Actor Robert De Niro (1943)

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 ...

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 ...

Casino (1995) is an epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on Nicholas Pileggi’s nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. In the movie, sports handicapper and Mafia associate Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein is enlisted by the Chicago Outfit to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas alongside frontman Philip Green. With Sam at the helm, the casino sees a significant increase in profit, thanks in part to some unaccounted-for cash skimmed from the count room and delivered to the Midwest Mafia bosses. To ensure protection for Sam, the ...

The film This Boy’s Life (1993) follows the story of a young boy named Tobias ‘Toby’ Wolff. In the 1950s, Toby and his mother Caroline are constantly on the move, but she desires to find stability for her son. They eventually settle in Seattle, where Caroline meets a man named Dwight Hansen who appears to be the perfect match. However, as Caroline is briefly away from home, Dwight’s true nature is exposed as he becomes emotionally, verbally, and physically abusive towards Toby. The marriage between Caroline and Toby progresses, and they settle down in Dwight’s home in Concrete, a small town near the north Cascades Mountains. Despite ...

Backdraft (1991) is an American action thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. The story follows two brothers in the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 17 unit. Lt. Stephen ‘Bull’ McCaffrey, the elder brother, is a seasoned firefighter while Brian has previously struggled to live up to his brother’s legacy. After trying his hand at multiple careers, Brian returns to firefighting, although Stephen has reservations about his abilities. In 1971, Brian witnessed the death of their father Captain Dennis McCaffrey during a call, ...

Cape Fear (1991), an American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on the 1962 film and 1957 novel of the same name. In 1977, Max Cady was sentenced to 14 years in prison. His attorney Sam Bowden was horrified by Cady’s crimes and concealed evidence that may have lessened his sentence or won his acquittal. Believing Cady, who was illiterate during the trial, remained unaware of his inadequate defense, Bowden was taken aback when he discovered that Cady is an intelligent and determined psychopath. While behind bars, Cady taught himself to read and uncovered the hidden evidence. He also ...

Goodfellas (1990) is a biographical crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. Set in Brooklyn during the mid-1950s, the film follows Henry Hill as he becomes infatuated with the Mafia lifestyle in his Italian-American neighborhood. Working under caporegime Paulie Cicero and alongside his fellow delinquents Jimmy ‘the Gent’ Conway and Tommy DeVito, Henry starts off as a fence for Jimmy and gradually progresses to more serious crimes. The trio spends their evenings at the Copacabana nightclub, indulging in their glamorous lifestyle surrounded by women. Despite initial concerns about Henry’s criminal ...

Angel Heart (1987), an American neo-noir psychological horror film, is based on William Hjortsberg’s 1978 novel Falling Angel. In the movie, private investigator Harry Angel receives a job offer from a man called Louis Cyphre to locate John Liebling, also known as Johnny Favorite, a singer who suffered neurological damage during World War II. This injury has affected Favorite’s ability to fulfill his contract with Cyphre, which involved some form of collateral. Believing that a private hospital where Favorite was receiving psychiatric treatment is hiding something, Cyphre asks Harry for help. After ...

The American film, The Untouchables (1987), was directed by Brian De Palma, produced by Art Linson, and written by David Mamet. It is set in Chicago during Prohibition, where notorious gangster Al Capone controls the illegal liquor industry. Bureau of Prohibition agent Eliot Ness is assigned to stop Capone’s illegal activities. His first attempt at a raid is unsuccessful due to corrupt police officers tipping off Capone. However, he meets veteran officer James Malone, who opposes corruption and offers to assist Ness. ...

The Mission (1986) is a British historical drama directed by Roland Joffé and written by Robert Bolt. It follows the journey of Jesuit priest Father Gabriel as he travels to the eastern Paraguayan jungle in the 1750s to convert the native Guaraní people to Christianity. While attempting to make contact with them, another priest is tragically thrown off Iguazu Falls. Father Gabriel then ventures to the falls himself, playing his oboe in hopes of reaching out to the Guaraní. However, one of the natives breaks his instrument in half. Despite this, Father Gabriel remains ...

Once Upon a Time in America (1984) is an epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone. In 1933, three thugs scour the city for a man known as ‘Noodles’ to extract information from him through violent means. They eventually end up at a wayang theater, where the owners lead them to a secret opium den within the establishment and warn Noodles of their presence. However, Noodles is not bothered by their threats as he is under the influence of drugs and reading a newspaper detailing the deaths of bootleggers Patrick Goldberg, Philip Stein and Maximilian Bercovicz. He remembers ...

The King of Comedy (1982) is an American satirical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese. It follows the story of Rupert Pupkin, a delusional aspiring stand-up comedian. His belief that he is on the cusp of fame and success comes after he meets successful comedian and talk-show host Jerry Langford. Despite repeated rejection from Langford and his staff, particularly Cathy Long, Rupert persists in attempting to secure a spot on the show. Along the way, he indulges in elaborate fantasies involving himself and Langford as close colleagues. In an attempt to impress, Rupert brings a date named Rita along when he ...

Raging Bull (1980), a biographical sports drama directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on the 1970 memoir Raging Bull: My Story by former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta. As a young and promising boxer in 1941, Jake experiences his first defeat against Jimmy Reeves, prompting his brother Joey to discuss a potential shot at the middleweight title through their Mafia connection Salvy Batts. Despite repeated offers, Jake refuses the Mafia’s assistance and remains determined to win the championship on his own terms. Later on, he meets Vickie, a ...

The American epic war drama film, The Deer Hunter (1978), was co-written and directed by Michael Cimino. Set in late 1968 in a tight-knit Slavic American community in Western Pennsylvania, it follows the story of three friends: Mike Vronsky, Steven Pushkov, and Nikanor ‘Nick’ Chevotarevich. The trio works at a steel mill and often goes hunting with their co-workers – Stanley (‘Stan’), Peter ‘Axel’ Axelrod, and John Welsh. As they prepare to leave for military service in Vietnam, Steven is engaged to Angela Ludhjduravic who has been secretly impregnated by another man. Meanwhile, ...

The film New York, New York (1977), directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Earl Mac Rauch and Mardik Martin, features a lively celebration in a NYC nightclub on V-J Day. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is supplying the music as smooth-talking saxophonist Jimmy Doyle meets USO singer Francine Evans. Despite Jimmy’s persistence, Francine remains uninterested in him. However, their paths cross again the next morning when they share a cab to an audition. A disagreement with the club owner threatens to ruin the audition, ...

The American neo-noir psychological vigilante film Taxi Driver (1976) follows Travis Bickle, a chronic insomniac and lonely man in New York City. To cope, he takes a job as a night shift taxi driver and frequents adult movie theaters while keeping a diary filled with aphorisms. However, he becomes disillusioned with the city’s crime and urban decay, yearning to rid ‘the scum off the streets’. Along the way, Travis becomes infatuated with Betsy, who works as a campaign volunteer for Senator Charles Palantine’s presidential bid. After visiting her at the campaign office and asking her out for coffee, she agrees and confesses to feeling a special ...

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 ...

Mean Streets (1973), an American crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, follows the story of Charlie Cappa, a young Italian-American living in Little Italy, New York City. Charlie is constantly weighed down by his sense of responsibility towards his reckless friend John ‘Johnny Boy’ Civello. Johnny is a small-time gambler who refuses to work and is deeply in debt to several loan sharks. Throughout the film, Charlie struggles with balancing his Catholic beliefs and his involvement in the Mafia at the request of his powerful uncle Giovanni. Adding to this turmoil is the fact that Charlie is having a ...

Hi, Mom! (1970) is an American black comedy movie written and directed by Brian De Palma. It is also one of Robert De Niro’s early films. Jon Rubin, a veteran who has recently returned from Vietnam and aspires to be a filmmaker, is approached by producer Joe Banner to create an erotic film. Unfortunately, the camera tilts during filming which results in Banner being dissatisfied with the finished product and withdrawing his offer. As a result, Rubin decides to join an experimental acting troupe led by another one of his neighbors. The troupe puts on a production ...

Greetings (1968), an American black comedy film co-written and directed by Brian De Palma. This satirical piece follows the story of three friends: Paul, Lloyd, and Jon. Paul is a shy man looking for love, while Lloyd is a conspiracy enthusiast and Jon dreams of becoming a filmmaker. The movie cleverly mocks topics such as free love, the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam, and amateur filmmaking.