In this compilation, you will find works by Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Edgar Wright, and other directors who will immerse you in the exciting and bloody world of gangster disputes!
Seven Psychopaths
UK, USA, 2012
Genre: Comedy, crime.
Duration: 110 minutes.
The story is about a screenwriter named Marty who is going through a creativity crisis. One day his reckless friends drag the hero into kidnapping a dog, but later it turns out that the stolen dog is the pet of an eccentric local gangster.
The second film by Irish playwright-director Martin McDonagh is slightly weaker than his feature-length debut “In Bruges,” which I’ll talk more about below. But it still has black humor and colorful characters, one of the best examples being the melancholy Colin Farrell.
Layer Cake
The United Kingdom, 2004.
Genre: Action, thriller, drama, comedy, crime.
Duration: 105 minutes.
An anonymous hero called XXXX is a drug dealer, but when he is about to retire, his boss asks for one last favor: to find the escaped daughter of his old friend and, at the same time, solve a tangled drug deal. XXXX agrees but does not yet know that the mission threatens him with big trouble.
Initially, the novel by J.J. Connolly, on which the film is based, was adapted by Guy Ritchie. But the director suddenly left the project, and the baton was taken over by a close friend of the director and producer of his films – Matthew Vaughn.
To be fair, the original book is hilarious, but Vaughn made a pure crime thriller almost devoid of humor. However, there are still some funny moments in the film, and they are so good that the movie is well worthy of being in this compilation.
The Guard
Ireland, 2011.
Genre: Thriller, comedy, crime.
Duration: 96 minutes.
A young sergeant Jerry Boyle discovers a dead body near Dublin, which is a big deal in the Irish countryside! In addition, it turns out that the murdered man is connected with the transportation
of a considerable amount of cocaine. FBI agent Wendell Everett is sent to investigate the mysterious case and encounters language difficulties and uncooperative locals, so he asks Boyle for help.
Director and screenwriter John Michael McDonagh is the older brother of Martin McDonagh. Moreover, the relatives make films on similar themes and give preference to the same actors. For example, Brendan Gleeson from “The Guard” previously played in “In Bruges.”
It should be said straight away that fans of dynamic and spectacular action movies with gunfights will hardly like the film, but those who are close to dark comedies with a share of absurdity will definitely fall in love with it.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
USA, 2005.
Genre: Thriller, comedy, crime, detective.
Duration: 103 minutes.
Small-time crook Harry Lockhart, fleeing from the police, gets to audition for a new detective movie. He makes such a good impression on the producers that he gets the role and goes to Hollywood without wishing it. The hero and his new acquaintance, private detective Perry van Shrike, are involved in a very dark story.
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is Shane Black’s directorial debut, but before that, he had already managed to write scripts for many famous Hollywood pictures “Lethal Weapon,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight.”
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” may hardly suit people who find it hard to watch screen violence, but with its wit and charm, it will conquer all the rest. In general, the whole film is better to be taken as a peculiar mockery of the neo-noir genre, so you get a lot of fun. In addition, a talented Robert Downey Jr. starred in the movie.
Baby Driver
UK, USA, 2017.
Genre: Action, thriller, drama, crime.
Duration: 113 minutes.
The main character, aka Baby, is working for the criminal authority Doc, and due to his outstanding driving skills, the guy helps criminals escape after robberies. One day, love comes into his life, and the Baby decides to quit the game. Except that Doc isn’t ready to let go of the best driver in town for no reason.
At first glance, this Edgar Wright’s movie is radically different from his previous works, which parodied various genre stereotypes and clichés. “Baby Driver” plot was reminiscent of a typical Hollywood blockbuster, and it alerted fans. But the fans needn’t have worried because Edgar Wright’s signature is present in every part of the film, from the witty dialogues to the selected music. By the way, the director’s melomaniac nature showed itself most vividly in this film.
The Boondock Saints
USA, Canada, 1999.
Genre: Action, thriller, drama, comedy, crime.
Duration: 109 minutes.
Two Irish brothers, Connor and Murphy McManus, set out to clear the streets of Boston of villains. The local mafia is panic-stricken, as the boys act in the most savage ways. FBI agent Paul Smecker is assigned to suppress the brothers’ activities, but the McManus brothers prove so sympathetic to him that the hero is ready to join them.
Troy Duffy’s movie is remembered by the audience not only for its excellent black humor but also gorgeous acting. Norman Reedus, the star of “The Walking Dead,” is very young here, and the textured Willem Dafoe played an ambiguous character who you still want to empathize with.
