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Movies about the mafia and gangsters are one of the brightest and most popular cinematic genres. Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Francis Ford Coppola – the best pictures of these great directors were shot in this genre.
Gangster films are interesting to the audience for many reasons. There is always drama in them, and their heroes are not law-abiding citizens, but mafiosi, who often want to sympathize.
Presenting to the attention of readers best films about mafia and gangsters – a list of the most dramatic and spectacular paintings of this fascinating genre.
10 Black mass
Our list of the best films about the mafia and gangsters opens with a new tape featuring Johnny Depp “Black mass“. This is a crime drama that tells the true story of the mafia Whitey Bulger. In the history of Boston, he is known as one of the most brutal and unscrupulous criminals, who has 19 murders. For a long time, Bulger managed to hide from justice, but then he had to become an FBI informant. The role of the famous criminal was superbly played by Johnny Depp, who managed to very accurately embody the image of Bulger on the screen.
9. Bonnie and Clyde
Crime Drama “Bonnie and Clyde“- on the 9th line in the list of the best films about gangsters and the mafia. When Bonnie Parker, a waitress from Dallas, met young criminal Clyde Barrow, who had already served one term and killed a man, their fate was sealed. Bonnie, in love, became Clyde’s faithful partner in a series of daring robberies of small shops and gas stations. For two years, their gang committed several dozen robberies and killed 9 policemen. Bonnie and Clyde were gunned down by Texas Rangers who ambushed the outlaws.
8. Casino
Crime Drama “Casino“- in 8th place in the list of the best gangster films.
Sam Rothstein is a professional player who earned the nickname “Ace” for his skill. No one better than him can predict the results of sweepstakes and matches. Mafia bosses have entrusted Sam with running a luxury casino in downtown Las Vegas. And they sent Nikki Santoro, a childhood friend of Rothstein, a cruel thug and bandit, to help. Under the skillful leadership of Sam, the casino thrives, the mafia regularly receives huge amounts of money, and the police, courts and city officials are under control. It would seem that nothing foreshadowed the end of Sam’s gambling empire…
7. Gangs of New York
Ranked 7th in the list of the best pictures about the mafia and gangsters, historical drama “Gangs of New York“is one of the best works in the cinema of Leonardo DiCaprio.
middle XIX century, New York. The Five Streets area becomes a battlefield between two city gangs – Native Americans and immigrants. In this fight, the protagonist’s father dies at the hands of Bill “The Butcher” Cutting. After 16 years, he returns to his native place with one goal – to take revenge on Cutting. After an attempt to get close to the Butcher failed and the main character was severely beaten, he decides to rally all the Irish city gangs against the enemy and challenge Cutting.
6. The Untouchables
«The Untouchables“- a crime drama that tells about the confrontation between a special group of FBI agents and the criminal empire of Al Capone, one of the most famous gangsters in the world. This picture is unique in that it brought together brilliant artists: director Brian De Palma, playwright David Mamet, winner of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, composer Ennio Morricone and fashion designer Giorgio Armani. In addition, Hollywood stars of the first magnitude played in the film. For Kevin Costner, the role in the film has become one of the best works in cinema.
According to the plot of the film, Eliot Ness, an agent of the Treasury, gathers an independent team of professionals in order to put an end to the underground empire of a presumptuous mafia. With the light hand of journalists, its participants were nicknamed “The Untouchables”. Their activities cause serious damage to the mafia, and Al Capone’s henchmen threaten to kill the agents.
“The Untouchables” is in 6th place in the list of the best gangster films.
5. Crime novel
In 5th place among the best films about the mafia is the cult picture of Quentin Tarantino “Crime novel».
Gangsters Vincent Vega and Jules Winfield deal with those who owe their boss, and in between they have philosophical conversations. Three stories unfold before the audience: the story of the wife of the boss Jules and Vincent, a boxer hired for a fake match, and a couple of unfortunate robbers. The third story brings together all the characters in the film.
4. The Departed
Oscar winning dramaThe Departed“takes 4th place in the list of the best pictures about gangsters and the mafia. The film tells about the confrontation between former classmates of the police school. One of them, Colin Sullivan, a protégé of mob boss Frank Costello, gives him valuable information. The other, Billy Costigan, is assigned to infiltrate Costello’s entourage and find a mob informer in the police.
3. Once in America
Gangster historical filmOnce in America“takes 3rd place in the list of the best pictures about the mafia.
Several desperate gangsters and bootleggers meet in 1920s New York City neighborhoods. They create a team and begin to turn ingenious scams, simultaneously ruthlessly removing competitors from the road. In a short time they became kings of the underworld. Having sworn allegiance to each other, after many years they will be betrayed by their best friend…
2. Good guys
Crime Drama “Good guys”, based on real events, takes 2nd place in the list of the best films about the mafia and gangsters. The picture was a huge success with the audience and raised the bar for gangster films to a new level.
In the center of the plot of the film is the life story of the American gangster Henry Hill, who worked closely with the Lucchese mafia family. He was involved in one of the biggest robberies in the history of the United States. When fate turns its back on Hill, and he and his family face reprisals for violating the laws of the mafia, he decides to take a desperate step – participation in the witness protection program.
1. Крестный отец
The best picture among films about the mafia is considered to be the crime saga “Крестный отец”, which has long become a classic of cinema. This is the story of the Sicilian Corleone family, a crime boss among other New York mafia families.
Don Vito Corleone is the head of a large family and mafia boss who rules with an iron fist. Returning from the battlefields of World War II, his youngest son Michael does not express a desire to continue the family business. But when an attempt is made on his father, he decides to take revenge on the killers and protect the honor of the family.