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Gangster Movies.
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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What's everyone's favourite gangster movies? Of course the classics are The Godfather 1 and 2. Just absolutely outstanding films. Not 3, that's turd. Then there's Scarface for it's over the top acting, 80s decadence and gratuitous gore. Love it. Goodfellas will always be up there and I'd also throw in The Departed. But my number 1 gangster movie of all time, which really is massively under appreciated is Once Upon a Time in America. The 4½ hour version that Sergio Leone intended from the start. Not the 90 minute one the studio butchered and released. What a film from a one the greatest directors ever and what a score from his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone.
What's everyone else's favourites? And any good recommendations? |
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By *ags73Man 36 weeks ago
glasgow-ish |
Version past few years that re-edite godfather 3 and called godfather coda and I actually really enjoyed.
Otherwise I love The Untouchables, I know it heavily stylised and Sean Connery’s Irish accent and all, but it just delivers. |
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"What's everyone's favourite gangster movies? Of course the classics are The Godfather 1 and 2. Just absolutely outstanding films. Not 3, that's turd. Then there's Scarface for it's over the top acting, 80s decadence and gratuitous gore. Love it. Goodfellas will always be up there and I'd also throw in The Departed. But my number 1 gangster movie of all time, which really is massively under appreciated is Once Upon a Time in America. The 4½ hour version that Sergio Leone intended from the start. Not the 90 minute one the studio butchered and released. What a film from a one the greatest directors ever and what a score from his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone.
What's everyone else's favourites? And any good recommendations?"
Godfather CODA makes perfect sense when you watch is knowing the original; why it wasn’t produced that way in the first place seems lost in the annals of time!
Completely agree re One Upon a Time in America, it’s a masterpiece of story telling from start to finish and one of the most under appreciated films of the genre  |
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"What's everyone's favourite gangster movies? Of course the classics are The Godfather 1 and 2. Just absolutely outstanding films. Not 3, that's turd. Then there's Scarface for it's over the top acting, 80s decadence and gratuitous gore. Love it. Goodfellas will always be up there and I'd also throw in The Departed. But my number 1 gangster movie of all time, which really is massively under appreciated is Once Upon a Time in America. The 4½ hour version that Sergio Leone intended from the start. Not the 90 minute one the studio butchered and released. What a film from a one the greatest directors ever and what a score from his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone.
What's everyone else's favourites? And any good recommendations?"
You are absolutely spot on with Once Upon a Time in America, one of my other all time favourites is the original Get Carter
There are some other great recommendations already included in this thread but it has great actors, storyline and so many locations around Newcastle that are now lost |
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"What's everyone's favourite gangster movies? Of course the classics are The Godfather 1 and 2. Just absolutely outstanding films. Not 3, that's turd. Then there's Scarface for it's over the top acting, 80s decadence and gratuitous gore. Love it. Goodfellas will always be up there and I'd also throw in The Departed. But my number 1 gangster movie of all time, which really is massively under appreciated is Once Upon a Time in America. The 4½ hour version that Sergio Leone intended from the start. Not the 90 minute one the studio butchered and released. What a film from a one the greatest directors ever and what a score from his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone.
What's everyone else's favourites? And any good recommendations?You are absolutely spot on with Once Upon a Time in America, one of my other all time favourites is the original Get Carter
There are some other great recommendations already included in this thread but it has great actors, storyline and so many locations around Newcastle that are now lost "
Original Get Carter, quintessential movie of its time  |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"The iceman
Wee man  "
The iceman wasn’t bad but it’s so far from reality that if you know about Kuklinski it does make it tough at times to watch. That said the cast did their jobs properly just the writer was off… |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"Blood in blood out "
Some great recommendations on this thread and this is the only one I haven't seen or actually heard of so far. I'll have to check it out. |
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"In Bruges"
+1
Great shout man. I don’t really get the excitement over the so called classic gangster movies. Any I’ve watched have bores me silly.
In Bruges has a dark yet comedic value to it that endears the lead characters to me. |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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The Godfather 1-3, Goodfellas, Casino, Once upon a time in America, Donnie Brasco, Things to do in Denver when your dead, The Irishman.
There is so many but the usual faces definitely create the best of them. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"Since no one has mentioned yet, they're not the greatest, but they're damn good.
Carlito's Way - Al Pacino
State of Grace - Sean Penn "
Forgot about Carlito's Way. Not watched it since the 90s but loved it back then. |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"Since no one has mentioned yet, they're not the greatest, but they're damn good.
Carlito's Way - Al Pacino
State of Grace - Sean Penn "
Carlitos way, of course! |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"series not movie The Sopranos
Greatest TV programme of all time from any genre.
*coughs Breaking Bad coughs* "
As much as I love Breaking Bad I feel Sopranos still takes the top spot. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"In Bruges
+1
Great shout man. I don’t really get the excitement over the so called classic gangster movies. Any I’ve watched have bores me silly.
In Bruges has a dark yet comedic value to it that endears the lead characters to me. "
In Bruges is brilliant. Very funny and dark at the same time. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"series not movie The Sopranos
Greatest TV programme of all time from any genre.
*coughs Breaking Bad coughs*
As much as I love Breaking Bad I feel Sopranos still takes the top spot."
Agreed. I'd actually go in this order with the greatest first. Sopranos, then The Wire, then I struggle to choose which I preferred, Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul. |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"series not movie The Sopranos
Greatest TV programme of all time from any genre.
*coughs Breaking Bad coughs*
As much as I love Breaking Bad I feel Sopranos still takes the top spot.
Agreed. I'd actually go in this order with the greatest first. Sopranos, then The Wire, then I struggle to choose which I preferred, Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul."
Not seen the wire… guess I’ll have to! |
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"series not movie The Sopranos
Greatest TV programme of all time from any genre.
*coughs Breaking Bad coughs*
As much as I love Breaking Bad I feel Sopranos still takes the top spot.
Agreed. I'd actually go in this order with the greatest first. Sopranos, then The Wire, then I struggle to choose which I preferred, Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul.
Not seen the wire… guess I’ll have to!"
Even if you’ve watched Sopranos in the past, watch it again and you realise just how good it was; the character arcs are so developed over time, nothing like it since!
The Wire is a “the problem with narcotics in America” masterpiece told in five chapters,
#1 Policing of drugs; badly!
#2 Importation/distribution; just how easy it is!
#3 Social impact of drugs; especially children!
#4 Drug policy; social, political, fiscal!
#5 Media portrayal; drugs, policing and crime!
A very powerful argument for the legalisation of drugs, once and for all  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"series not movie The Sopranos
Greatest TV programme of all time from any genre.
*coughs Breaking Bad coughs*
As much as I love Breaking Bad I feel Sopranos still takes the top spot.
Agreed. I'd actually go in this order with the greatest first. Sopranos, then The Wire, then I struggle to choose which I preferred, Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul.
Not seen the wire… guess I’ll have to!
Even if you’ve watched Sopranos in the past, watch it again and you realise just how good it was; the character arcs are so developed over time, nothing like it since!
The Wire is a “the problem with narcotics in America” masterpiece told in five chapters,
#1 Policing of drugs; badly!
#2 Importation/distribution; just how easy it is!
#3 Social impact of drugs; especially children!
#4 Drug policy; social, political, fiscal!
#5 Media portrayal; drugs, policing and crime!
A very powerful argument for the legalisation of drugs, once and for all "
Throw corruption into that mix too. |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"American Gangster is good if you like Denzel Washington as an actor.
This, plus the Essex Boys film "
Can’t stand anything about those 3. Absolute muppets  |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"I would say probably kidulthood. What a timeless classic.
And the gentlemen. That’s one I watch every year over the Christmas holidays now.
Kidulthood is a great shout "
TREVORRRRRRRRRRR |
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"American Gangster is good if you like Denzel Washington as an actor.
This, plus the Essex Boys film
Can’t stand anything about those 3. Absolute muppets "
Haha slight correction to my original post because I liked the original Essex boys film and then the Rise of the Footsoldier series.
But I guess your original point still stands  |
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"I would say probably kidulthood. What a timeless classic.
And the gentlemen. That’s one I watch every year over the Christmas holidays now.
Kidulthood is a great shout
TREVORRRRRRRRRRR"
Noel Clarke was in his bag that film. Epic |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"American Gangster is good if you like Denzel Washington as an actor.
This, plus the Essex Boys film
Can’t stand anything about those 3. Absolute muppets
Haha slight correction to my original post because I liked the original Essex boys film and then the Rise of the Footsoldier series.
But I guess your original point still stands "
Rise of the foot soldier is even worse, the original one was closest to the truth and even that was 90% lies and story telling haha |
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"American Gangster is good if you like Denzel Washington as an actor.
This, plus the Essex Boys film
Can’t stand anything about those 3. Absolute muppets
Haha slight correction to my original post because I liked the original Essex boys film and then the Rise of the Footsoldier series.
But I guess your original point still stands
Rise of the foot soldier is even worse, the original one was closest to the truth and even that was 90% lies and story telling haha"
The original was the best depiction |
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Lot's of good non-english ones, such as:
Meserine is fantastic, about the French gangster.
Some of takeshi kitanos Yakuza films are good fun, as well as John wood's earlier stuff with chow Yun fan like the killer, a better tomorrow.
Always loved Goodfellas, casino and then Irishman more recently. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"Lot's of good non-english ones, such as:
Meserine is fantastic, about the French gangster.
Some of takeshi kitanos Yakuza films are good fun, as well as John wood's earlier stuff with chow Yun fan like the killer, a better tomorrow.
Always loved Goodfellas, casino and then Irishman more recently."
There's a French one called A Prophet. It's about a young Muslim lad who has visions and sees things just before they happen. He ends up in prison where the top dogs are Corsican gangsters and he's way down the pecking order in their eyes due to being Muslim. However he manages to work his way to near the top in the Corsican crime group due to his abilities and they use him when gets out of prison. Sounds cheesy, but it's really not. Highly recommend it. |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"series not movie The Sopranos
They have done a movie on the Sopranos Tony is a kid in it x J "
I liked it in a sense because of what it was but for me it did fall abit flat because the emphasis was on Christopher’s dad and not Tony’s early days. I think sometimes a series director and writer will struggle doing a movie because you have to get a lot in a little of time. David Chase was sublime with the series but yeah I felt a little empty afterwards and didn’t feel like I got enough from the movie. |
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"Lot's of good non-english ones, such as:
Meserine is fantastic, about the French gangster.
Some of takeshi kitanos Yakuza films are good fun, as well as John wood's earlier stuff with chow Yun fan like the killer, a better tomorrow.
Always loved Goodfellas, casino and then Irishman more recently.
There's a French one called A Prophet. It's about a young Muslim lad who has visions and sees things just before they happen. He ends up in prison where the top dogs are Corsican gangsters and he's way down the pecking order in their eyes due to being Muslim. However he manages to work his way to near the top in the Corsican crime group due to his abilities and they use him when gets out of prison. Sounds cheesy, but it's really not. Highly recommend it."
Great movie, I believe it's actually called un prophet in french.
Forgot about that foreign one. |
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White Heat "Top of the world ma, top of the world".
Angels with Dirty Faces, Love a bit of Cagney.
Gangster No1
Mesine Pt1/2, true story
Goodfellers, "ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a gangster" hell of an opening line for a movie.
Bull, underrated British gangster, revenge, horror movie. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces."
Definitely gangster movies. James Cagney set the standard. |
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces."
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie."
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps? |
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie.
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps?"
I would say the latter.
Cagney is no pussy ha |
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By *os19Man 36 weeks ago
Edmonton |
"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie.
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps?
I would say the latter.
Cagney is no pussy ha"
. I think that James Cagney does it to put the kids off becoming gangsters. I was a bit worried when I mentioned the two films that some would not know what I was going on about and not sure if some would consider them to tame to be gangster films |
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie.
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps?
I would say the latter.
Cagney is no pussy ha. I think that James Cagney does it to put the kids off becoming gangsters. I was a bit worried when I mentioned the two films that some would not know what I was going on about and not sure if some would consider them to tame to be gangster films"
I chose them, I chose them as I regard them classics up there with the Maltese falcon, and many other black and white films that are classics if it was on tv today I watch them so no need to worry great picks got anymore. |
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By *os19Man 36 weeks ago
Edmonton |
"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie.
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps?
I would say the latter.
Cagney is no pussy ha. I think that James Cagney does it to put the kids off becoming gangsters. I was a bit worried when I mentioned the two films that some would not know what I was going on about and not sure if some would consider them to tame to be gangster films
I chose them, I chose them as I regard them classics up there with the Maltese falcon, and many other black and white films that are classics if it was on tv today I watch them so no need to worry great picks got anymore."
. They are the 2 films that stick out for me.I believe the actor George Raft made a lot of black & white gangsters films some with James Cagney as I remember watching these during the 80’s with my dad but I can’t recall the names of them. |
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"Sexy Beast
A Sense of Freedom
Get Carter
Heat and Dead Presidents are excellent but they're more Heist Movie than Gangster "
You just reminded me of point break, more of a bank robbers movie but great movie. |
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By *eavilMan 36 weeks ago
Stalybridge |
Very interesting that the majority of choices are relatively modern. The gangster classics from the thirties and forties should not be overlooked. Cagney, Bogart and Edward G Robinson all name excellent gangster movies. Watch the Roaring Twenties, White Heat, Key Largo or Little Caesar - they are all excellent. |
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"Not sure if these would be classed as gangsters films as they are over 70 years old and black & white films with James Cagney , White Heat & Angels With Dirty Faces.
Ho my snap, and yes they are cult classics, where Cagney begs for his life at the end for the angels great classic movie.
Iconic scene. It's ambiguous as to why he does it. Is it because he's generally afraid of dying or is it to try and put off the kids who hero worship him so they don't follow in his footsteps?
I would say the latter.
Cagney is no pussy ha. I think that James Cagney does it to put the kids off becoming gangsters. I was a bit worried when I mentioned the two films that some would not know what I was going on about and not sure if some would consider them to tame to be gangster films
I chose them, I chose them as I regard them classics up there with the Maltese falcon, and many other black and white films that are classics if it was on tv today I watch them so no need to worry great picks got anymore.. They are the 2 films that stick out for me.I believe the actor George Raft made a lot of black & white gangsters films some with James Cagney as I remember watching these during the 80’s with my dad but I can’t recall the names of them."
I believe George raft was in the original scarface. |
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"Very interesting that the majority of choices are relatively modern. The gangster classics from the thirties and forties should not be overlooked. Cagney, Bogart and Edward G Robinson all name excellent gangster movies. Watch the Roaring Twenties, White Heat, Key Largo or Little Caesar - they are all excellent."
They are the classics that the modern films stand on, but as they are rarely on tv anymore people forget them. |
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"What's everyone's favourite gangster movies? Of course the classics are The Godfather 1 and 2. Just absolutely outstanding films. Not 3, that's turd. Then there's Scarface for it's over the top acting, 80s decadence and gratuitous gore. Love it. Goodfellas will always be up there and I'd also throw in The Departed. But my number 1 gangster movie of all time, which really is massively under appreciated is Once Upon a Time in America. The 4½ hour version that Sergio Leone intended from the start. Not the 90 minute one the studio butchered and released. What a film from a one the greatest directors ever and what a score from his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone.
What's everyone else's favourites? And any good recommendations?"
The original directors cut has been remastered and is due out for release very soon.
Can I add in The Long Good Friday a great British gangster film with Bob Hoskins and a very young Peirce Brosnan |
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By *ild_oatsMan 36 weeks ago
the land of saints & sinners |
"I like Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis
Reminded me of a fist full of dollars, the gun play is excellently filmed."
It was a remake of Fist Full of Dollars as Fist Full of Dollars was a remake of Yojimbo…. |
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"I like Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis
Reminded me of a fist full of dollars, the gun play is excellently filmed.
It was a remake of Fist Full of Dollars as Fist Full of Dollars was a remake of Yojimbo…."
Cool |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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"I like Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis
Reminded me of a fist full of dollars, the gun play is excellently filmed.
It was a remake of Fist Full of Dollars as Fist Full of Dollars was a remake of Yojimbo…."
A man of true culture is a man who knows of Kurosawa |
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By *ucka39Man 36 weeks ago
Newcastle |
"The iceman
Wee man
The iceman wasn’t bad but it’s so far from reality that if you know about Kuklinski it does make it tough at times to watch. That said the cast did their jobs properly just the writer was off…"
Guess some people just need a stomach but did catch me out first time chop chop |
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By *abioMan 36 weeks ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Bugsy Malone "
Thank you!!! About bloody time!!!! How do I get 3/4 down the thread and it only mentioned…
Everyone of a certain age knows the words to the final song in the film!!!!!
Lock stock… 2nd |
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By *holoMan 36 weeks ago
Hastings |
Well these are not Italian mobsters but they are still gangsters but a difrent breed
Beyond the law with Charlie shen
Soa was good as well as mayans mc
Then it was the wire
Shot color
American history x
Beter call sull
Bracking bad
Training day
Shaft
Miami vice
The renegade
Narcos
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By *holoMan 36 weeks ago
Hastings |
"Bugsy Malone
Thank you!!! About bloody time!!!! How do I get 3/4 down the thread and it only mentioned…
Everyone of a certain age knows the words to the final song in the film!!!!! . I agree with you
Lock stock… 2nd"
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I think you nailed it in the OP.
I guess I could throw in a few lesser knows.
City of God
Miller's Crossing
On the waterfront
Boyz in the hood
Sin Nombre
I think On the Waterfront has to be given some respect, great film. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"I think you nailed it in the OP.
I guess I could throw in a few lesser knows.
City of God
Miller's Crossing
On the waterfront
Boyz in the hood
Sin Nombre
I think On the Waterfront has to be given some respect, great film."
City of God, superb. The TV series City of Men as well.
I'll also add Gomorrah the movie and TV series. |
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