobster living in London, and Naomi Watts as the innocent midwife who mistakenly gets caught up in the mob's business. The violence is breathtaking--especially the NAKED knife fight--but the plot twists are the real gems, here. Viggo is hot hot HOT in this one, and Naomi impressed me more than in some of the other films I've seen her in. This film also gives a great lesson on Russian Mafia tattooing, and the history behind the practice.
I dreamed of gunfire in the streets, horses heads in beds and dramatic acts performed in the name of 'the family'. So tinted were my dreams that I would not have been surprised to wake up to find Marlon Brando sleeping next to me. Fortunately (on so many levels), it was still just Scott.
So, much like a song stuck in your head that has to be sung to be released, I am motivated to get these films off my mind so that I can move on to something else.
In chronological order (according to each film's represented era, not when they were made), I present to you feathermaye's 5 favorite mobster movies! (None are really family-friendly, if you've got young kiddos at home.)
1.) Gangs of New York **Although this is a fictional drama, it is loosely based on actual historical events. The filmmakers took a bit of creative license in rearranging history to fit their needs, but the end result is a marvelous epic that tells the beginnings of the various mobs' histories in America. Leo DiCaprio plays Amsterdam Vallon, the vengeance-bound son of Priest Vallon, who was killed in a brutal rumble between the local rival gangs. Amsterdam was imprisoned shortly after the street melee and emerges several years later with a hardened heart and a single-mind to accomplish his goals. Along the way he encounters Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz), a masterful pickpocket, and Bill "The Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), who actually held the blade that took Priest Vallon's life.
2.) The Godfather Series **Featuring, at various times and throughout the saga, Marlon Brando, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. This is literally the godfather of mafia movies! These 3 films encompass every ounce of blood, sweat and olive oil that goes with Italian mob life. If you've never seen this series, or never marathoned them on a rainy-day weekend, you really should. The philosophies to be learned from Don Corleone don't just apply to mobsters! (As in, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.")
3.) American Gangster **Inspired by a true story, this is a powerful race to victory between a black gangster and a blacksheep cop. To the gangster (Denzel Washington), victory means ruling the streets; to the cop (Russell Crowe), it's cleaning them up. Spanning several generations amid much brutality and bloodshed, this film gem finally gives a glimpse into the often-overlooked history of the black gangster in America. This one is not to be missed!
4.) Reservoir Dogs **Okay, I admit it--I'm a Quentin Tarantino fan. Although this isn't my favorite Tarantino flick, it is a great one and it fits nicely within the gangster genre. This also has a star-studded cast including Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn and Steve Buscemi. They are a meticulously-organized group of professional criminals brought together to pull off the perfect robbery, but end up getting brutally ambushed instead. Tim Roth, gut-shot in the back seat of a speeding car, is delightfully gruesome. The dialog is sharp (as only Tarantino-speak can be) and the pace is quick. This one is also shot-through with the unmistakable brand of humor than Quentin always lends to his work.
5.) Eastern Promises **This is a very tightly-written thriller with Viggo Mortensen as a Russian Mobster living in London, and Naomi Watts as the innocent midwife who mistakenly gets caught up in the mob's business. The violence is breathtaking--especially the NAKED knife fight--but the plot twists are the real gems, here. Viggo is hot hot HOT in this one, and Naomi impressed me more than in some of the other films I've seen her in. This film also gives a great lesson on Russian Mafia tattooing, and the history behind the practice.
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