Over Fragmenten.blog

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Welkom op Fragmenten uit het Schemerland, mijn persoonlijke website en content-verzameling. Je vindt hier veel artikelen over films en series in de FilmDungeon. Ook vind je op deze site mijn achtergrondverhaal, een selectie van mijn professionele werk, en een groeiende collectie blogs – fragmenten genaamd – over uiteenlopende onderwerpen. Veel leesplezier en bedankt voor het bezoeken van mijn blog!

— Jeppe Kleijngeld

PS: Bezoek ook eens mijn andere website over bewustzijn en mijn visie op de ware aard van het universum:

29. King of New York (1990)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: Nicholas St. John
Stars: Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

In discussions about the greatest gangster films, this dark pearl is never mentioned. It should. Christopher Walken delivers a chilling central performance as the psychotic Frank White and Laurence Fishburne is mesmerizing as his loose cannon sidekick Jimmy Jump.

After being released from jail, White quickly takes out his competitors and becomes the main drug kingpin of New York City. He uses the proceeds to build a hospital for the poor. Meanwhile, a frustrated police team desperately wants to nail him even if it means illegally killing themselves.

Director Abel Ferrara and screenwriter Nicholas St. John obviously enjoy upsetting their audience with this moral ambiguity. The offputting violence and trashy depiction of New York’s underworld add to the discomfort. As does the vampire-film inspired cinematography.

The cast of King of New York is truly impressive and features many names of actors who would become big stars in the nineties, including David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi and Theresa Randle.

For all its darkness, it is no surprise this exploitation movie was not well received back in 1990. Time for a re-evaluation I would say. Whenever great gangster films are discussed, King of New York must be IN.

30. The Killing (1956)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Jim Thompson, Lionel White
Stars: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

One of Kubrick’s first efforts is a heist movie. It’s very fast and very smooth.

At a lively pace, we follow a group of gangsters and their accomplices as they prepare for a high-stakes racetrack robbery. An unseen narrator guides us through a plan that feels doomed from the start. A cashier involved in the scheme confides in his femme fatale wife about the heist, and together with her lover, the two-timing dame decides to go after the loot themselves. From there, everything begins to unravel.

This is Kubrick showing off his considerable talent and pushing the boundaries of cinema. The thriller was ahead of its time in terms of storytelling. The screenplay – written by Kubrick himself – is innovative, presenting events from multiple angles through the perspectives of different characters. This structure builds suspense and creates a constant urge to discover what happens next.

Early screenings were poor, with many citing the non-linear structure as the main issue. Kubrick was briefly forced to re-edit the film into a linear format, which only made it more confusing. Fortunately, it was ultimately released in its original form and is now often cited as a major influence on later non-linear crime films such as Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994).

With an excellent cast, stylish cinematography, and a narrative daring well ahead of its era, Kubrick delivered a heist film that not only holds up today but helped redefine how crime stories could be told. Its precision, tension, and structural ambition mark the arrival of a filmmaker already in command of his craft and hint at the legendary career that would follow.

31. American Gangster (2007)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Mark Jacobson (article)
Stars: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

Though not the most original take on the genre, Ridley Scott’s American Gangster is still superb in several respects. The recreation of early-1970s New York is phenomenal: every setting feels meticulously crafted and fully lived-in. The cast is equally impressive, and the characters are consistently engaging.

Frank Lucas (Washington) is a special kind of incarnation of the American Dream. When his mentor, drug kingpin Bumpy Johnson dies, Lucas replaces him as Harlem’s number one drug lord. His power quickly spreads throughout the whole of New York and New Jersey and he even becomes bigger than the Italian Mafia.

Black crime boss Frank Lucas is based on a real person, and Denzel Washington plays him with chilling intensity. His counterpart is the incorruptible detective Richie Roberts, a man surrounded by colleagues on the take. Roberts is portrayed with commanding presence by Russell Crowe, who delivers a performance in fine form.

The ambitious Lucas, who viewed himself more as a businessman than a criminal, devised an ingenious and cynical method to import pure heroin into the United States: he smuggled it from Southeast Asia in the body bags of American soldiers killed in the Vietnam War! The fact that Lucas profits from his country’s pointless struggle against communism and narcotics has a great taste of irony.

American Gangster is a cops-versus-gangsters film – a bit like The Wire in movie form – and at times Scott comes impressively close to that extremely high standard. The great casting, production design and visual style alone make this a totally enjoyable experience.

32. Road to Perdition (2002)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Max Allan Collins, Richard Piers Rayner, David Self
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman, Daniel Craig

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

In this adaptation from the beautiful graphic novel from Max Allan Collins (writing) and Richard Piers Rayner (art), Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, an enforcer for Irish mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman).

Rooney treats Michael like a son, but this dynamic is fractured by the reckless actions of Rooney’s actual son, Connor (Daniel Craig), whose betrayal leads to the brutal murder of Michael’s wife and youngest child. Gutted, Michael embarks on a chilling journey of vengeance across the snow-draped Midwest, with his surviving son, Michael Jr., by his side.

Director Sam Mendes brings together a stellar cast in this gripping, yet understated gangster epic. The performances are a masterclass in subtlety and intensity, with Hanks, Newman, and Craig delivering powerhouse portrayals that highlight the complex interplay of loyalty, betrayal, and familial bonds.

The cinematography by Conrad L. Hall is equally compelling, painting 1931 Chicago and the small-town landscapes of Illinois with a haunting, almost poetic beauty. Each shot is meticulously crafted, making the film as visually breathtaking as it is emotionally poignant.

The story is borrowed from the classic Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub, which is about an extremely skillful samurai who takes his son on a journey of revenge after being betrayed.

Thematically, Road to Perdition delves into the intricate relationships between fathers and sons, exploring how their love and loyalty can be both a source of strength and a cause of strife. The evolving dynamic between Michael and his son is moving, offering moments of connection and understanding amidst the violence and tragedy.

With its evocative storytelling, exceptional acting, and unforgettable imagery, Road to Perdition remains a standout in the gangster genre, as well as a deeply affecting meditation on family and redemption.