Here endeth the lesson: Top 10 mob movies

Confession time: I've never watched a single episode of the recently departed series The Sopranos. It's not that I don't like HBO's original programming -- in fact, The Sopranos and Deadwood might be the only two series I ignored. (My all-time favorite: a tie between "Dream On" and "The Larry Sanders Show")

My main qualm was: Haven't we seen all this before? Wasn't three Godfather movies and Goodfellas enough? OK, then how about...

Top 10 Organized Crime Movies of the 80s:

10. So Fine (1981): Ryan O'Neal, Jack Warden. "Hi, I'm Jack Fine and this is my suicidal son, Bobby."

9. The Cotton Club (1984): Richard Gere, Gregory Hines. "You've got about as much style as a bowl of turnips."

8. Johnny Dangerously (1984): Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo. "Dames are put on this earth to weaken us, drain our energy, laugh at us when they see us naked." (Trailer)

7. Hiding Out (1987): Jon Cryer, Annabeth Gish. "I used to be just like you: a short, horny, hopeless dork." (Watch Roy Orbison's "Crying" video)

6. The Ratings Game (1984): Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman. "I didn't make a move on you for four days. If that isn't love, I don't know what is."

5. Married to the Mob (1988): Matthew Modine, Michelle Pfeiffer. "The mob is run by murdering, thieving, lying, cheating psychopaths. We work for the President of the United States of America." (View scene)

4. Midnight Run (1988): Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin. "Why are you so unpopular with the Chicago police department?" (View trailer)

3. The Untouchables (1987): Kevin Costner, Sean Connery. "You just fulfilled the first rule of law enforcement: make sure when your shift is over you go home alive. Here endeth the lesson." (View the baseball scene)

2. Once Upon a Time in America (1984):  Robert De Niro, James Woods. "I haven't had a gun in my hands for many, many years. My eyes aren't what they used to be, even with the glasses. My hands shake. And I wouldn't want to miss." (View trailer)

1. Scarface (1983): Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer. "I always tell the truth. Even when I lie." (View trailer)

Comments

[bassnote]

Midnight Run is on my top ten movies EVER list.
Dennis Farina is hysterical as the mob boss. "I'm gonna stab you through the f***in' heart with a pencil!"

[The Arrows]

Hi Steve,

I'm a big fan of the podcast, but I have to disagree here. Scarface is easily one of the most overrated movies of the '80's. Granted, Pacino does have a memorable performance, and the final scene is amazing. But, you can easily fast-forward through half of the movie and not miss much.

I've never seen Once Upon a Time, so no comment there. But Untouchables at #3? Connery won an Oscar, Costner was still in the great acting phase of his life, and with an Ennico Morricone soundtrack, it can't be beat (the Union Station scene, especially). Also, the scene with Charles Martin Smith as an accountant, losing it on the bridge and wasting a ton of baddies is hilariously classic. And who can forget De Niro easily turning in one of his most underrated roles as Capone?

Anyways, my rant is done. From another 80's baby, keep up the wonderful work on this website.

[Stinky D]

I like how you leave off the Godfather from the list.

At least Johnny Dangerously is on it. Otherwise, you would be a full maroon.

Fargain corksucking bastich.

[Six]

Scarface is one of those movies that forever changes how movies are made/viewed. It's easily at the top of its class in both the crime drama and action film genres. Having Brian DePalma (who was HUGE then) & Al Pacino (an Oscar winner with a long list of accomplishments under his belt) at the helm didn't hurt either. Movies haven't been the same since it came out, because Scarface seriously upped the ante as far as hardcore violence in films go. It was ultra-violent, and was also representative of the changing face of crime and criminals. IMHO, Scarface was a "New Wave" film. No other film has had such a lasting effect on the crime drama, except maybe Cagney's "White Heat". No other film character has been copied/parodied as much, either.

On the day of its release, I saw the midnight showing of Scarface in New York at a Times Square theatre, and when the people would ordinarily be noisy, they were quiet and deadly serious. They were actually listening to/enjoying the dialogue. During the action scenes, people were riveted. Overrated? I think not. Maybe just not to your liking/taste, pal.