{"id":321620,"date":"2021-08-14T17:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-14T14:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inform.com.de\/?p=321620"},"modified":"2021-05-01T11:05:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-01T08:05:40","slug":"top-films-about-old-school-gangsters-selection-of-films-about-gangsters-and-mafia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inform.com.de\/en\/top-films-about-old-school-gangsters-selection-of-films-about-gangsters-and-mafia\/","title":{"rendered":"Top films about “old school” gangsters. Selection of films about gangsters and mafia."},"content":{"rendered":"

Gotti's Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCanada, USA \/ 2018 \/ 1h. <\/span>52m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDrama, crime, biographical<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJohn Travolta, Spencer Lofranco, Kelly Preston, Pruitt Taylor Vince, William DeMeo, Leo Rossi and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nKevin Connolly<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJohn Gotti is one of the most influential crime lords in the entire history of New York. <\/span>It is about him that the plot of the first film of the collection “The best films about the mafia” narrates.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the many problems in life, the main character had to turn to the criminal world. <\/span>At first he was an ordinary “six” and carried out orders of other mafiosi, until he became who he is.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4.8<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>5.5<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

An Irishman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA \/ 2010 \/ 1h. <\/span>46m. <\/span>\/ 16+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDrama, crime, biographical<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRay Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Linda Cardellini, Robert Davi and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJonathan Hensley<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDanny Green is a bloodthirsty bandit of Irish descent. <\/span>In the late 1970s, bloodthirsty battles between mafia clans took place on the streets of Cleveland. <\/span>It was in them that the main character took an active part.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This war changed not only the life of the city, but also the entire state. <\/span>And Danny Greene himself was remembered as the most bloodthirsty and ruthless killer, ready for much for his own benefit.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7.1<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>7.1<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film Search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

John Wick 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA, Hong Kong \/ 2017 \/ 2h. <\/span>2m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAction, thriller, crime<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nKeanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcho, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Common, Claudia Jerini and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nChad Stahelski<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThe next film about the mafia is a sequel to the successful film, which tells the story of an ardent fighter against crime and injustice that fill the streets of the state.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John is a former hitman who went over to the side of justice. <\/span>But he is confident that the current system cannot cope with organized crime. <\/span>Therefore, the main character is used to acting in other ways.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7.5<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>6.9<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film Search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Criminal activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA \/ 2015 \/ 1h. <\/span>34m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThriller, drama, crime<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMichael Pitt, Dan Stevens, Christopher Abbott, Rob Brown, Edie Gathegi, Jackie Earl Haley and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJackie Earl Haley<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn the center of the plot are four best friends. <\/span>For many years they dreamed of their own business, which could solve most of the problems of the heroes. <\/span>Once they decided to borrow an impressive amount from the mafia clan to promote the business.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With the development of the plot, it turns out that the business was not the most profitable. <\/span>The friends lost all their money and were unable to pay off the mafia on time, which led to even greater problems.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5.8<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>5.8<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

American gangster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA, UK \/ 2007 \/ 2h. <\/span>37m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThriller, drama, crime, biographical<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDenzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Limari Nadal, Josh Brolin, Armand Assante and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRidley Scott<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThe 5th place in the TOP “Best films about the mafia” is taken by the film “American Gangster”, released in 2007. <\/span>In the center of the plot is an ordinary driver working for an influential person.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One day, Frank's employer died, leaving the man without a job. <\/span>This prompted the main character to create a criminal syndicate, because his former owner was the owner of a large cartel.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7.8<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>7.9<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film Search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Hummingbird effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUK, USA \/ 2012 \/ 1h. <\/span>40m. <\/span>\/ 12+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThriller, drama, crime, action<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJason Statham, Agatha Buzek, Benedict Wong, Vicky McClure, Ger Ryan, Youssef Kerkur and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nStephen Knight<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nJoey Jones is a former Special Forces soldier sent to the reserve due to severe injury. <\/span>He decides to return to his native UK to lead a normal life. <\/span>But abandoning the past was not easy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wanting to take up arms again, Joey starts working with the local mafia. <\/span>A series of terrible events leads to the death of the main character's girl. <\/span>He decides to investigate and find the murderers of his beloved.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6.2<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>6.2<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Malavita<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA, France \/ 2013 \/ 1h. <\/span>51m. <\/span>\/ 16+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCrime, comedy, action<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRobert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron, John D'Leo, Tommy Lee Jones, Jimmy Palumbo and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nLuc Besson<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTOP films about the mafia continues with the fascinating film “Malavita” starring Robert De Niro. <\/span>He plays Giovanni Manzoni, the owner of a large mafia syndicate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One day a man decides to start a new life and leave the syndicate. <\/span>To do this, he asks for the help of an old friend who works for the FBI. <\/span>Now Giovanni and his family have to hide from the authorities in order to lead the life of an ordinary American family.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6.3<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>6.9<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film Search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Cursed path<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA \/ 2002 \/ 1h. <\/span>57m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThriller, drama, crime<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Jason Leigh and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSam Mendes<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMichael Sullivan, the protagonist of the next film, is forced to lead a double life. <\/span>For those around him, he is an exemplary family man, has a good job and does not break the law.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But every morning Michael leaves with suspicious men in an unknown direction. <\/span>This greatly interested the eldest son, who decided to follow his father.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7.7<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>7.6<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film Search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Corrupt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUK \/ 2019 \/ 1h. <\/span>43m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nThriller, drama, crime<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSam Claflin, Timothy Spall, Hugh Bonneville, Noel Clarke, Charlie Murphy, Joe Claflin and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRon Scalpello<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nOn the 9th place in the list of the best films about the mafia is the film “The Corruptor”, which tells about the events that took place during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Liam returns from prison and plans to start a new life in order to forget about the criminal past forever. <\/span>But a series of unpleasant events again drives the protagonist into the center of a criminal conspiracy. <\/span>He is ready to make every effort to get out of this story.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5.7<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>5.6<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Mercenary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Production:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nUSA \/ 2017 \/ 1h. <\/span>52m. <\/span>\/ 18+<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genre:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAction, thriller<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, Shiva Negar, Taylor Kitsch, David Suchet and others<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Producer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMichael Cuesta<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plot:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn the center of the plot is a man named Mitch Rapp. <\/span>He works for the CIA and specializes in capturing members of the mafia. <\/span>The main character is doing an excellent job and is planning a promotion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But one terrible day, his life changed completely. <\/span>During the terrorist attack, Mitch lost his girlfriend. <\/span>Now he wants to devote his whole life to the fight against terrorism, and the bosses help in achieving the new goals of the subordinate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ratings:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6.2<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> IMDb | <\/span>6.1<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Film search<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)<\/h2>\n

The iconic picture of Sergio Leone, which is included in the golden fund of films about the mafia and gangsters. In the center of the narrative is a gripping and tragic story of a group of friends who have come a long way from the hicks from the slums of New York to the kings of the underworld there.<\/p>\n

The Godfather (1972)<\/h2>\n

The first film from Francis Ford Coppola's cult trilogy, which needs no special introduction. This work has more than enough merits, and among other things, not the last place is occupied by the star cast: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro and others.<\/p>\n

Scarface (1983)<\/h2>\n

Tony Montana is one of the brightest and most famous movie thugs, whose image regularly pops up in various spheres of modern culture and is often used to imitate some actors (the same Sasha Bely from the famous Russian TV series Brigada, played by Sergei Bezrukov).<\/p>\n

Wicked Streets (1973)<\/h2>\n

An old movie directed by Martin Scorsese in 1973. It is dedicated to the criminal showdown in the Little Italy area, which has become a kind of fiefdom of the Sicilian mafia in New York.<\/p>\n

Peaky Blinders (TV series 2013)<\/h2>\n

One of the best TV shows of our time, plunging the viewer into the underworld of Britain in the 20s. More specifically, Peaky Blinders is about the dark deeds of the Shelby clan, which has become the most powerful gang in Birmingham.<\/p>\n

Casino (1995)<\/h2>\n

And again, the film by Martin Scorsese, in which the leading roles were impeccably performed by the best actors in Hollywood: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and the beautiful (at that time, of course) Sharon Stone. The action takes place in Las Vegas, in a casino owned by a large mafia organization. Like The Nice Guys, this movie is on the list of the best gangster movies.<\/p>\n

The Untouchables (1987)<\/h2>\n

Crime drama with thriller elements, dedicated to the struggle of the Treasury Department against the king of the criminal New York of the 30s of the XX century Al Capone. The main roles were played by Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro and Andy Garcia.<\/p>\n

Mou gaan dou (2002)<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

A few years ago, the boss of the Hong Kong mafia infiltrated his agent into the police. Without knowing it, the cops responded with courtesy to courtesy – they sent a young cadet to the “triads”. Soon, “Inspector” Lau (Andy Lau) and “Gangster” Chan (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) were doing well at work. Therefore, when their new bosses suspected that there were enemy spies in their offices, both men were instructed to find the “moles.” That is, to catch ourselves.<\/p>\n

Chinese directors are brilliant in action games and do a great job of romantic comedies. However, they rarely manage to present the world with a plot worthy of copying. The creators of Castling Double are a brilliant exception. In their thriller, there are almost no chases and shootings. The action is driven by unexpected script moves and deep experiences of the characters, brilliantly played by Andy Lau and Tony Leung. It is not surprising that Martin Scorsese himself took on the Hollywood remake of The Rocky. But although his film won four Oscars and brought the director the long-awaited statuette, we still consider The Renegades to be a pale copy of the Chinese original. By the way, also not without awards. The tape received seven Hong Kong Film Academy awards and six awards from the Taiwan Golden Horse Festival<\/p>\n

City of God \/ Cidade de Deus (2002)<\/h2>\n

\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

In the poor slums of Rio de Janeiro, you don't have to wait many years to be recruited into a gang. If older guys don't get along with you, you can put together your own teenage gang. And then everything is as usual. The drug trade, bloody shootings, the division of spheres of influence … But there is one drawback – it is almost impossible to get out of this hell alive.<\/p>\n

Unlike football and samba, the ability to make films has never been considered a strength of the Brazilians. But they can do that too. Fortunately, to create films like “City of God”, neither grandiose decorations nor complex special effects are required. It is enough to write a script based on a book based on real events. Then move away from expensive “tourist” quarters, gather real boys and girls from poor areas … And shoot a ruthless, shocking, but surprisingly poetic movie about people who do not even understand that you can live somehow differently – without fighting, without violating law, quietly going to school every morning. The American Film Academy awarded City of God with four Oscar nominations, but the filmmakers were probably more pleased to know that their film became the main foreign hit in 2003 in the United States.<\/p>\n

Reservoir Dogs (1991)<\/h2>\n

\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

The crime boss gathers a team of six criminals to rob a jewelry store. The bandits do not know each other, and in order to maintain confidentiality, Joe comes up with nicknames for the names of the flowers. But the operation fails, and the survivors of the shootout with the police are trying to find out who betrayed them.<\/p>\n

Not expecting to find sponsors for his debut feature film, Quentin Tarantino planned to shoot friends in Reservoir Dogs and get by with a budget of $ 30,000. Fortunately, Harvey Keitel found out about the project. When he agreed to play in the film and produce it, the budget of the film grew to a million and allowed Tarantino to break into the history of cinema with style. At one time it was fashionable to argue whether “Reservoir Dogs” could be considered a better film than “Pulp Fiction”, or whether experience takes precedence over the energy of a beginner. We are on the side of Reservoir Dogs, and not only because it is a more collected and dynamic canvas. In “Fiction” Tarantino played a little, and therefore the film is difficult to perceive as a drama. You empathize with the heroes of “Dogs” from the first to the last minute, even though they are cruel criminals. For a crime director, this is the highest praise.<\/p>\n

Goodfellas (1990)<\/h2>\n

\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

Since childhood, the Irish boy Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) dreamed of becoming a bandit. Therefore, immediately after graduation, he began to work with local thugs and began to climb the criminal hierarchy, acquiring influential mafia friends. However, the laws of Cosa Nostra are strict. If you are Italian, then you can not count on high places in the mafia.<\/p>\n

The plots of many gangster films are sucked from the finger and therefore are based on genre clich\u00e9s. However, the Nice Guys have a different pedigree. This is a true story of a real person, which was first described in a book by journalist Nicholas Pileggi, and then ended up in a Hollywood blockbuster. Of course, a lot in this saga was changed, but the basis remained – real characters, real criminal life, real mafia mores. Martin Scorsese captured the truth of life on the screen, wrapping it in a well-thought-out wrapper of brilliant acting, historical costumes and sets, and masterful camera solutions. The tape won only one Oscar (it was received by Joe Pesci for his supporting role), but quickly became a cult film and opened the way to fame for the future stars of the Sopranos series Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli.<\/p>\n

Mayhem (2010)<\/h2>\n

Rating – 7.1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TopThe first but not the last Asian film in the best gangster movies. This time, the focus is not on the Irish, but on the Japanese mafia – the yakuza. Gone are the days of tattoos and severed fingers, now the battlefield has moved from the city streets to the financial world. An experienced yakuza Otomo (Takeshi Kitano) watches the ascent of his young comrades up the criminal ladder. Only he, perhaps, plays by the rules that are already outdated for other yakuza.<\/p>\n

Prophet (2009)<\/h2>\n

Rating – 7.5<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Top19-year-old Malik El Jeben, sentenced to six years in prison, had no goals in life, and the young man did not see much sense in it. However, he liked the leader of the Corsican gang, who entrusted Malik with several dangerous missions.<\/p>\n

Gradually, Malik from a green youth running errands turns into a dangerous predator, hatching his own ambitious plans.<\/p>\n

Brother of the Yakuza (2000)<\/h2>\n

Rating – 7.6<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TopThe top films about the mafia included another tape, in which the brilliant Takeshi Kitano played the main role. In the center of the plot is the yakuza of Aniki Yamamoto, who, after the defeat of the clan, goes to America, where an equally cruel and unprincipled criminal world awaits him. True to the Yakuza code of Aniki, Yamamoto wages a war with American gangsters, the outcome of which can be either victory or death.<\/p>\n

The Departed (2006)<\/h2>\n

Rating – 8.4<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TopLeading the top films about the mafia is the story of “moles” – embedded agents. One of them is an Irish mobster (Matt Damon), who portrays a police officer. The other is William Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), who was in the strictest confidence introduced into the gang of the sadist and psychopath Francis Castello (Jack Nicholson). The Renegade director Martin Scorsese has created a stunningly interesting and violent film that, until the last moment, keeps the viewer in suspense “what will happen?” And the ending will surprise even those who are used to unpredictable plot twists.<\/p>\n

“Threat to society”<\/h2>\n

Allen and Albert Hughes make directorial debut. The film tells the story of an 18-year-old black Los Angeles resident who dreams of breaking free from the crime situation of his native area. A strong cast (Tyrene Turner, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Lorenz Tate and Charles Dutton) helps uncover the drama of the protagonist.<\/p>\n

Miller's Crossroads<\/h2>\n

Of course, the Coen brothers did not disregard the crime genre. The plot of Miller's Crossroads revolves around the confrontation between the Italian and Irish mafia, focusing on an accomplice of one of the parties and his attempts to remain loyal to his clan.<\/p>\n

Long Good Friday, 1980<\/h2>\n

British organized crime is on the scene: brutal and low-level, but with pronounced Shakespearean motives. “King Lear”, “Macbeth” and “Richard III” are no less important for understanding the plot of the picture than knowing the biographies of real British criminals.<\/p>\n

These biographies are usually too small: not a single decent film about a real British criminal has ever been filmed, but if you take some general motives and let them pass through “the link of times fell apart, the century came out of the grooves” – you can get a masterpiece.<\/p>\n

Harold Shend (Bob Hoskins) is the crime king of all London and he feels like the throne underneath is suddenly shaken. However, finding the source of the threat is not easy. Is perhaps the most famous scene in British cinema. Guy Ritchie's “Gentlemen” simply wouldn't exist without her.<\/p>\n

The Cotton Club, 1984<\/h2>\n

Francis Ford Coppola's most underrated and undeservedly forgotten film follows a Harlem nightclub in the 1930s, within and around which three generations of mafia are changing. The film has a lot in common with the legendary “Cabaret” by Bob Fosse: one of the bloodiest and darkest periods in recent American history is presented through the prism of a nightclub with jazz and tap dance.<\/p>\n

First, the Irishmen who have entrenched themselves in New York (the real owners of the real club are played by Bob Hoskins and Fred Guinn) are replaced by Jewish organized crime in the person of the Dutchman Schultz (James Remar), then Italians are just as decisively ousted. The latter are personified by Lucky Luciano (Joe Dallesandro), who delicately watches the club from behind a curtain.<\/p>\n

The classic love triangle “trumpeter, girl and gangster” in the style of old Hollywood is just a small part of this surprisingly complex and integral picture.<\/p>\n

I cannot fail to mention one of the best works of the young Nicolas Cage in the role of the real gangster Vincent “Reservoir Dog” Call. The film's bad reputation in the United States is completely undeserved, it is associated with scandals on the set and the murder of one of the producers during its filming.<\/p>\n

“Man on his knees” (Un uomo in ginocchio), 1979<\/h2>\n

In 70s Italy, films about the real Sicilian mafia were once an entire industry. Among them are many first-class works that show the Italian mafia in a completely different way than it is done abroad. In Italy, the mafia is everyday life, everyday life, politics, one way or another affecting the life of absolutely any citizen of the country.<\/p>\n

The classic of Italian genre cinema Damiano Damiani has made a movie that has become more than just a realistic action movie or a social drama. Of all the films mentioned in this material, “The Man on His Knees” has the most powerful plot – the script here overshadows even the excellent director and the almost impeccable acting work of Giuliano Gemma and Michele Placido.<\/p>\n

Due to this imbalance, the film did not make it into the top ten. But The Man on His Knees has the most original and unpredictable story of all the films mentioned in the text. It's so good that I don't want to spoil your pleasure by divulging any plot details.<\/p>\n

Election 1-2, 2005-2006<\/h2>\n

Johnny To's two films should be viewed as one picture split into two parts. They show the struggle for the seat of the chairman of the Hong Kong triad “Wo Shing” – the modern Chinese mafia. Both films are a benefit performance of the magnificent Simon Yam, who plays one of the two main contenders for the throne, the cold-blooded and calculating Lock. He makes his way to the top by any means, including killing opponents and bystanders with his own hand.<\/p>\n

As is usually the case with To, both films are stylistically verified to the last shot and sound – this is an outstanding example of the new Asian cinema of the 2000s.<\/p>\n

Both films are both a satire on the undercover struggle in any large Asian corporation, and an extremely realistic depiction of political manipulation at the highest level of organized crime. “Elections” practically do not contain fights and skirmishes, although purely visually, the struggle for the “throne” is symbolized by the hunt for the ritual rod “Dragon's Head”, a symbol of power in the triad.<\/p>\n

Young & Dangerous 1-5 1996-1998<\/h2>\n

One of the main cinema franchises of the 90s, which did not take root at all outside of its native China. But he launched the careers of Hong Kong superstars Simon Yam and Francis Ng. The character of Francis, a completely frostbitten little gangster nicknamed Freak Kwan, was so fond of the audience that a separate prequel was shot about him.<\/p>\n

As with The Choices, all parts of Young and Dangerous (including the prequel) should be viewed as one big, continuous picture. But the theme here is the opposite: we are very hectic and budgetary show the everyday life of “strike teams”. This is the lowest echelon of the Hong Kong triads, gangs of Chinese gopniks who are fighting not for the chair, but for the right to walk around the area with their heads held high.<\/p>\n

The heroes of Young and Dangerous almost never die in the course of carefully planned contract killings – much more often they are sent to the next world after injuries sustained in an accidentally erupted street fight. The culmination here is a massive funeral brawl in which the main villain is killed by accident.<\/p>\n

If you watched movies with Jackie Chan in the 90s, then you are familiar with Hong Kong cinema. If you've watched the films of John Woo and Ringo Lamb, you love Hong Kong cinema. If you've watched Young and Dangerous, you know Hong Kong cinema.<\/p>\n

The Counselor, 2013<\/h2>\n

The only original screenplay for today by the living classic of American literature Cormac McCarthy, more or less decently brought to the screen by Ridley Scott. The film seemed to be a flop at the box office and was not treated kindly by critics, although its global gross was $ 70 million with a budget of $ 25 million. into the meat grinder that the drug trade across the Mexican-US border has now become.<\/p>\n

If TV shows like Dope and Breaking Bad tell us beautiful tales of how ordinary white Americans and American women compete on equal terms with the terrible Mexican bandits due to their innate resourcefulness, then McCarthy shows how quickly and sadly everything would end in the life of Walter White or Nancy Botwin in reality.<\/p>\n

Michael Fassbender's unnamed lawyer (and not any “advisor”) is doomed exactly at the moment when he says “yes” in response to Reiner's proposal (Javier Bardem in a very unusual role for himself). Further, no words and actions will help either the Lawyer himself, or his beloved woman, or his accomplices.<\/p>\n

There are 121 million Mexicans living on the other side of the border, for many of whom this is no longer a business, but an all-out war by any means and in any territory. The story of the inevitability of retribution for a relatively minor moral offense is very good in itself, but McCarthy's genius also manifests itself in the image of the Mexican drug lord Chef (Ruben Blades).<\/p>\n

“Dealer 1-3” (Pusher 1-3), 1996-2005<\/h2>\n

One of the brightest debuts in the history of world cinema. “Pusher” (which we renamed “Dealer”, in my opinion, only out of the spirit of confrontation) by Nicholas Winding Refna talks about the problems of a simple Copenhagen drug dealer Frank (Kim Bodnia), who drowned heroin borrowed in the lake. The film, crazy in energy, does not allow you to catch your breath from the first frame to the last – together with Frank we are constantly on the run and in debt, only one step ahead of several groups of deadly pursuers.<\/p>\n

Eight years later, Refn directed a more low-key and mature sequel, which became a benefit performance for Mads Mikkelsen as Tonny, Frank's accomplice from the original film. Tonny gets out of prison and goes to work in the garage of Duke's father (Leif Sylvester), a crime boss and professional car thief.<\/p>\n

Tony's problems are not as big as Frank's. The film is dedicated to his family squabbles and attempts to gain respect in the criminal environment, in which even the RESPECT tattoo on the back of his head does not help him much.<\/p>\n

Pushera 3 is about the aging Serbian crime boss Milo (Zlatko Buric) from the first two films, who suddenly has problems with the Albanians. The plot of the picture is clearly inspired by “Long Good Friday”: all Milo's militants were poisoned by the sarma prepared by him, and he has to personally defend the crumbling criminal empire at the seams with a hammer in his hands. All three films can be viewed as one picture with cross-cutting characters.<\/p>\n

Donnie Brasco, 1997<\/h2>\n

Based on the memories of FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp), the film shows what it really takes to infiltrate a criminal group. The operation to introduce an FBI agent into the Brooklyn team of one of the large New York families stretches over most of the 70s. It is built on a friendship with one person: Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero (Al Pacino), a petty mafioso who always sits without money and cannot get a promotion, despite dozens of contract killings he has performed.<\/p>\n

Despite the abundance of Al Pacino's roles on this list, Lefty is my favorite character. This is an absolutely documentary, not understated or embellished portrait of a middle-handed gangster who does not see the difference between knocking trifles out of a parking meter with a hammer and sticking a bullet in the back of someone's head. If Michael Corleone is the most subtly played, and Tony Montana is Pacino's most energetic character, then Lefty is the most alive.<\/p>\n

In life, by the way, everything ended amusingly: for a puncture with Donnie, Lefty's boss, Sonny Black (Michael Madsen), was killed. Lefty himself served 11 years and died only in 1994, at large, from lung cancer.<\/p>\n

“Super Fly”, 1972<\/h2>\n

In the 70s, black American crime had its own cinema. The genre was called blaxploitation and told about the life of ordinary black detectives, pimps and drug dealers, whom the white mafia and the white police put a spoke in their wheels.<\/p>\n

Filmed by the classic of this film direction Gordon Parks Jr., Super Fly is, in my opinion, the brightest representative of the subgenre. It's about a New York dealer Youngblood Priest (Ron O'Neill) who wants to pull off one last deal: sell 30 kilograms of cocaine and retire.<\/p>\n

The film is great not only for Parkes' direction and Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack, but also for the acting work of O'Neill, who, no worse than Al Pacino and Paul Mooney, played a man striving with all his might for his special version of the American dream.<\/p>\n

Bronx story<\/h2>\n