To add to the growing number of film lists I have decided to compile my own fairly unoriginal list of ten of the best American mob films. This is one of my favourite genres overall so this was quite a hard list to make. As usual feel free to comment with anything I may have missed.
1. The Godfather- Trailer
The most obvious choice for this list. This is one of the best films of all time. It makes you want to pick up a gun, go to the newsagents and start asking for protection money. Watching all three films in one sitting should be on a list of things to do before you die. Marlon Brando's performance is only topped by a flawless Al Pacino. I was never a big fan of the third film but it's still pretty good. Anyways if you haven't seen it yet, buy it now. And if you have, watch it again.
2. Scarface- Trailer
Al Pacino again, killing people, again. The best thing about this film is watching Tony Montana carve out his own version of the American dream. First he gets the money, then he gets the power and then, as with all Mob bosses he gets the overconfidence. The rise and fall of Tony Montana is the classic mob story brilliantly written by Oliver Stone. For sheer timelessness, it deserves to make this list.
3. Blow- Trailer
Blow is a 'true story' film about the American cocaine smuggler George Jung. To give you an idea about the plot, it is based on Bruce Porter's 1993 book called "Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All". This is one of Johnny Depp's best films and just like Scarface I like the way we watch the journey from petty criminal to a mob boss, again I guess the Americans love the idea that the American dream is possible even for criminals. This film is sometimes overlooked, it shouldn't be.
4. American Gangster- Trailer
Another one based (very loosely I imagine) on a true story. I like how the personal lives of both the mobsters and the police are explored in the film. Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington are equally enjoyable as leaders on different sides of the law. It's well directed by Ridley Scott, who does a good job of not making it too 'epic' or action-packed and in doing so produces a really good modern mob film.
5. The Interrupters- Trailer
So it's not really an 'American Mob Film', but you should watch this to understand the true consequences of organised crime. This is an amazing documentary (probably the best that came out that year) which follows three 'violence interrupters' who try to protect their Chicago communities from violence. The interesting aspect is that they were all once involved in it themselves including the daughter of one of the major bosses.
6. Goodfellas- Trailer
This list would feel strange without a contribution from Martin Scorsese, and what better contribution then the 1990 film Goodfellas. Once again we watch one man's rise to Mob boss heights. Except for this time we watch Henry go right from being an enthusiastic kid to De Niro's sinister deputy. Goodfellas is one of the best of these mob films at taking one character from the very bottom to the very top and inevitably, back again.
7. Reservoir Dogs- Trailer
This could also be a list of some of the U.S's best Directors as they have all seem to have entered this genre at some point. Quentin Tarantino is no exception with what was his debut film as a writer and a director. Reservoir Dogs is not like any other Mob film on the list, like most of Tarantino's films he tries to reinvent or at least refresh the genre. The soundtrack is spotless and the violence is brilliant.
8. The Usual Suspects- Trailer
This film was almost overlooked as it was initially given a limited release. Thank god it got noticed as it is really one of the best Mob films around. Unlike the others, this film doesn't focus on one boss, but instead a group of mismatch criminals who meet in prison. The use of flashbacks makes this film original and intriguing.
9. Gangs of New York- Trailer
Martin Scorsese teaming up with two of my favourite actors. Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio (who has never been in a bad film?) are both brilliant as leading members of the rivaling gangs the "Natives" (those born in the United States) and recently arrived Irish Catholic immigrants. This film has some of the best visual scenes of any of these mob films and a very eclectic soundtrack. It's not a traditional American mob film but still, it easily makes this list.
10. The Sopranos- Trailer
Okay okay so I know it's not a film but with eighty-six episodes it might as well be the longest-running American mob film ever. If anyone is wondering what American series to watch, look no further. This is the one that started it all, the original and the best everything about the Sopranos is pretty much perfect. The characters are brilliant- James Gandolfini is the perfect mob boss/ family man ever and the show really does take us on a journey. Also for those of you who have seen it, yes I do love the ending.
