Untouchables (1987)
Director: Brian De Palma
Writers: Oscar Fraley, Eliot Ness, Paul Robsky, David Mamet
Main Actors: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia
Well in this movie the robbers (Al Capone = Robert De Niro) are really bad, the cops are bad, and the Untouchables are good with a slight tarnish on their armor, but you know who the good guys are. The Untouchables is set in 1920's Chicago in the Era of Probition. The events are based on the true exploits of Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) who with his unbribeable, untouchable crew try to end the reign of Chicago's most notorious gangster Al Capone. Although the true history might be blurred a bit from what takes place in this movie. Its a good film with everything one would want from a movie. It has an excellent cast with many big names (some probably bigger after this blockbuster). Its a thourghly enjoyable movie if you have not seen it, and you know I am telling the truth if you have seen it.
The Sting (1973)
Director: George Roy Hill
Writers: David W. Maurer, David S. Ward
Main Actors: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning
One of the slickest movies ever made. Quite possibly the best con movie ever made with the greatest actor duo that has ever hit the big screen. I am speaking of Robert Redford and Paul Newman. They were only in two films together but those two films make an immeasureable mark on film. The other film being Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is located in the Western section of this webpage. Both by the way are directed by the same man George Roy Hill who is always consistent and good. The basic plot takes the young gun conman (Robert Redford) and places him under the care and guidance of the old pro (Paul Newman) to pull off the greatest scam of all time. If you like a good movie with a few good twists and turns along with great characters checkout this movie.
Maltese Falcon (1941)
Director: John Huston
Writers: Dashiell Hammentt, John Huston
Main Actor: Humphrey Bogart
Think of a private dick in a gritty office with Private Investigator painted on a door window. Next picture a beautiful woman coming to visit the PI to get her out of a tough spot. Add in a missing and priceless artifact that a certain few will do anything for and you have this movie. Bogart plays Sam Spade in John Huston's adaptation of from Dashiell Hammet novel of the same name. Bogie was made for this movie. It is film noir at its finest and truly defines that genre.
The Big Sleep (1946)
Director: Howard Hawks
Writers: Raymond Chandler, William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman
Main Actor: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall
The other film noir film that makes the list and everything I said about the Maltese Falcon goes for this movie. It just happens to be second on this list. This one was adapted from a Raymond Chandler novel and Bogie plays the other great PI, Philip Marlowe. The differences only lie in its highly complex plot that I can not do justice in this little place. If you love the previous movie or just a plain good mystery you will love this movie too.
Out of Sight (1998)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Main Actor: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle
A very slick and stylish film about some escaped convicts trying to elude the FBI and a certain Federal Marshall. George Clooney introduces us to his best kind of character the loveable criminal, and it just happens to be his first good movie. Jennifer Lopez plays the Federal Marshall that is trying to catch him, but she seems to think he is loveable too giving the movie an interesting twist. This movie also started the collaboration between Clooney and director Soderberg which has and will provide more excellent and stylish films. This includes the excellent remake of Ocean's Eleven which is also definately worth a watch. Beyond the two leading characters, there is an excellent cast including Ving Rhames and Don Cheadle (who seems to be in all Soderberg films).
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Guy Ritchie
Main Actor: A whole bunch of British Unknowns except for Sting
To begin this movie is very British. Sometimes its hard to tell if they are speaking English. Luckily the DVD includes a translation of the London underworld dialect. It is a very unique film that is hard to put into words. The basic plotline involves a high stakes poker where the four main characters get into an enormous debt to the wrong people. Through an amazingly complex yet entertaining set of events these four characters try to get the money to repay their debt. Except for the appearance of Sting and aparently a famous British soccer player in the movie, the actors are mostly unknowns. One warning though, this movie is very violent and contains "copious amounts of weed" in their own words. Its a very cleverly thought out movie and if you can stand the violence it is a throughly enjoyable and unique movie.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Director: Curtis Hanson
Writers: James Elroy, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
Main Actor: Kevin Spacey, Russel Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny Devito
A plan good old fashioned cop movie with excellent performances by all the actors involved. Set in the late 50's/early 60's this movie captures the color and feel of the era. It is also a throw back to an earlier and better time of film making. The plot involves three very different L.A. detectives trying to solve the death of another policemen. The investigation leads to an elaborately contrived conspiracy where they can not trust anyone, but they have to overcome their general dislike of each other and pool their resources to finally solve the case.
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Director: Frank Darabont
Writers: Stephen King, Frank Darabont
Main Actor: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
The prison movie that has it all. It shows the dark side of the prison system in the mid-1900's. The plot follows Tim Robbins' character through his many years in the Maine prison system after being convicted of murdering his wife. Of course, he always claimed his innocence, but no one believed. He is joined by Morgan Freeman, who is the man to can get anything from the outside, which includes large posters of beautiful movie stars of the time. This is by far Tim Robbins' best movie and Morgan Freeman is also very good. The rest of the cast including the corrupt prison officials and other cons round out an excellent movie. This movie was derived from the short novel Greta Garbo and the Shawshank Redemption written by Stephen King. He also wrote The Green Mile showing (in my opinion) some of his best work is not necessarily horror novels.
Thomas Crown Affair (1999 + 1968)
Director: Norman Jewison (1968), John McTiernan (1999)
Writers: Alan Trustman(1968+1999), Leslie Dixon, Kurt Wimmer (1999)
Main Actor: Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway (1968), Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo (1999)
One of the rare breed of movies that was remade and remade well. Both the original and the remake are listed. Both movies have the same basis but are different movies with their own strengths. In the plot of both movies, a rich thrill seaker decides to steal money in 1968 or an impressionist painting in 1999. Then a particularly attractive insurance investigator tries to seduce him into turning himself in. Of course, it is not as simple as that. In the 1968 version, the bank heist is not as elaborate as the museum heist in 1999, but the romance if far more subtle and creative. Both versions are extremely well acted. I think that Pierce Brosnan is more Bond in this movie than in his Bond flicks. Of course the writting in them is suspect today, and it is not in this film. This is the way they should be.
1999
1968
Godfather Part One (1972)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writers: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
Main Actor: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, James Caan
Its the Godfather. Do I really need to say anymore. Considered one of the greatest films of all time. The best thing I have ever heard to describe this movie is that this was the movie taught the mob how to act and look. Whether this is true or not i doubt, but if it is the question is what did they do before this movie. :)