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Friday, May 7, 2010

Friday's Top 5... Heist Movies


#5: Inside Man

One of the only feature films Spike Lee made last decade that I feel is an unqualified success. With a cast that includes Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster and Christopher Plummer and a plot with just the right amount of twists, how could you possibly go wrong?


#4: Ocean's 11

A fun movie packed wall to wall with stars. One of the few times in which a remake is better than the original. Now if only they'd stopped with the one film instead of going back to the well again and again.


#3: The Thomas Crown Affair

As was pointed out last week when I left Bullit off the chase scenes list, I'm not terribly well versed in Steve McQueen movies. This one, however, is a favourite of mine and also stars the always awesome Faye Dunaway.


#2: Heat

A film which looks at crime from the perspective of both criminals and the police, anchored by Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. So meticulous is Michael Mann's direction of the action sequences that part of the film used to be shown to Marine recruits as part of their training.


#1: Bob Le Flambeur

My very favourite. There is so much to like in this film by Jean-Pierre Melville, often considered the precurser to the French New Wave. Some of the best scenes in Ocean's 11 have their roots in Bob Le Flambeur.

4 comments:

The Taxi Driver said...

Not to mention that Bob was remade as The Good Thief which was also quite good. This is a good list. The only change I'd made is sub Inside Man for David Mamet's Heist.

Julien said...

I am sad to see you left off The great train robbery! :)

Not to mention Rififi.

And have you watched Rififi?

Reminds me of some good times.. and interviews I did. Ah I wish time travel was possible.

All the best,

-Danny

Norma Desmond said...

@Mike Lippert: I've never seen The Good Thief - I think I'll have to add it to my list of movies to see.

@Danny Finkel: I've actually never seen Rififi or The Great Train Robbery.

M. Carter @ the Movies said...

I haven't seen your no. 1 pick, but it's going in the queue. Who doesn't love a good bank heist film?

I'd have to throw "Set It Off" in for modern flavor. The movie has its flaws, but the acting and the action ain't two of them.