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Sunday, August 26, 2018
Gangster Movies
What is your favorite gangster movie?
Why? What does it take to make a great mobster film?
In this article I will present to you some of my favorites.
"King of New York" (1990) Director: Abel Ferrara Starring: Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishbourne
If you are a Christopher Walken fan, you will enjoy this movie. As you know, he is a talented dancer. Did you know he took a few lessons from Gene Kelley? See him bust some moves in this video:
Plot of "King of New York": a drug kingpin is released from prison and seeks to take control of the criminal underworld in order to give back to the community. IMDB rated this film 7.0. I would rate it higher because I love the night shots and dark atmosphere the director created. These actors are some of my favorites. I did not list the rest of the cast, but supporting actors were carefully chosen to anchor the story. How about two thumbs up from me?
"American Gangster" (2007) Directed by Ridley Scott Starring:Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Plot: An outcast New York City cop (Russell Crowe) is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) whose real life inspired this biographical film.
How can you have a bad movie with Ridley Scott directing Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe? Read an interesting take on this movie by Roger Ebert. He gives it 4 stars! Click this link: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/american-gangster-2007
"Prizzis Honor" (1985) Director: John Huston Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner and Anjelica Huston Roger Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars
Roger Ebert, "This is the most bizarre comedy in many a month, a movie so dark, so cynical and so funny that perhaps only Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner could have kept straight faces during the love scenes. They do. They play two professional Mafia killers who meet, fall in love, marry, and find out that the mob may not be big enough for both of them." Read more of Ebert's review here http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/prizzis-honor-1985
"The Cotton Club" (1984) Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane
Who knew? That Richard Gere is a musician? This film is a successful mafia musical. Filled with talent and suspense, Coppola pulled it off. There are too many bad movie musicals! I started not to watch it because of the bad musical films with similar names. I was pleasantly surprised by the great music and talent, I enjoyed Gregory Hines tap dancing and Richard Gere's musical numbers. This is all happening while there is a war between the Irish and Italian mobs.
Read the insightful review by Roger Ebert. click link above.
Roger Ebert comments: "After all the rumors, all the negative publicity, all the stories of
fights on the set and backstage intrigue and imminent bankruptcy,
Francis Ford Coppola's "The Cotton Club" is, quite simply, a wonderful
movie. It has the confidence and momentum of a movie where every shot
was premeditated -- and even if we know that wasn't the case, and this
was one of the most troubled productions in recent movie history, what
difference does that make when the result is so entertaining?
"Scarface" (1983) Director: Brian De Palma Writer: Oliver Stone Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer Plot: In Miami 1980 a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.
After all these years, this film has its own following. Who hasn't tried to talk like Tony Montana (Al Pacino) while being questioned by the authorities near the beginning of the movie?
AT THE TOP OF EVERY LIST IS . . . "The Godfather" (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
and "The Godfather Part II" (1974) Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
Click here to see several films that I left off such as films by Martin Scorsese (the mobster master film maker) and newer ones from Quentin Tarantino
"Scarface" (1983) Director: Brian De Palma Writer: Oliver Stone Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer Plot: In Miami 1980 a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.
After all these years, this film has its own following. Who hasn't tried to talk like Tony Montana (Al Pacino) while being questioned by the authorities near the beginning of the movie?
Thank you for visiting my film blog. Be sure and follow us for the latest blogs and news. Nelda 
After all these years, this film has its own following. Who hasn't tried to talk like Tony Montana (Al Pacino) while being questioned by the authorities near the beginning of the movie? 
