Your Favourite on-screen Gangster

[dont_do_it_doug.]

Vito Corleone, the origional Godfather. I loved the way two different actors can capture the man so magnificantly.

[Witton_Lane]

It's between Brando as Vito Corleone, Pacino as Tony Montana and De Niro as either Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas or Vito Corleone in Godfather 2. I chose Tony Montana purely on the strength of having been out on the piss with Cubans in Miami when I was on holiday there. His accent in the film sounds **** up....but it's 100% accurate believe me, they really do talk like that

Honourable mention goes to Chazz Palmintieri (sp) for his playing of Sonny in 'A Bronx Tale' - one of the most underrated films ever in my opinion. Anyone that liked Goodfellas should watch that film, it's brilliant.

Interesting sidenote on 'Tommy De Vito' from Goodfellas - his real name was Tommy DeSimone and according to Henry Hill Joe Pescis character was nowhere near as hyperactive or psychotic as the real man :shock:

[Witton_Lane]

James Cagney

Now THERE'S a real actor 8)

Loved him in 'The Roaring Twenties', brilliant.

[Witton_Lane]

I am shocked that people think that Gangsters just have to be of Italian American descent... Why hasn’t anyone given out a shout for the Kemp Brothers as the Kray Twins....

Oh God what a shit film that was. Apparently Reggie and Ronnie weren't happy about it either. Bet the Kemp twins are delighted they never got out.

[aussiedave]

De Niro in Goodfellas, infact the whole cast of Goodfellas ! By far the best gangster film ever ( saying that I have never seen The Godfather trilogy...I know what have I been doing with my life ?)

I just think DeNiro plays the perfect gangster.... even in the Analyse This & That films.

The Sopranos is also top draw stuff, although not as violent it is still compulsive viewing.

As for mad bastard gangster there can be only one...Joe Pesci...brilliant in Casino, specially when he gets the blokes head in a vice !

[nrogers]

Richard Attenborough as Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock!!! ACE

[villahero]

P H Moriarty (' long good friday & lock stock'....mean mother )

[3_Penny_Opera]

Omar Little in HBO's The Wire. The best show in the states- period. Played by Michael K. Williams. This show won't interest you much, because you have to live in Baltimore to appreciate the first season...but the second and third are righteous and this is the closest thing to real life America has ever offered. To the point NYC PD use its videos to fight crime. Funny really, cuz no one ever rates Baltimore a rough town. I've lived there 4 years, fekkin loved it.

West side...get yo ass on the other side of Charles...suckas.

Of course I'm in New Orleans and the crime isn't much better...both towns average over 200 murders a year, gun related...but it's something one eventually appreciates. Or not.

[lee_av]

Honourable mention goes to Chazz Palmintieri (sp) for his playing of Sonny in 'A Bronx Tale' - one of the most underrated films ever in my opinion. Anyone that liked Goodfellas should watch that film, it's brilliant.

Interesting sidenote on 'Tommy De Vito' from Goodfellas - his real name was Tommy DeSimone and according to Henry Hill Joe Pescis character was nowhere near as hyperactive or psychotic as the real man :shock:

Good Call - A Bronx Tale is a very good film, and directed by De Niro.

Also as regards the De Vito character, he was indeed more psychotic than portrayed in the film. There is a good documentary that can be found on torrents, caled "Thr real Goodfella". well worth downloading.

[theboyangel]

Carlito Brigante all the way for me - a bad ass wanting to leave his previous life but gets sucked back in - pure quality

Utterly cool film and great performances from Pacino and Sean Penn

[nrogers]

Also Donnie Brasco as a undercover gangster... brilliant performance!!

[Hurnairport]

What about De Niro ( and all the rest of the cast) in Once upon a time in America ?

My favourite gangster film

[The_Rev]

Tommy De Vito. **** madman.

[Virginia_Villain]

Omar Little in HBO's The Wire. The best show in the states- period. Played by Michael K. Williams. This show won't interest you much, because you have to live in Baltimore to appreciate the first season...but the second and third are righteous and this is the closest thing to real life America has ever offered. To the point NYC PD use its videos to fight crime. Funny really, cuz no one ever rates Baltimore a rough town. I've lived there 4 years, fekkin loved it.

Oh, Indeed!

Also from The Wire, Idris Elba as Stringer Bell was fantastic. I saw him in the Newark airport waiting on a flight to London, maybe it's his on screen persona or that he's probably about 6'4" 250 lbs but he looked happy left alone and I was happy to leave him alone. On the show he's completely amoral and cunning but with great business sense and wants to make selling drugs like any other business and get rid of the wasteful violence.

The great thing about the Wire is that it shows drug dealers and cops in an unsensationalized manner. To most of the characters it's a job, the same way that anything else is a job and it's boring and repetitive and bureaucratic. The cases also last an entire season rather than one episode so you really get to know the characters and see how a case is built rather than the typical TV cop getting someone to confess through interrogation. The episode where Stringer and Avon compete with Prop Joe to sign up ringers for the East Baltimore vs West Baltimore basketball game was great along with any episode featuring Brother Mouzone.