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Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

post #1 of 28
9/20/08 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 
This is basically a thread to get some ideas for one of my favorite genres of film: crime suspense movies.
Here are my top 5.


5-At Close Range. great film, and still the best work I have seen from Sean Penn.

4-Red Rock West. Nic Cage, and Dennis Hopper in a fantastic white knuckle crime caper.

3-The Conversation. Gene Hackman is fantastic in this early 70's Coppola film.

2-No Country for Old Men. Near perfect film, although unconventional sometimes loses an audience, lucky I wasn't one of those people who felt cheated.

1-A Simple Plan. To me this film is perfect, and I can't say enough good things about it. Riveting, and flawless.



So what am I missing? Please list some of your favorites. Thanks
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post #2 of 28
9/21/08 at 5:24am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I would have to say The Usual Suspects with Kevin Spacey. This film is so great that one has to watch it a number of times to make sense of it. The ending is a shoker as we learn that verbal[Spacey] is Keyser Soze.
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post #3 of 28
9/21/08 at 7:18am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
The ending is a shoker as we learn that verbal[Spacey] is Keyser Soze.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Whoops! Not a "shocker" anymore!


Off the flat top of my head...
CHINATOWN
LA CONFIDENTIAL (since I was thinking about it)
TOUCH OF EVIL
THE VANISHING
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (even the remake, slick!)
and FARGO, which I just watched last night and can say that IMO it's a better film than NO COUNTRY...

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
MC
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post #4 of 28
9/21/08 at 9:58am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

The movies listed so far have almost no suspense! If you want suspense within a crime setting try Rififi and Experiment In Terror. They have real suspense.

Hitchcock was, of course, the master of suspense so I recommend watching the robbery sequence in Marnie. When that bag falls on the floor . . . .
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post #5 of 28
9/21/08 at 7:46pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Seven and Ricochet are good. The DVD for Ricochet is terrible, though.
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post #6 of 28
9/22/08 at 11:11am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I echo Robins recommendation for Experiment in Terror. One fo my all time favs!
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post #7 of 28
9/22/08 at 12:06pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

PLAY MISTY FOR ME, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, ACE IN THE HOLE, WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, PANIC IN THE STREETS, NIAGARA, BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING, MADIGAN, GASLIGHT, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (Sinatra), DEAD OF NIGHT.
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post #8 of 28
9/22/08 at 1:18pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

'Hard Eight', Paul Thomas Anderson's first film. I'm quite certain my DVD cover is labeled 'Hard Eight', yet at IMDB, this film now seems to be called 'Sydney'. It is definitely the same film, though.
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post #9 of 28
9/22/08 at 1:19pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave B Ferris
'Hard Eight', Paul Thomas Anderson's first film. I'm quite certain my DVD cover is labeled 'Hard Eight', yet at IMDB, this film now seems to be called 'Sydney'. It is definitely the same film, though.
Sydney is the original name of the movie. The IMDB has to keep it real.
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post #10 of 28
9/22/08 at 1:37pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
Sydney is the original name of the movie. The IMDB has to keep it real.



We tend to be such sticklers (and rightfully so) when it comes to OAR, so do we adopt the same approach for a title? Until today, I always knew this film as 'Hard Eight'; it would seem strange - to me - to call it something else.
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post #11 of 28
9/22/08 at 2:59pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I thought Hard Eight was a recut version of Sydney, done by New Line after previews? No?
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post #12 of 28
9/22/08 at 3:48pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave B Ferris
We tend to be such sticklers (and rightfully so) when it comes to OAR, so do we adopt the same approach for a title?
For the sake of keeping things simple, I just go with the name that 'everyone' will recognize. If I was talking to P.T. Anderson about it, I'd refer to it as Sydney though.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Russell G
I thought Hard Eight was a recut version of Sydney, done by New Line after previews? No?
I'm sure Anderson addresses it on the commentary but the IMDB says
Quote:
Originally Posted by IMDB
Paul Thomas Anderson's original title for this film was "Sydney". Since it was his first film, and he had basically no control over it (much less final cut, like he's had on his other features since), the studio, Rysher Entertainment, re-cut the film and retitled it "Hard Eight". This obviously enraged Anderson, and through many talks and deals, he convinced the studio to let him release his cut, but with the new title "Hard Eight".
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post #13 of 28
9/22/08 at 4:00pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Very interesting -- so is the extant 'Hard Eight' DVD actually Anderson's cut?
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post #14 of 28
9/22/08 at 5:32pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Yes.
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post #15 of 28
9/22/08 at 6:41pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kingfish
I would have to say The Usual Suspects with Kevin Spacey. This film is so great that one has to watch it a number of times to make sense of it. The ending is a shoker as we learn that verbal[Spacey] is ........

ouch you gave away the end of the film.
I do have to agree on usual suspects.

the reveal at the end is one of the best surprises in movies, (well it was).


hey can you guys also say why you like the film instead of just a list of films, without giving away the ending..
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post #16 of 28
9/22/08 at 10:03pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

A fine list Bryan; especially nice to see RED ROCK WEST and A SIMPLE PLAN on it. Speaking of RED ROCK WEST, you should check out some of the other neo-noir and suspense films by RRW's director, John Dahl, especially KILL ME AGAIN (1989, with Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley and a very scary Michael Madsen), as well as THE LAST SEDUCTION (1994, featuring femme fatale Linda Fiorentino), and the imperfect but (imho) unfairly maligned UNFORGETTABLE (1996, Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino), if you like a bit of pulpy sci-fi mixed-in with you're crime suspense. He also did quite well with the DUEL-like JOY RIDE (2001.)

I'd also highly recommend the already-mentioned EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, RIFIFI, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962), STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, TOUCH OF EVIL, PLAY MISTY FOR ME... and would add:

THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1945)
THE BIG CLOCK (1948)
THE THREAT (1949, regrettably not on DVD yet, check it out on TCM sometime)
NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950)
FOURTEEN HOURS (1951)
THE BIG HEAT (1953)
THE HITCH-HIKER (1953)
NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
THE KILLING (1956)
PEEPING TOM (1960)
CAPE FEAR (1962, Robert Mitchum's "Max Cady" would eat DeNiro's "Cady" for breakfast)
THE SADIST (1963)
LADY IN A CAGE (1964)
POINT BLANK (1967)
WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967)
TARGETS (1968)
AND SOON THE DARKNESS (1970)
DIRTY HARRY (1971)
GET CARTER (1971)
SEE NO EVIL (1971)
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974)
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)
MARATHON MAN (1976)
BLACK SUNDAY (1977)
EYE OF THE NEEDLE (1981)
ROAD GAMES (1981)
BLOOD SIMPLE (1984)
THE HIT (1984)
DEAD CALM (1989)
THE LIMEY (1999)
INTACTO (2001-Spanish, very strange, but well worth a look)
THE ICE HARVEST (2005)
RED EYE (2005)
THE LOOKOUT (2007)
WE OWN THE NIGHT (2007)
THE BANK JOB (2008)
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post #17 of 28
9/23/08 at 2:40am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Take a look at John Bailey's China Moon with Ed Harris and Madeline Stowe, an overlooked suspense noir of considerable power, and the current 88 Minutes with Al Pacino. Both have a lot to recommend them.

Also, John Frankenheimer's Ronin (1998) is one of the great, great action suspense films. Listening to his commentary is like taking a workshop with him.
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post #18 of 28
9/23/08 at 6:27am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I've got to give a shout out to the original 'caper classic', The Asphalt Jungle. Everything that came afterwards, from Rififi, Topkapi, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three to both versions of The Italian Job and the more recent stuff Guy Ritchie has done owes a huge debt to this John Huston classic. And besides, it's got Marilyn Monroe, too!
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post #19 of 28
9/23/08 at 6:52am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
I've got to give a shout out to the original 'caper classic', The Asphalt Jungle. Everything that came afterwards, from Rififi, Topkapi, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three to both versions of The Italian Job and the more recent stuff Guy Ritchie has done owes a huge debt to this John Huston classic. And besides, it's got Marilyn Monroe, too!
I cannot believe this thread went on this long without that title being mentioned. If you like your crime DVD experience super-sized, I would recommend a Sterling Haden triple feature of "The Asphalt Jungle", "The Killing", and "Crime Wave".

Regards,
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post #20 of 28
9/23/08 at 3:11pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I'll add my voice to all the recommendations for The Asphalt Jungle. A monument of a film and a towering achievement in the hardboiled crime genre. It can't be praised highly enough. Sterling Hayden was worth his weight in gold. And this ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_McAlinden
I cannot believe this thread went on this long without that title being mentioned. If you like your crime DVD experience super-sized, I would recommend a Sterling Haden triple feature of "The Asphalt Jungle", "The Killing", and "Crime Wave".
... is an excellent suggestion. Add to that two other independently produced suspense films, Naked Alibi (Universal 1954, not on DVD) and Suddenly (1964, in the Sinatra Collection) and you'd have a Sterling Hayden marathon.
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post #21 of 28
9/24/08 at 5:42am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

I would like to add to the list the recently released The Anderson Tapes. It expands on the similar topics covered in Conversation - great fun!

Amazon.com: The Anderson Tapes: Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam, Paul Benjamin, Hildy Brooks, John Call, Val Avery, Carmine Caridi, Sam Coppola, Reid Cruickshanks, Robert Dagny, Bradford English, Michael Fairman, Stanley Gottlieb, Margaret H

For someone who loves crime/suspense movies, there is a whole world of film noir to discover. The most complete list of the film noir available on DVD that I am aware of (all regions) is here: The Definitive Film-Noir on DVD Resource.

For immediate 'boost' to anyone's DVD collection of fantastic film noir/crime/suspense look no further than at the following collections:

1. Film Noir Classic Collections 1 through 4:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d?...sic+collection

2. Fox Film Noir Collection - sold separately. There are more than twenty already released at about 3 DVD per year rate:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d?...=fox+film+noir

3. Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection - 15 DVDs at an unbeatable price:
http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Hitchco...2260723&sr=1-1
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post #22 of 28
9/24/08 at 7:19am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Good call on A Simple Plan. It's a favorite of my father's and mine. We love the way things spiral out of control, getting worse and worse as the Bill Paxton character tells lie after lie trying to keep control of the situation.

The book on which the film is based is also worth checking out. The main character goes to even further extremes than he does in the movie, and the plot actually goes in a rather different direction than that of the movie towards the end.

My personal pick for a suspenseful crime movie is The Score, directed by Frank Oz. Plot-wise, it's basically a run-of-the-mill heist movie, but it's put together so well that it's definitely worth watching. The cast is particularly great, featuring Marlon Brando, Robert Deniro, and Edward Norton.
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post #23 of 28
9/24/08 at 9:24am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

STRAW DOGS, DEAD HEAT ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND, THE NAKED PREY, THE LAST VOYAGE, KALIFORNIA minus the awful "cop-out" ending, BIGGER THAN LIFE, RAWHIDE (1950), SUDDEN FEAR, THE NANNY, BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, WHITE HEAT, BLACK LEGION, PURPLE NOON, STORM WARNING, I CONFESS, ON DANGEROUS GROUND. In terms of "emotional investment," IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a great suspense movie.
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post #24 of 28
9/24/08 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cafink
Good call on A Simple Plan. It's a favorite of my father's and mine. We love the way things spiral out of control, getting worse and worse as the Bill Paxton character tells lie after lie trying to keep control of the situation.

The book on which the film is based is also worth checking out. The main character goes to even further extremes than he does in the movie, and the plot actually goes in a rather different direction than that of the movie towards the end.

My personal pick for a suspenseful crime movie is The Score, directed by Frank Oz. Plot-wise, it's basically a run-of-the-mill heist movie, but it's put together so well that it's definitely worth watching. The cast is particularly great, featuring Marlon Brando, Robert Deniro, and Edward Norton.
A Simple Plan got great reviews from film critics, but ignored when released in theaters. I don't think it did too well on dvd either. It's a shame because I'd love to see a special edition with commentary, or at least a Blu-Ray release
I've always wanted to read the book, I'll have to check it out...thanks. Oh, and I loved the Score!
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post #25 of 28
9/24/08 at 3:05pm

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Of course, the most significant crime / suspense film in the last fifty years, arguably even more significant than either The Godfather or Chinatown, is Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Don't be put off by the title; there are no on-screen beheadings, no gore, no mass killings like in a Tim Burton genre-fetish movie. Confrontations are on a one-to-one basis mostly, where the emotional violence is gut-wrenching before the weapons are drawn. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia is a noir from the inside out. Warren Oates' Benny looks at the world as if from an abyss. One of the few critics who understands the movie, and who doesn't try to apologize for liking it, is Roger Ebert. Read his review here:

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia :: rogerebert.com :: Great Movies

Be advised there are spoilers in Ebert's review.
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post #26 of 28
9/25/08 at 6:37am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

1)Black rain- Andy Garcia's death halfway through the film is a shocker.

2)Narc-Ray Liotta shines in this one.

3)Fallen- Who would have suspected what was going to happen at the beginning of the movie.

4)The Departed- There are so many twists and turns in this movie that one needs a play card.


PS: I don't want to give away the endings again.
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post #27 of 28
9/25/08 at 9:35am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

you don't have to give away the ending to give away important plot details that are best seen without knowing.

like the surprise death of a major character.
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post #28 of 28
9/25/08 at 10:38am

Re: Best crime/suspense movies on dvd.

Shame on you, Kingfish! A real film fan would never reveal major plot twists! An apology is needed.
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