davidh's - Top 10 - American Gangster Films List
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Ten years in planning, Sergio Leone's epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' portrays 50 years of riveting underworld history and offers rich roles to a remarkable cast. Robert De Niro and James Woods play lifelong Lower East Side pals whose wary partnership unravels in death and mystery. Strong support comes from 'Tuesday Weld', Joe Pesci, Jennifer Connelly, Elizabeth McGovern and the young actors playing the central characters as ghetto kids. - Director:
- Sergio Leone
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
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Danger. Power. Seduction. Welcome to Las Vegas 1973. Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci star in director Martin Scorsese's riveting look at how blind ambition, white-hot passion and 24-carat greed toppled an empire. In an era of over-the-top glitz, Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (De Niro) is riding high as frontman for the Mob's multi-billion dollar Las Vegas operation. To protect their 'investment', the bosses send in Ace's boyhood pal, hot-headed enforcer Nicky Santoro (Pesci). It's a winning hand: Ace's brain and Nicky's muscle - until sexy wild card Ginger McKenna (Stone) turns up the heat. This gripping, fact-based tale boasts extraordinary performances, a sizzling soundtrack and a dizzying look beneath the glamorous facade, beyond the closed doors and behind the eyes of the men and women whose fortunes - and lives - were made and lost with a roll of the dice. - Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
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The true story of an FBI undercover agent (Johnny Depp) who becomes Donnie Brasco, 'The Jewel Man', to infiltrate one of the mob families. Donnie manoeuvres his way into the confidence of ageing hit man, Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) who trusts Donnie and vouches for him to the mob. But Lefty and Donnie become friends when they should be enemies. As Donnie moves deeper and deeper into the Mafia chain of command, he realises he is not only crossing the line between federal agent and criminal but it also leading his friend Lefty to an almost certain death sentence... - Director:
- Mike Newell
- Cast:
- Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
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Based on the true life best seller 'Wiseguy' by Nicolas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, critics and filmgoers alike declared 'GoodFellas' great. It was named the best film of the '90s by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of film critics, and it earned 6 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. - Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
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The Godfather: Part II (1974)The Godfather: Part 2 / Son of Godfather / The Second Godfather
Al Pacino heads the star cast as Michael Corleone, heir to the criminal empire established by his Mafioso father, the late Don Corleone. The time is mid-1940's: Michael is now in charge of all gambling activities in Nevada, making certain that any and all political or mob enemies are quickly bought off, compromised, or disposed of. Throughout the film, Michael's travels are paralleled with the early experiences of his father, played in flashbacks by Robert DeNiro. - Director:
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast:
- Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
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Armed with the ruthless, streetwise tactics and a strict sense of honour, crime boss Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) rules Harlem's chaotic drug underworld. When outcast cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) sets out to bring down Lucas's multi-million dollar empire, it plunges both men an into a legendary confrontation. - Director:
- Ridley Scott
- Cast:
- Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor
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Brian De Palma's 'The Untouchables' is a must-see masterpiece - a glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago...and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Malone, the cop who teaches Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first. - Director:
- Brian De Palma
- Cast:
- Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
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After years inside, drug lord Frank White (Christopher Walken) is fresh out of jail and back on the streets of New York City. Seeing himself as half Scarface, half Robin Hood, Frank and his enforcers brutally take back control of the city, turf by turf - with starry dreams of using the millions to benefit the community and save a local hospital. Before Frank can fulfil his ruthless lust for power, though, he's got to get past the crooked cops determined to take him down, and the criminal competition that won't bend to his will. - Director:
- Abel Ferrara
- Cast:
- Christopher Walken, Anthony Redman, David Caruso
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In 1970s South Boston, FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI in order to eliminate their common enemy: the Italian mob. 'Black Mass' tells the story of this unholy alliance, which spiralled out of control, allowing Bulger to evade law enforcement while escalating his power to become one of the most notorious gangsters in U.S. history. - Director:
- Scott Cooper
- Cast:
- Johnny Depp, Robert Walsh, Joel Edgerton
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Boardwalk Empire is an American drama series set during the prohibition era and Great Depression in America in the 1920’s. Corrupt lawyers, politicians and businessmen do what they can to keep the supply of black market alcohol coming into the infamous Atlantic City. Starring Steve Buscemi, Kelly MacDonald and a wealth of other talented character actors the show chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a politician with influence over and involvement with the biggest and most dangerous gangsters of the era. - Director:
- Timothy Van Patten
- Cast:
- Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly MacDonald
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