Needless to say, that crime is my favourite genre of films and I simply adore the characters this genre has produced. Whether it is the stoic and conniving mafia boss Michael Corleone. Or the outlandish but dangerous Faizal Khan from Gangs Of Wssseypur. There is a certain allure about these morally challenged people and their problematic backstories that draw us in and keeps us hooked throughout the movie. Gangster movies tend to have the lengthiest runtimes in all of cinema. And yet, the fact that they manage to hold the audience’s attention for so long is fairly remarkable.
Here is my list of movies that helped endear me to the gangster way of life.
1. The Godfather
A true masterpiece. The Godfather, especially one and two are not only great films, they are revolutionary. Made in a time where brightly coloured films were the norm, these movies came in and flipped the script on that concept. Daring to tell an extremely dark tale of family, betrayal, death and brutality that umfolds in the world of the mafia and the politics that comes with it. Godfather is truly a film made for grownups, not only in terms of its content but also its philosophy.
2. Gangs of Wasseypur (1 & 2)
Possibly the best film to come out of Bollywood, Gangs of Wasseypur is a magnanimous story, spanning generations and focusing on the rivalry of Ramadhir Singh versus Sardar Khan and his family. Like much of the films mentioned in this list, this too was a path breaker. Many have tried to replicate the same effect to little avail. The characters, the dialogues and the effortlessly intriguing story is what makes this film so special for many.
3. City Of God
This unmatched film from director, Fernando Meirelles takes a peek in the destitute lives of a group of kids in the slums of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the 1980s and how they grow up to be the most feared criminals the city had ever seen.
The slick photography and amazing performances by the actors, many of whom weren’t even professional actors before this film, are just a few reasons why this movie works and continues to be celebrated years later.
4. Scarface
The story of Tony Montana, a cuban immigrant who takes over the drug trade in Miami. Brian De Palma's uniuqe take about a thug running through the world of crime like a wild bull and Al Pacino's performance in the titular role is what makes this film so special. Filled with iconic scenes and even more iconic dialogues, it quickly became a cult classic despite not being well received when it initially released.
5. Goodfellas
Surely one of my favourite films of all time, Goodfellas, masterfully directed by the great, Martin Scorcese is not only a film about the gangster way of life, but also about life in general. Through the eyes of Henery Hill, a half Italian who gets seduced into the mafia by a neighbourhood crime family, we get to witness first hand the enticing nature of the lawless means of living and why so many are drawn towards it. We get introduced to some of the most memorable characters in cinema and get taken on an epic journey of crime, drugs and friendship. I am unable to pinpoint the exact reason why I love this films so much, I just do.
If you enjoyed this list, then check out the one I made for those films that helped induce my claustrophobia by clicking here.
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