Irreplaceable Crime/Courtroom Thrillers of all time

The best, most finest crime thrillers of all I have seen and that too in Tamil. The film has the best story, quite dramatic with all the settings perfect for a noir feel. Besides, the gripping twist in the end is one of the most unpredictable for those times and now alike. Apt casting and fine dialogues in the hands of the expert director made this film THE perfect crime mystery of all time.

Another perfect crime drama made so beautifully well that almost nothing is dissatisfying. Not to the smallest possible extent. Dial M for Murder is a treat to anyone who is hungry for crime mysteries. You almost get the feel of committing a murder yourself. Nothing can equal the stage-drama feel you get on screen. This is one of those few movies that demonstrate the meaning of "Films with Intelligent Plot".

Another gem in this list. If not for the film in #2, this one would have taken the place. There can no crime mystery thriller more satisfying than "And Then There Were None". Apart from the fact that it is a film based on Agatha Christie's novel, it is also directed in a splendid way. Another example for unpredictable twist ending. You would have never realized that you spent nearly two hours watching the film, until you see the clock. Nor would you lose interest in any part of the film. It would literally glue your eyes to the screen. Even those few comic moments were brought out so well amidst all that seriousness.

The best of courtroom thrillers. And I mean it. The whole of the movie throughout is set in such a spectacular manner that you hardly want to turn away your attention. Even keeping aside that I am a courtroom thriller fanatic, this film would interest almost anyone who do not hate the genre. And this film has such a gripping twist too. The acting of the cast members brought out the twist better, along with the story itself.

First, the common knowledge that this film makes it to #1 in most of the courtroom movies list over the internet, speaks better than anything else. Set in just one room, the director is able to hold your attention for the entire one-and-a-half hours with just pure dialogues. 12 men just keep talking and talking and talking while pulling all of us into what they discuss about. A very realistic jury-room depiction.

One of the best remakes ever. It is not often that a remake ends up really as good as (if not better) than the original. When watching the remake, I got the same feel as I did when i watched the original. All the points I said for the original version holds good and additionally a special congrats for the director who made it so well, even if it is a TV movie.

Sometimes it is true that low-budget filmmakers do a much much better job than certain high-budget films. This film proves it. One of the finest mystery films. Especially the innovative storyline is SPECTACULAR!!! There is nothing better than an unusual story made in a good way, conveying just the best part for the viewer. Just watching the film would tell you what I mean. I do not want to spoil it for the ones who have not watched it yet.

It might be kind of a spoiler to mention a horror movie in crime genre. But, the twist in the end can never be equalized by a crime movie as it has been by this one. Until the twist I almost believed every single scene in the movie and whatever they exchanged during dialogues. I was sure that it is a ghost movie for sure. And at this point I would like to mention about how everyone hails the twist ending Nolan's "The Prestige." I agree it was great. But, this film, given its time and constraints has a similar and equally gripping twist.

Any more would be a spoiler. But the explanations in the end for every single happening that took place previously is given so coherently in the end. Another gem in the list truly.

A films that impressed me just for its Rashomon Effect - the same story narrated differently by different characters. The film has many anecdotes, some repeated by various characters. All of the accounts are so different that the intelligent detective has to read between the lines. Apart from the Rashomon Effect, the film is just an ordinary film. But for the way each character's rendering has been portrayed wins my heart over. A truly unique and unforgettable film .

Another innovative film on the list. It is often hard to come by a film as Pudhiya Paravai. The storyline engages us completely. The first few minutes has a lot of lighthearted comedies and only few serious interactions. But after some time you will see how melodramatic it goes, in one pace to the end. I must point out the double twist in th end. The first twist in itself is very very interesting. The second just takes the breath away. I think the twist ending is the best part of the film. After all of it is over, you will definitely keep thinking about the movie for some time before coming back to reality. Such an engrossing masterpiece of a film.

This film is another low-budget but fantastic horror thriller. The only reason it made it to a crime mystery list was the twist ending. And then there is also a second twist; "tricking-the-trickster"-like stuff. It is a fine thriller drama, good for any afternoon or evening or may be even for a night time movie. It is only a few steps short of a masterpiece. However, the remake of this movie is no good. I strongly suggest against watching the remake.

The remake has spoilt the very serious and horrific setting offered by the original. The black-and-white of the 1959 version contributes much to the more dark ambiance. The older one simply goes for the kill. The remake, in my opinion, only beats around the bush.

Another unique film by Hitchcock. Just the very concept interests me. Witnessing or investigating a murder is one thing. But guessing a murder is a horse of a different colour. It starts off like a simple drama film with romance aspects. It is only halfway through you will see the crime part taking shape. Before you know it you will find yourself in the same shoes as the characters themselves. I loved it until the end (even the drama aspects). The acting of the cast members was very natural too.

Perhaps, not the mainstream crime mystery type. But a movie not to be overlooked. I know many fans out there are going to only hail Peter Sellers rendering of Jacques Clouseau as the best, the true or the only version. But I feel the older versions are somewhat overrated and more importantly I find the new series is less appreciated.

About the film in this list, it makes it for the one of the most unpredictable twists in the end. I think even Einstein would fail to guess the twist. And it is too exciting in the end to know that it was actually................. I will not say it for those who did not watch yet. I never expected to a comedy film to have a serious twist, in the first place. And it has all the other good elements of a crime movie as well.

In short, a feast for the mind.

Yes, the first part of the series as well. It stole my heart just for the first few scenes. Steve Martin's exemplary performance - let it be in the one hand. On the other, you are also made curious as to who did the killing and whole stole the diamond. A serious mystery actually. And, even after all the goof-ups Clouseau actually proves himself hero of the day, which is absent even in the old and so-highly-appraised Sellers' series.

One of the best of the best of the best films in its own style. If I have the talk about the drama style, the intelligence in plot or even the film's pace I can keep talking the whole day. But let me stick to business. The courtroom scenes are an integral part of the movie. Jeevan at his best performance (and his only good performance), is applause worthy. All of the cast members have done great for that matter. It is simply the best courtroom movie in Tamil.

All the points I listed for the 2007 remake holds good. In place of Jeevan's acting I must say "hats off" to Gemini Ganesan, the man who is so aptly cast. And the great KB of course, the magic man who is known for his great movies. Plus, the same gripping storyline, with Gemini's disguises has been the best part of the film. With comedies sprinkled here and there, the film is simply gets me interested whenever I watch it.

I am talking about the sequels here. Only the first part. This movie is just the perfect whodunit, in terms of the setting and the sort of characters. Anyone who watched this movie would have known the "Oh! Please tell me who's the murderer?" feeling you get. The feeling is very similar to what you get in "And Then There Were None". A not-to-miss title in this genre. Need I say more?

Needs no reasoning why this movie is irreplaceable. You see it in popular culture, in countless movie lists, multiple references in other movies and there are many remakes/re-imaginations (including the Tamil movie Muran). The gripping straightforward plot of strangers switching murders is not the only thing that grabs your attention. It is also about the personalities of both of them - one is the timid nice guy and the other is kind of a bully. Interesting, isn't it? Go see it if you haven't already...

Yet another Hitchcock film that made it to the list. The movie starts off like a normal movie, but after the lady actually vanishes, you would start boggling your mind about whether or not she was real. And you really cannot make up your mind until the protagonists start finding clues (which would take up about half of the movie). Of course, there is getting the bad guys in the end. But this is one of those one-of-a-kind movies you don't want to miss.

The major reason this film appears here is the twist in the end. The film is not like a regular Holmes story and besides alters many of the usual elements of the series. I almost believed (and even found weird) that the film has fantasy elements until the end.

Very similar to Yaar Nee, the film explains everything in the end. I like it when films give truly brainy explanations for those seemingly incomprehensible and loose parts. Additionally, the costume drama setting is so very good that it is worth a mention.

UPDATE: Even the sequel is equally good. Though, it is not as good as finding a place in this list, it is a sequel that lived up to its previous part.

Unlike many other courtroom thrillers, this one is a fantasy court. You get to sue the Devil for how she deceived you but win in a close battle. Jeniffer Love Hewitt just is the best part of the film for both her looks and her acting performance plus the storyline is just so amazing. I felt like the hero guy himself. I was very excited after watching this film.

Perhaps, no the greatest story-wise but had some good moments fit for a courtroom drama. The focus was more on dealing-with-devil rather than crime/mystery/courtroom. The film nevertheless maintained the grim and dramatic pace till the end. The best part is when Keanu Reeves shoots himself in the end and rewinds all of it. Overall, not a bad movie.

A film that makes it purely for being more realistic with courtroom proceedings. The film had no stereotypical court scenes that usually fill up a movie. Instead, most scenes were filled full of zeal from both lawyers, especially the way they objected each other. The judge was at his best at deciding to allow or disallow an objection. The "panties" scene was the best of all. Finally, the ending was also partly good with the mention of 'poetic justice'.