Opinion: The Gangster Film

[One-Way]

I would like to know your opinion of gangster films. To you, what's the difference between The Godfather and Goodfellas? Scarface and Carlito's Way? Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs? What about older gangsters, such as the original Scarface, or the upcoming Johnny Depp film Public Enemies?

Are modern films such as Pulp Fiction, our modern portrayal of gangsters? Is there a difference? Can modern gangsters (Pulp Fiction) coexist with the classic type (The Godfather)? Is there a difference amongst them?

Are they all gangsters? What's the overall difference of each different type of gangster? What do you associate "mafia" with?

In your opinion, what's the perfect gangster film? You can state the title of a film or your opinion of what the perfect gangster film should contain? A great "mafia" story associated with a great gangster ensamble cast?

Share.

[hrai]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

I would like to know your opinion of gangster films. To you, what's the difference between The Godfather and Goodfellas? Scarface and Carlito's Way? Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs? What about older gangsters, such as the original Scarface, or the upcoming Johnny Depp film Public Enemies?

Are modern films such as Pulp Fiction, our modern portrayal of gangsters? Is there a difference? Can modern gangsters (Pulp Fiction) coexist with the classic type (The Godfather)? Is there a difference amongst them?

Are they all gangsters? What's the overall difference of each different type of gangster? What do you associate "mafia" with?

In your opinion, what's the perfect gangster film? You can state the title of a film or your opinion of what the perfect gangster film should contain? A great "mafia" story associated with a great gangster ensamble cast?

Share.

Not being a great film critic and viewing most for the simple pleasure of film I'll have a go at "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas"

Godfather : Portrays a near mystical vision of the gangster/robin hood character who's nearly forced into crime through circumstances. Once in crime however he intends to be the "Best". Ruthless in pursuit of money & power, morals are kept at a high standard, in a xxxx-eyed view of morals anyways. The execution of the brother-in-law highlights the low position real family takes in relation to the mob.
A great film, the trilogy is a must for any collection, but very moralistic in portraying an immoral group.

Goodfellas : Another great movie, however showing the complete opposite to Godfather. Concentrating on the lower side of mob-life, characters on the periphery hoping to be "made". Therefore this movie dispenses with the niceties and high morals of GF and shows fairly graphic gratuitous violence. Violence against all and sundry too, no robin hood here. Family has no meaning, the wannabe made men have no status and all are dispensible.
A great film, but the more times I see it the harder it becomes to watch.

The Godfather, sepia images and misty lens shows a near legendary vision whilst Goodfellas in stark contrast, full on violence, banality and language reveals the dark underbelly of the Mob.

Perfect gangster movie ? The Godfather trilogy has to be there but maybe for me "Casino", no, The Godfather. De Niro makes Casino but the overall powerful cast of GF do it.

[One-Way]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

Nice execution to your answer. May I ask why Goodfellas becomes harder to watch after multiple viewings?

[hrai]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

Nice execution to your answer. May I ask why Goodfellas becomes harder to watch after multiple viewings?

I watch Goodfellas at any opportunity as De Niro is an acting hero of mine, but I tend to get the feeling of near voyeurism as regards the violence particularly the Pesci role. Would the film be the same without that level of violence and/or threat of violence? The casual use of physical violence and the reaction of the main characters to it? Probably not.
The Godfather gives a totally different viewing experience whilst dealing with the same subject and is truly a classic and in my DVD collection but Goodfellas would never be. (one of the very few De Niro vehicles which isn't).

[One-Way]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

I understand.

Goodfellas, in my opinion, is one of the greatest gangster pictures of all time. I would even go as far as saying it's one of the best American films. The Godfather, as you said, deals with the mob on another level. Goodfellas explores up-and-coming gangsters through their struggles. It beautifully shows the rise and fall of a gangster, and to do so in one film, is magnificent.

When I was younger, I would constantly watch Scarface, Carlito's Way and Goodfellas. I had heard these were the best gangster films, and I would always explore them, getting something different from each viewing. I never understood why I had such an attachement and personal liking to Goodfellas. I would claim it was because of the fast paced, brilliant performances by the ensamble cast as well as the rise and fall motif. I always felt Scarface was wildly overrated and truly admire Howard Hawks' 1932 film much more.

I didn't come across The Godfather until much later and I'm very glad. It's not a film to watch as a child, not because it's violent, but because it takes time to appreciate. Gordon Willis and Francis Ford Coppola truly made a masterpiece through their imagery, and the entire dynamic of the film is powerful.

In my opinion, the gangster genre is divided into two: one that depicts the "family" organizations such as The Godfather, and the other that shows younger gangsters working their way up, doing anything by any means. I think The Godfather is the best out of the first category, while Goodfellas holds its own in the latter. I don't think they can be compared; I would rather watch Goodfellas on any given day than The Godfather, but I'm not sure if I like it more, I simply can't compare.

[hrai]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

I understand.

Goodfellas, in my opinion, is one of the greatest gangster pictures of all time. I would even go as far as saying it's one of the best American films. The Godfather, as you said, deals with the mob on another level. Goodfellas explores up-and-coming gangsters through their struggles. It beautifully shows the rise and fall of a gangster, and to do so in one film, is magnificent.

When I was younger, I would constantly watch Scarface, Carlito's Way and Goodfellas. I had heard these were the best gangster films, and I would always explore them, getting something different from each viewing. I never understood why I had such an attachement and personal liking to Goodfellas. I would claim it was because of the fast paced, brilliant performances by the ensamble cast as well as the rise and fall motif. I always felt Scarface was wildly overrated and truly admire Howard Hawks' 1932 film much more.

I didn't come across The Godfather until much later and I'm very glad. It's not a film to watch as a child, not because it's violent, but because it takes time to appreciate. Gordon Willis and Francis Ford Coppola truly made a masterpiece through their imagery, and the entire dynamic of the film is powerful.

In my opinion, the gangster genre is divided into two: one that depicts the "family" organizations such as The Godfather, and the other that shows younger gangsters working their way up, doing anything by any means. I think The Godfather is the best out of the first category, while Goodfellas holds its own in the latter. I don't think they can be compared; I would rather watch Goodfellas on any given day than The Godfather, but I'm not sure if I like it more, I simply can't compare.

One-Way, we're on the same songsheet.
Couldn't put it better and about Scarface, yeah what an overrrated film, not Pacino's best hour and the final climatic scenes are a complete pastiche.
Movies such as Reservoir Dogs, Heat etc. are more "Cops & Robbers" not dealing with The Mob, IMHO.

[One-Way]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

Movies such as Reservoir Dogs, Heat etc. are more "Cops & Robbers" not dealing with The Mob, IMHO.

I suppose The Departed falls under this category as well. Either way, they're still under the umbrella of gangster pictures, even if you can't directly compare them to the classics.

Do any films come to mind, in this specific genre, that you haven't yet seen?

[hrai]

Re: Opinion: The Gangster Film

I suppose The Departed falls under this category as well. Either way, they're still under the umbrella of gangster pictures, even if you can't directly compare them to the classics.

Do any films come to mind, in this specific genre, that you haven't yet seen?

Probably more than would fill a page or two!
Let me ponder on films not seen but should be seen for a while