I'm trying to convince a friend that this is true. I've watched it four times now and i think it's as good a gangster film as has ever been made. I'm not even that convinced about Scarface, tbh. AG seemed to get lukewarm reviews, and it's hardly a new story, but i think it's excellent. What did you think of it, and what're your favourite films of that genre?
1) American Gangster
2) Donnie Brasco
3) Godfather 2
4) Godfather
5) The Krays
6) Blow
7) Godfather 3
8) Scarface
9) Casino
10) Layer Cake
I don't like the Godfather.
It insists upon itself.
Donnie Brasco over any of the Godfather movies?
You're clearly deranged!
American Gangster was 100% better than I expected it to be.
It was bloody brilliant. Better than Godfather? No.
Godfather 3?!
what the fuck is Donnie Brasco doing at Number 2?
Have you got a flat brain?
seriously...answer this.
no no no no no
simply not true.
I was saying this to a friend The other day. Despite it's near 3 hour running time the film feels as though it skips over so many plot points. Also Denzel Washington still can't pull off being a bad guy (despite his Oscar for Training Day).
I liked Russell Crowe in it, although his character followed the tried and tested 'doesn't take bribes but cheats on his wife' forumla.
I could go on but I'm tired and can't think properly.
no Goodfellas?
Yeah
fuckin' miles better than the Krays.
And Layercake
I don't like it.
It should've been in there actually, but i'm not a big fan. I think it'd be about 9th, getting rid of Layer Cake.
but keeping the Krays?
which is pretty laughable. No Carlitos Way? no Once Upon a Time in America?
The Krays is a seminal British film.
I don't know how anyone who's watched it could say it was anything less than superb.
it really isn't it
it's watchable entertaining pap but that's about it.
also the Long Good Friday
would be considered a more seminal british gangster film. Also possibly Get Carter
^
Carlito's way is awesome.
damn straight
that also beats Layer Cake and Godfather 3
it was good
but not on the same level as the godfather. you seem to be missing goodfellas from your list as well?
goodfellas
deserves to be in there ahead of Layer Cake and Godfather 3
Goodfellas!
Brother should be in there.
no no no
Godfather 3>Scarface!? wtf
no Goodfellas?
Snatch>Layer Cake
and this may just be me but..
he other 9 out of 10 of that list> American Gangster
how about the departed as well
or is that not in the same genre? cos i thought that was way better than american gangster.
....
yeah I'd stick The Departed in there, well its in the genre, just not sure is it as good, well it beats teh Krays & Layercake, but it that way.
oh if we are including The Departed
then can we have Sexy Beast too? And maybe State of Grace
actually yes.
Departed is very good and better than American Gangster
I've seen this film!
I've not seen any of the others in the list though, so I can't compare. I liked American Gangster though.
how have you not seen any of the other films?
have you been in a coma for 18 years and now you shall reunite with your son and avenge the murder of your wife?
I don't like watching films.
They bore me, generally.
you are a psychopath
quite sure
we were seperated at birth
bamos!
American gangster starts well and ends poorly.
To say it is better than the Godfather films is just nonsense (only my opinion right enough).
Not only is the Godfather 2 the best gangster film ever it is also probably the greatest film ever!
Scarface is the most overated film of all time perhaps!
the whole scene
where Denzel decides to testify against the cops and then they show a montage of him telling them all about it is hilarious. as is the Coda with Crowe meeting him when he gets out of jail.
Yeah, i doubt it happened like that IRL
Infact, it didn't, but neither was Lucas a nice family man, neither was he Bumpy Johnson's driver for 15 years, and he didn't have his own club, marry Ms Puerto Rico or do a 15-year stretch. They pretty much took the basics of the story and Hollywooded it.
I wondered how much of
it was artistic license. Makes you wonder why they bothered if they were just going to sugar coat it.
Was Blow a gangster film?
and Goodfellas
is the best gangster film, and probably my favourite ever film.
i love it but it's a bit to much of a yarn
I was thinking that
it's more film about drugs that happens to have gangsters in.
You should have had
Bugsy Malone ahead of The Krays.
^ this
Layer Cake would be my favourite out of that list, it's brilliant.
I appreciate that Scarface is a 'classic', but I never really liked it..
As for American Gangster, I'e only seen bits of it. It looks okay...
scarface is a pantomime classic
Blow was total cack.
When he appears at the end in that terrible aged make-up and shell suit he looks like Paul Calf. Woeful.
?
www.ohjohnny.net/blow/Blow001.jpg
Of those
I love Godfathers I & II, Casino and also Goodfellas that didn't make the list. All brilliant imho. Scarface is ok, I like the idea of it more than the film reality. The rest I need to see.
I have seen Donnie Brasco
which was y'know... Ok.
incorrect
American Gangster is boring and unoriginal.
p.s
Goodfellas wins
I would like to reiterate that...
The Godfather 2 is the greatest gangster film of all time!
can we put Millers Crossing in that list?
and City of God?
Millers crossing is excellent.
Any love for The Usual Suspects?
I've got Millers Crossing
on Sky Plus on my Father in law's advice. I haven't got around to watching it yet though. Is it good?
... yes.
It's very good.
listen to these people
great plot, great dialogue, great acting, great direction and one great set-piece in particular.
so, yeah.
the tommy gun set-piece?
"like I tell all of my boys ALWAYS PUT ONE IN THE BRAIN"
usual suspects = brilliant
also city of god
has been in my 'to watch' pile for months now. how good is it?
City of God is....
really fucking good. You will not be disappointed.
Once upon a time in america is also very good but so long, the kind of film you maybe only watch twice in your life.
awesome
i've wanted to watch it for so long but whenever i try and watch it whoever i'm with is too lazy to watch a film with subtitles. i think once upon a time in america was on telly on christmas eve. was very tired for the whole of the next day as a result.
If the film is good then after 5 mins you don't even notice the subtitles...
and city of god really is excellent.
Millers Crossing is bloody brillaint
Usual Suspects is more of a caper film. They're career criminals, not Gangsters.
yeah probably
it's still good though.
I'm not disputing
that. It's a great film.
hardly any mention of once upon a time in america
its like 4 hours long which in my opinion makes it even more awesome. and does gangs of new york qualify for this genre? cos i'd like to throw that into the ring as well.
Yep, it's fantastic
I've never bothered buying it though because I'm unlikely to sit down and watch it.
scarface
one of the worst films ever.
and the most annoying soundtrack in history
Ha ha.
I have family connections to the sound track. Not that I disagree.
i know goodfellas is not on the list
but number 1 is: goodfellas
Get Carter
and The Long Good Friday piss all over that list.
I've also got a bit of time
for Boyz 'N the Hood and Juice.
Not really gangster films though.
why not?
of course they are
they're films about gangsters.
Although Menace 2 Society pisses on them both.