The American Gangster
by tph890 | created - 12 Apr 2016 | updated - 30 Apr 2016 | PublicThis is a cinematic tour through the history of the American gangster. Watch these films, in this order, in one "sitting"--if you can. It is indeed a marathon viewing, not to be taken lightly. This playlist is 24 hrs long. It is a harrowing journey.
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1. Gangs of New York (2002)
R | 167 min | Crime, Drama
In 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jim Broadbent
Votes: 473,103 | Gross: $77.81M
We begin in the early days, in one of our first cities, and are introduced to some of the original Bosses...or "Chiefs"...
2. The Godfather (1972)
R | 175 min | Crime, Drama
The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton
Votes: 2,013,542 | Gross: $134.97M
...same city, new era...and a new heirarchy...
3. Goodfellas (1990)
R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Votes: 1,257,930 | Gross: $46.84M
...the street level of that same hierarchy...
4. The Godfather Part II (1974)
R | 202 min | Crime, Drama
The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
Votes: 1,364,807 | Gross: $57.30M
We continue with the story (or tragedy) of Michael...
5. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
R | 99 min | Crime, Thriller
When a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn
Votes: 1,088,650 | Gross: $2.83M
Then here's a jolt--a shock to the cerebrum--another form of street gangster, another heirarchy in play--this time on the west coast...
6. The Godfather Part III (1990)
R | 162 min | Crime, Drama
Follows Michael Corleone, now in his 60s, as he seeks to free his family from crime and find a suitable successor to his empire.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia, Talia Shire
Votes: 424,250 | Gross: $66.67M
And now it is time to finish Michael's odyssey.
7. Heat (1995)
R | 170 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A group of high-end professional thieves start to feel the heat from the LAPD when they unknowingly leave a verbal clue at their latest heist.
Director: Michael Mann | Stars: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight
Votes: 719,724 | Gross: $67.44M
Here is a brief respite...a moody moment of calm (relative calm, that is)...a meditation peppered with that mythic culture...a clash of titans...
Gangsters vs. Cops pt. I
8. The Departed (2006)
R | 151 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Votes: 1,422,856 | Gross: $132.38M
Now we have a caper story--soaked in paranoia (which comes with the life)--and a reminder of the dangers of being a "rat"...
Gangsters vs. Cops pt. II
9. There Will Be Blood (2007)
R | 158 min | Drama
A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Votes: 641,394 | Gross: $40.22M
The Epilogue for this playlist.
A return to the beginning.
Reminder of the cyclical nature of things.
And here is where I applaud you. You have earned the right to take a nap, if you so choose.
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