Actor Bruno Kirby (1949)

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 ...

Sleepers (1996), an American crime drama film, was written, produced and directed by Barry Levinson. It is based on Lorenzo Carcaterra’s novel of the same name. Childhood friends Lorenzo ‘Shakes’ Carcaterra, Tommy Marcano, Michael Sullivan and John Reilly reside in Hell’s Kitchen during the 1960s. Their parish priest Father ‘Bobby’ Carillo, who has had a troubled past himself, attempts to guide them towards making good decisions. While still engaging in pranks and working for local gangster King Benny, the boys take things too far when ...

The Basketball Diaries (1995) is an American biographical crime drama that delves into the detrimental effects of drug addiction on everyday individuals. It marks the feature directorial debut of Scott Kalvert and is based on Jim Carroll’s autobiographical novel of the same name. The film follows high school basketball player Jim Carroll, who struggles with substance abuse and often causes trouble alongside his friends Pedro, Mickey, and Neutron in the bustling city of New York. Along with basketball, Jim also possesses a passion for writing and uses his journal to ...

The American semi-biographical comedy film, Where the Buffalo Roam (1980), follows the rise of author Hunter S. Thompson in the 1970s and his friendship with activist Oscar ‘Zeta’ Acosta. The story begins on Thompson’s Colorado ranch as he frantically works to complete a piece on his former attorney and friend, Carl Lazlo, Esq. A series of flashbacks then detail their wild adventures together. In one instance, Lazlo convinces Thompson to write about a group of San Francisco youth facing harsh prison sentences for marijuana possession. Despite being reminded by his editor Marty Lewis that he only has 19 hours until deadline, Thompson witnesses 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 ...