Crime: 145

Pride and Glory (2008), directed by Gavin O’Connor, is an American crime drama that follows the Tierney family. Patriarch Francis Tierney Sr., who serves as Assistant Chief of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), is joined by his wife Maureen, son Francis Jr. and daughter-in-law Abby, along with their three kids Caitlin, Francis III, and Bailey. The family also includes daughter Megan and her husband Jimmy Egan, along with their two children Shannon and Matthew. The 31st Precinct is in good hands with Deputy Inspector Franny at the helm, while his brother Ray works in the Missing Persons Squad after ...

American Gangster (2007), a biographical crime film, was directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. Set in 1968, it follows the story of Frank Lucas, who worked as the right-hand man for Ellsworth ‘Bumpy’ Johnson, a Harlem mob boss. After Johnson’s death from a heart attack, Frank delves into the heroin trade by sourcing it directly from Thailand and smuggling it into the United States through returning Vietnam War soldiers. He markets his product under the name ‘Blue Magic’, which quickly gains popularity due to ...

An American drama film, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), is based on a memoir written by Dito Montiel. The story follows Dito’s youth in Astoria, New York during the 1980s. In present day (2005), we find Dito living in Los Angeles and working as a successful writer. Upon the urging of his mother, Flori, and friend, Nerf, he returns to his childhood home in Astoria when his father falls ill. The movie shifts between present day and flashbacks of Dito’s memories from the summer of 1986. During this time, Dito meets up with Nerf in a parked car to talk without interruption, since it wasn’t ...

The American crime thriller film, The Departed (2006), was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, and also draws inspiration from the Boston Winter Hill Gang. In 1980s Boston, Irish Mob leader Frank Costello takes a liking to a young Colin Sullivan. After many years, Sullivan becomes a spy for the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and joins their Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Meanwhile, another recruit at the police academy named Billy Costigan is asked by Captain Queenan and ...

Harsh Times (2005) is an American action crime film written and directed by David Ayer in his directorial debut. The film follows former U.S. Army Ranger and GWOT veteran, Jim Davis, who struggles with PTSD. Determined to marry his Mexican girlfriend, Marta, and start a new life together in the United States, Jim returns to Los Angeles, California. There he reunites with his best friend Mike Alonzo and Mike’s girlfriend Sylvia – a young attorney who urges Jim to help Mike hand out resumes as he recently lost his job due to outsourcing. Despite Jim getting denied for a position at the LAPD because of his ...

Green Street Hooligans (2005) is a British crime drama directed by Lexi Alexander, featuring Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam. The story follows Matt Buckner, an American student expelled from Harvard for drug possession. Despite the drugs belonging to his roommate Jeremy, who comes from a prominent family, Matt remains silent and takes $10,000 as payment for taking the blame. With the money, he travels to London to visit his sister Shannon, her husband Steve, and their son Ben. While there, Matt meets Pete, Steve’s ...

Layer Cake (2004), a British crime film, marked the directorial debut of Matthew Vaughn. The screenplay was adapted by J. J. Connolly from his novel of the same name. The story follows XXXX (an unidentified character), a London cocaine dealer known for his aversion to violence and business-like approach. His trusted colleagues include Morty, his enforcer and partner, and Gene, an Irish gangster who maintains a relationship with mob boss Jimmy Price. Despite his plans to retire from the criminal world, XXXX is summoned by Jimmy for a lunch meeting where he is given two ...

The biographical crime film, Veronica Guerin (2003), directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Cate Blanchett in the titular role, focuses on the intrusion of the illegal drug trade into the lives of working class individuals and their children. Determined to uncover those responsible, Guerin conducts interviews with young addicts who shoot up in public or empty buildings within their housing communities. Through her investigation, she uncovers key suppliers and meets John Traynor, a man with insider knowledge of the criminal world. While he agrees to assist her to a ...

The film Monster (2003), written and directed by Patty Jenkins in her debut as a feature director, follows the story of Aileen Wuornos, a street prostitute who moves from Michigan to Florida in 1989. On the brink of ending her own life, Aileen meets Selby Wall in a gay bar. Despite Aileen’s initial hostility and declaration that she is not gay, the two women strike up a conversation over beers. Selby quickly takes a liking to Aileen, admiring her protective nature. She invites Aileen to spend the night with her at the house where she is staying temporarily (having been kicked out by her parents after being accused ...

Created by Gary Scott Thompson, Las Vegas (2003–2008) is an American comedy-drama that aired on NBC from 2003 to 2008 for a total of five seasons. The show follows the team at the Montecito, a fictional hotel and casino located on the famous Las Vegas Strip. As they navigate their roles within the establishment, they encounter various challenges such as security concerns, restaurant management, and valet parking. Starring James Caan in his first lead role on television, the show also featured Thomason until she left after season two and Caan and

The Shield (2002–2008), an acclaimed American crime drama television series starring Michael Chiklis, premiered on FX in the United States on March 12, 2002. It ended its successful seven-season run on November 25, 2008. Based loosely on the Rampart Division police scandal, the show’s Strike Team quickly gained recognition for its depiction of corrupt officers. Created by Shawn Ryan for Fox Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television, The Shield has been praised as one of the greatest TV series of all time. In fact, it won both a Golden Globe Award and ...

Catch Me If You Can (2002) is an American biographical crime comedy-drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. In 1969, FBI agent Carl Hanratty travels to Marseille, France to retrieve a prisoner named Frank Abagnale Jr., who has become ill due to the prison’s poor conditions. Six years prior, Frank lived with his parents Frank Sr. and Paula in New Rochelle, New York. Growing up, he learned various cons from his father but their family eventually had to downsize due to his father’s tax issues with the IRS. During this time, Frank discovers that his mother is having an affair with Jack Barnes, a ...

Gangs of New York (2002) is an American historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on Herbert Asbury’s book, The Gangs of New York. Set in the slum of Five Points in 1846, the story follows two rival gangs. The Anglo-Protestant Confederation of American Natives, led by William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting, and the Irish Catholic Dead Rabbits, led by ‘Priest’ Vallon, engage in their final battle for control of the territory. After Bill kills Vallon and declares the Dead Rabbits outlaws, Vallon’s young son witnesses it all and is sent to an orphanage on Blackwell’s ...

Road to Perdition (2002) is an American crime drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by David Self. It is based on the first volume of the graphic novel series, also titled Road to Perdition, by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner. The story takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression. The main character, Michael Sullivan Sr., was taken in and raised by Irish Mob leader John Rooney in Rock Island, Illinois. Despite being feared as an enforcer for ...

Blow (2001) is an American biographical crime drama film directed by Ted Demme, centered around an American cocaine kingpin and his global network. George Jung, alongside his parents Fred and Ermine, reside in Weymouth, Massachusetts. At the age of 10, Fred declares bankruptcy and attempts to show George the importance of values beyond money. As an adult in the late 1960s, George moves to Los Angeles with his close friend ‘Tuna’, where they meet Barbara – a flight attendant who introduces them to Derek Foreal, a marijuana dealer. With Derek’s assistance, George and Tuna amass a substantial amount ...

The Yards (2000), a film directed and written by James Gray and Matt Reeves respectively, follows Leo Handler as he celebrates his release from prison at his mother Val’s house in Queens, New York. At the surprise party, Leo reconnects with Willie Gutierrez, who thanks him for taking the fall for their group of friends. In need of employment to support his mother’s medical condition, Leo considers working for Erica Soltz’s stepfather, Frank Olchin, at the Electric Rail Corporation in Maspeth. During a meeting with Frank the next day, he offers to fund ...

Boiler Room (2000) is an American crime drama film written and directed by Ben Younger. In the late 90s, Seth Davis, a 19-year-old Queens College dropout, runs an unlicensed casino in his home near campus, catering to fellow students. Despite his successful career, he is viewed as a disappointment by his father Marty, a New York City federal judge. One evening, Seth’s cousin Adam brings wealthy associate Greg Weinstein to the casino to play blackjack. Impressed by Seth’s skills, Greg offers him a job at J.T. Marlin, a brokerage firm located off the Long Island Expressway with the promise of getting rich ...

Get Carter (2000) is an American action thriller film directed by Stephen Kay and written by David McKenna. Jack Carter, a mob enforcer living in Las Vegas, returns to Seattle upon hearing of his brother Ritchie’s death in a drunk driving accident. His colleague Con McCarty covers for him with their boss Fletcher – whose girlfriend Audrey is involved with Jack. At the funeral, Jack meets his niece Doreen and Ritchie’s friend and coworker Eddie. They both share that Ritchie rarely drank and wouldn’t have driven under the influence; Eddie also assures him ...

‘R Xmas (2001) is an American crime film directed by Abel Ferrara. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. The movie opens with the following disclaimer: ‘In December of 1993 the Honorable David Dinkins was completing his first and only term as Mayor of New York’. An unnamed Latin-American married couple outwardly live a lavish lifestyle – sending their daughter to an elite private school, residing in a high-rise building with doormen. However, their source of income involves commuting to a dreary apartment in Flushing where they package and sell heroin ...

Snatch (2000), a film by Guy Ritchie, follows a group of robbers donning the guise of Orthodox Jews in the London underworld. In Antwerp, they successfully swipe an 86-carat diamond and smaller gems. To sell the loot on behalf of Cousin Avi, a New York jeweler with mob connections, gang leader Franky Four-Fingers heads to see diamond dealer Doug The Head in London. During his escape, one of his comrades advises him to obtain a weapon from arms dealer and former KGB agent Boris The Blade. Franky then calls Boris, who happens to be his brother, and instructs him to steal the diamond before he can deliver it to ...