Crime Movie Primer

I decided to go with the crime genre for the final genre primer this month. Crime films originated in the drama genre, but have their own unique style, which I felt deserved its own primer. The crime drama is unique in that it features films where the protagonist is typically going against the law and would be considered a villain in most other films. This genre features some of the great legacy actors such as Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, and many others. With all of that said, here is the crime movie primer.

1. High and Low (1963)

This is a highly influential film from Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa has already been a heavy influence on films like Star Wars and The Magnificent Seven, but this film brings his influence to the crime genre. This film is largely viewed as the invention of the modern-day police procedural, inspiring films like Se7en or the show Law and Order. The film seamlessly blends the moral dilemma of the executive with the tension of the police procedural. The ideas of rich vs poor have also inspired many other movies, such as The Batman and Parasite. This movie also helped establish the slow-burning crime film that can be seen in the likes of Zodiac or Memories of Murder.

2. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is easily the gold standard of the crime genre. This is one of the most iconic films of all time, from its often-quoted lines to the performance by Marlon Brando, which is still being imitated to this day. This film set a new standard for how crime families were to be represented in film. The movie is groundbreaking for its modernization of the gangster/crime genre, humanizing the characters in the Italian American culture instead of the more stereotypical gangsters seen up to this point. The movie launched the careers of Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino while cementing Marlon Brando as one of the greatest actors of all time. It is also widely regarded as a masterpiece and is the second-highest rated film on IMDB.

3. Scarface (1983)

Where The Godfather established Al Pacino as a great actor, Scarface is what cemented him as a pop culture icon. Everyone recognizes his scene where he blows his door with "Say Hello to my little friend" as one of the most quoted movie lines ever. The film's visual aesthetic has also been hugely influential, with its legacy still being felt in music videos, fashion, other films, and video games. The movie is also seen as an embodiment of its era with its bright neon-lit style and a synth-heavy score. The film is also groundbreaking for its portrayal of the American Dream gone wrong, where so many films up to this point were about people achieving their dreams.

4. Goodfellas (1990)

Goodfellas is the film that revitalized the gangster genre. It introduced a new archetype with the talkative gangster and established a template for crime dramas after it, such as The Sopranos. The gangster/crime drama was pretty quiet prior to this film, but Goodfellas brought it back to cultural prominence. Goodfellas also created a new highlight to Martin Scorsese's career, causing him to forever be known as the gangster movie guy. The film also breaks away from the traditional message that crime doesn't pay and depicts the highs and excitement of the crime genre. The film also established stars Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci as staples of the gangster subgenre.

5. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Thelma and Louise brought new life to the on-the-run crime movie. This movie is groundbreaking as it brought a woman-led story to a typically male-dominated genre. The movie helps challenge the traditional roles for women in cinema. The movie also helps confront prominent societal issues such as male oppression and the rejection of a broken system. The movie also established the characters as not just simple criminals as they are on the run due to self-defense. Thelma and Louise also helped open the door for many other women-led films in Hollywood, as it proved that a movie starring and written by women could be a box office hit.

6. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Reservoir Dogs is the film that brought Quentin Tarantino to the limelight as a mainstay of the crime genre with his distinct style. Reservoir Dogs is one of the main movies that popularized non-linear storytelling. The film was groundbreaking for its infusion of soundtracks and pop culture into the crime genre. Reservoir Dogs was also groundbreaking for the independent cinema industry as it proved that a compelling story could be told without a big studio budget. The movie also helped inspire other indie filmmakers with limited budgets to make their mark on cinema and also led to a generation of pop culture-infused crime films.

7. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Where Reservoir Dogs was the breakout film for Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is what cemented him in Pulp Culture and as a staple of the crime genre. Also like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction helped popularize nonlinear storytelling while also introducing the idea of chapters that build on each other. The movie was also groundbreaking for subverting the typical crime tropes and creating a fresh and unpredictable take on the genre. Tarantino's writing in the film also brought a new style of filmmaking with casual dialogue that adds to the authenticity of the world. Pulp Fiction was also the breakout role for Samuel L Jackson, who would go on to become an icon in Hollywood. The movie also helped open doors for the independent film community and established new styles of storytelling outside of the traditional school paths.

8. Heat (1995)

Heat is groundbreaking for its realistic portrayal of the crime drama. The film brings an almost documentary style approach to making the film, with director Michael Mann doing a ton of research and interviews with real-life criminals and police, bringing an unparalleled amount of realism to the genre. The famous bank shootout scene is praised for its technical precision and discipline, and sets itself apart from typical Hollywood action, with the scene being so compelling that it was cited as an inspiration for real-life criminals. The film has also become a blueprint for modern crime films and is cited by other filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan for being a direct inspiration for their films.

9. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Ocean's Eleven helped popularize the heist movie subgenre. There was an original film from the 60s with Frank Sinatra, but the 2001 is by far the more culturally prevalent. The movie revitalized the heist genre, bringing a slick, more lighthearted tone and a likable cast. The movie brings a bit of throwback to classic crime films with an emphasis on elegance and charisma over gritty realism. The movie also has a stacked cast with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts. The movie also created a blueprint for movies with a team of specialists that has been widely used in other films. The movie is also seen as a masterclass in clever plotting with intricate misdirection and a satisfying payoff, which can be seen used in films like Now You See Me and Fast Five.

10. The Departed (2006)

The Departed is Martin Scorsese's more modern take on the crime genre. The movie is groundbreaking for its grey lines between the good guys and bad guys, bringing a twist to the genre where the police are just as ruthless as the mob. The movie also features major messaging about corruption in the system. The film is viewed by many as a love letter to classic gangster films, while bringing in a modern style. The movie also features career-best performances by actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. The movie also received a lot of critical acclaim, with Martin Scorsese finally receiving his long-overdue Oscar win for Best Director.