Actor Al Pacino (1940)

Directed by Ridley Scott, an American film House of Gucci (2021) is a biographical crime drama based on Sara Gay Forden’s book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. Set in Italy during the year 1978, it follows Patrizia Reggiani as she works as an office manager for her father’s small trucking firm. At a party, she meets Maurizio Gucci, a law student and heir to 50% of the Gucci fashion house through his father Rodolfo. Patrizia aggressively pursues Maurizio and they fall in love. Despite warnings from Rodolfo ...

Set in 1969 Hollywood, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The story follows Rick Dalton, a former star of the Western show Bounty Law, as he faces the decline of his career. After only landing small roles as TV villains, Dalton’s agent Marvin Schwarz suggests he make Spaghetti Westerns in Italy – an option that Dalton looks down on. His closest companion is Cliff Booth, a war veteran who serves as his stunt double, personal assistant, and driver. Booth lives in a trailer with his pit bull Brandy and struggles to find work due to rumors ...

The film The Irishman (2019) is a Martin Scorsese-directed and produced epic gangster movie, based on Steven Zaillian’s screenplay adapted from the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. It follows the story of Frank Sheeran, an elderly Irish-American WWII veteran living in a nursing home, who reflects on his past as a hitman for the Italian-American Mafia. Sheeran starts off as a delivery truck driver in 1950s Philadelphia and begins selling meat shipments to local gangster ‘Skinny ...

88 Minutes (2007) is an American thriller film directed by Jon Avnet. In 1997, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm provides crucial testimony and expert psychiatric opinion at the trial of suspected serial killer Jon Forster, known as ‘The Seattle Slayer’ to the police. Gramm’s testimony leads to Forster’s conviction for the attempted killing of Janie Cates and the murder of her sister Joanie, who was drugged, hanged upside down and killed in their apartment. As Forster receives a guilty verdict from the jury, he taunts Gramm with the words ‘Tick-tock, Doc’. Nine years later, as ...

Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) is an American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Businessman Reuben Tishkoff takes on a new project, building a hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, against the advice of his friend and former criminal associate Danny Ocean. However, things take a turn for the worse when investor and casino mogul Willy Bank strongarms Reuben into giving up his ownership stake. After suffering a heart attack, Reuben is left bedridden. In an attempt ...

Gigli (2003) is an American rom-com crime movie, written, co-produced and directed by Martin Brest. The plot follows Larry Gigli, a low-ranking member of the Los Angeles mob, who isn’t quite as tough as he pretends to be. His boss, Louis, orders him to kidnap the younger brother of a powerful federal prosecutor – a mentally challenged individual – in order to negotiate Starkman’s (the New York mob boss) release from prison. After some convincing, Gigli manages to persuade the young man, Brian, to go with him by promising a trip to ‘the Baywatch’ – clearly Brian’s favorite ...

Insomnia (2002), a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz, stands out in Nolan’s filmography as the only project he did not also write. It is a remake of the similarly titled 1997 Norwegian film. Set in the small fishing village of Nightmute, Alaska, the story begins with the murder of 17-year-old Kay Connell. Detectives Will Dormer and Hap Eckhart from the LAPD are called in by their old friend and chief of police, Nyback, to assist with the investigation. Meanwhile, Dormer ...

Directed by Oliver Stone, Any Given Sunday (1999) follows the struggles of fictional American football team, the Miami Sharks. The once-dominant team is struggling to secure a spot in the 2001 AFFA playoffs, under the leadership of long-time coach Tony D’Amato. However, tensions arise between D’Amato and young team owner Christina Pagniacci, as well as his expected successor Nick Crozier, who serves as offensive coordinator. In a pivotal game during the thirteenth week of the season, both starting quarterback Jack ‘Cap’ Rooney and backup player Tyler Cherubini are injured and unable to play. In ...

The American supernatural horror film, The Devil’s Advocate (1997), tells the story of Kevin Lomax, a successful defense attorney from Gainesville, Florida. He has built a reputation for never losing a case. During one particularly challenging case defending Lloyd Gettys, who is accused of child molestation, Kevin discovers his client’s guilt. Despite this realization, he continues to mount a fierce defense and ultimately secures a ‘not guilty’ verdict by discrediting the victim through aggressive questioning. This impressive display catches the attention of a New York City law firm, who invites Kevin to assist with jury selection. After ...

Donnie Brasco (1997) is an American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell. Set in 1978 New York City, it follows the story of Lefty Ruggiero, an aging enforcer in the Bonanno crime family, and Joseph D. Pistone, a young FBI agent undercover as jewel thief ‘Donnie Brasco’. When Donnie questions the authenticity of a diamond acquired by Lefty from a strip club owner and takes revenge on his behalf, their partnership begins. Under Lefty’s guidance, Donnie learns about the rules of the Mafia and meets his colleagues in the crew – Sonny Black, Nicky, Paulie, and rival leader Sonny Red. After the ...

Heat (1995) is an American crime film written and directed by Michael Mann. It stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro among an ensemble cast. The movie follows the story of Neil McCauley, a skilled thief operating in Los Angeles. Along with his crew – including Chris Shiherlis, Michael Cheritto, Gilbert Trejo, and new recruit Waingro – they successfully pull off a heist of $1.6 million in bearer bonds from an armored car. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when Waingro impulsively kills one of the guards, forcing ...

Carlito’s Way (1993) is an American crime drama film helmed by Brian De Palma and written by David Koepp. The screenplay is based on the novels Carlito’s Way (1975) and After Hours (1979) written by Judge Edwin Torres. Set in 1975 New York, the story follows Carlito Brigante’s release from prison after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. His close friend and lawyer, Dave Kleinfeld, uses a legal loophole to get him out. Despite his initial plans to leave behind his criminal ways, ...

The American romantic comedy-drama film, Frankie and Johnny (1991), directed by Garry Marshall, tells the story of two individuals facing emotional struggles. One is a waitress named Frankie who attends a baptism in Altoona, Pennsylvania for her godson. Meanwhile, a man named Johnny is freshly released from prison. After returning to her job at the Apollo Cafe in New York City, Frankie’s boss Nick sends her co-worker Helen home early due to dizziness. Later on, Johnny shows up looking for work, and despite his criminal background, Nick gives him a job as a short-order cook. As the day ends, Frankie goes back home ...

The American crime film, The Godfather Part III (1990), was produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Co-written with Mario Puzo, the screenplay follows the story of Michael Corleone who is approaching 60 in 1979. Wracked with guilt over his ruthless rise to power, Michael donates millions to charitable causes. He is also dealing with the aftermath of ordering his brother’s murder. Michael and his ex-wife Kay are divorced, and their children Anthony and Mary reside with Kay. During a reception at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral honoring Michael, which takes ...

Scarface (1983) is an American crime drama film, directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, and starring Al Pacino. The movie is a newer version of the 1932 film with the same title, which was based on a novel published in 1930 by Armitage Trail. In 1980, Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee and former convict, arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift. He’s sent to a refugee camp alongside his closest friend Manny Ribera, as well as their companions Angel and ...

The American biographical crime drama film Dog Day Afternoon (1975), directed by Sidney Lumet, follows Sonny Wortzik’s first-time attempt to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank on August 22, 1972 with his friends Salvatore ‘Sal’ Naturile and Stevie. However, their plan quickly falls apart as Stevie becomes overwhelmed and runs away. Despite arriving after the daily cash pickup, Sonny and his accomplices only find $1,100 in cash. In a desperate move, Sonny takes the bank’s traveler’s checks and sets fire to the register in a trash can. The smoke draws attention from outside, leading to the ...

The American epic crime film, The Godfather Part II (1974), was produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Loosely based on the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola, it serves as both a sequel and a prequel to the 1972 film of the same name. In parallel storylines, one follows Michael Corleone in 1958 as he takes on his role as Don of the Corleone family after surviving an assassination attempt. The other delves into his father Vito’s journey from his childhood ...

The Godfather (1972) is an American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo’s best-selling 1969 novel of the same name. Set in 1945, it tells the story of Vito Corleone, the powerful don of the New York City Corleone family. During his daughter Connie’s wedding to Carlo, Vito receives requests from various guests. At the reception, his son Michael introduces his girlfriend Kay Adams to the family. Johnny Fontane, a popular singer and ...