I recently watched Goodfellas for the first time and became hooked on the genre. I scoured Google and a guy ranked the top 15 gangster movies. I have not seen these either and am curious what you guys think of them. I'm looking for opinions. Casino Carlito's Way A Bronx Tale Things to Do In Denver When You're Dead Once Upon a Time in America King of New York Gotti Miller's Crossing Hoffa The Godfather Trilogy The Untouchables
I don't like reading reviews at IMDB. Those movie-watchers tend to be too much like Siskel & ???. I am looking for opinions of my fellow BBS members. And, please, no spoilers!
Godfather 1 is the best of the genre Godfather 2 is a far second forget part three Casino is okay by my standards, don't like scorcese much. Goodfellas is okay, don't like Ray Liotta. seems too whiny Carlito's way, not really Pacino's great work, but decent I might be one of those siskel and roeper kinda critics given that I was a film major and maybe still am.
In my opinion, nothing touches Goodfellas (with the possible exception of Godfather, which I haven't seen in a bajillion years now). I haven't seen all the ones you've listed, but here's what I remember of the ones I have. Carlito's Way: forgettable. A Bronx Tale: Better than Carlito's Way but apparently also forgettable. Once Upon a Time in America: Great movie. Slow moving and not really for the ADD sufferers among us. Rather epic in scope. Hoffa: Again, forgettable. The Godfather Trilogy: I'll refrain from commenting since I saw them too young to tell you competently. The Untouchables: Too much of a Hollywood sheen to make it great. Too much of a formula and too much of a Kevin Costner (I just don't much like him). But, the shoot-out at the train station is a great scene.
1. Godfather I 2. Goodfellas 3. Godfather II 4. Casino 5. Scarface 6. Hoffa 7. Untouchables 8. Bronx Tale 9. Once Upon a Time in America This is the order of the ones on that list. I didn't really like King fo New York and only thought Gotti was ok. The rest are really good IMO. I'm surprised Scarface wasn't listed.
Harlem Nights is one of the funniest movies i've ever seen in my life. Scarface is definitely up there right after godfather 1 and before godfather 2
Seriously? I loved Liotta in that flick. Actually, that's the only movie of his I liked. Godfather I Goodfellas Godfather II I liked GF II, but I liked the Diniro scenes better than the Pacino scenes.
Hell yea it should. Same with Menace to Society. I wouldn't really call New Jack City very good but it was also entertaining. Another one that should go on the list is Reservoir Dogs. Very good movie.
I loved New Jack City...I guess when he said gangster movies i was thinking more of mafia...but you're right...very entertaining. Nino Brown was not the nicest of characters.
Miller's Crossing is a relatively unknown Cohen brothers movie. Its a little offbeat at times but not quite as add as their typical movie. Gabriel Byrne and John Turturro also put in great acting performances. Its my favorite after the 1st 2 Godfathers and Goodfellas.
I think you are way off there, and I think a lot of people consider part II better. But these are all opinions. I agree on Ray Liotta in Goodfellas, he did seem a bit whinny to be running around with the other characters. A Bronx Tale is really about a film growing up. The main character is no gangster, he's a teenage kid, and his father is a bus driver and the person he looks up to is a gangster. It has a gangster backdrop but if you think its a gangster movie, you really missed the point. Anyone ever seen the made for T.V. movie "The Big Heist"? It stars Donald Sutherland. Its a true story about the airport heist that is also portrayed in Goodfellas, and in the movie, Sutherland plays Deniro's character Jimmy. In "The Big Heist", Jimmy is completely Irish, with a thick accent. I found that funny, because in Goodfellas, Deniro's character could never be "made" because he was half Irish, but in "The Big Heist" he is completely Irish with a very thick accent. Anyway, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Donnie Brascoe which is at least in my top 5. Also Reservoir Dogs.
One gangster movie that I really like is "The Valachi Papers", about Joe Valachi and how he turned on the mob. Charles Bronson stars in it. Unfortunately, for some reason, it has never come out on VHS or DVD. Once in a blue moon, it is on TV, usually on TNT or TBS. If you see it in the TV Guide, watch it....it is a great Mafia movie.
As much as I hate to say it, I liked Casino better than the first 2 Godfathers. Anytime Casino comes on cable, I watch the whole thing (wife thinks I am nuts). I especially am fond of narriated movies, and perhaps thats why Casino is my fav (not to mention the performanes of DeNiro and Pesci (Stone too)). 1. Casino 2. Godfather II 3. Godfather I PS - I watched the Untouchables for the 1st time a few weeks ago. Was not impressed. Might be the anti-Cosner part of me. Connery was great and Garcia was a lil bad ass. Cosner just seems to ruin movies for me.
