07.23.10 | George D. Allen and Irv Slifkin | Movie Buzz, Movie Buzz PodcastPrint this Post
Tags: Top 10 Movie Lists
Bad boys, bad boys, what'cha gonna do...when the MovieFanFare cameras spot you chatting idly about your favorite heist films? Check out the two would-be video thieves we caught with their pants down (figuratively speaking, of course), and see if you agree with their picks for the best movies about making big scores:
Why did two such insightful movie fans turn to a life of crime? I guess they figured their gigs with Movie Geeks Roadshow and picking the best Offbeat Christmas Movies didn't pay so well. They have voluntarily entered a program of rehabilitation.
My favorite heist movie of all time is David Maqmet's "Heist", with Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo and the imortal Ricky Jay.
Nice pick (one rarely goes wrong with Hackman) -- while it's not strictly a "heist" movie, I suppose, I'm really partial to frequent Mamet collaborator Jay's appearance in "The Spanish Prisoner."
One of the benefits of lists is that it reminds you that there are always more films to watch (I certainly need to watch several on here). The more experienced the reviewer, usually the better the list.
I think any list of this type has to have Meville though. Le Cercle Rouge and to a lesser extent Bob le Flambeau. It is interesting that originally Melville wanted to make Le Cercle Rouge but put it off because of The Asphalt Jungle and Rififi (not wanting the storylines to seem too familiar too soon). The twenty-five minute near wordless scene will certainly remind you of both films, but it is my favorite of the three.
The original The Thomas Crown Affair is another must watch especially for Steve McQueen fans. Endlessly influential, possibly marred by overuse of split screens.
No Take the Money and Run
; always loved that one.
Reading over several lists just like this one I think a lot of people confuse "After the heist" movies with "heist".
Only complaint, don't call Alec Guiness "Obi-wan", my goodness he has just done too many good to great films and has some of the best roles I've seen from The Last Holiday to Kind Hearts and Coronets (and many more).
It's impossible to dispute the wisdom of masterofoneinchpunch! I'll only add I'm also partial, right or wrong, to the Brosnan "Thomas Crown" redux, a remake that was better than it had any right to be. Of course, the "Obi-wan" reference is meant to be firstly part of the satire, and (perhaps sadly) secondly, an easy way "in" for those young'uns who know Guinness primarily (maybe only!) as Luke Skywalker's Jedi mentor.
Film buffs will probably never completely agree upon a Top 10 anything list. For me, the one exclusion is the neat little 'B' film, "Amored Car Robbery", a buried treasure if ever the was one.
Ocean's 11; topkapi; B-movies Assult on a Queen; After the Fox;
Whats the focus here - there are hundred of movies to chose form on this genre.
"Raffi" directed by Jules Dassan is wonderful.
Ian
As much as I hate to disagree with you, my favorite movie isn't even listed by you, so here's one that really should be on the list. The Real McCoy with Kim Bassinger and Val Kilmer. This movie has everything a real movie lover would like, Keystone Cops, Bad guys being really bad, Car chases, but yet a great story line that is very believable. You however need to watch it to find out if the Chick gets away. This movie is worth a bag of Orville Redinbacher best, so pop it in the Microwave, then plop your feet up and enjoy it know you will.
Trainman -- I don't know if our "thieves" have seen The Real McCoy (as I have not) -- but I must say the presence of Terence Stamp in the cast makes me curious!
Interesting list. If I had a vote, my favorite heist movie is also a war movie, "Kelly's Heroes". It is the perfect heist with a perfect cast, Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod, Carol O'Connor, just to name a few biggies.
Topkapi wins hands down. Never have I seen a heist movie with such a marvelous combination of suspense and campy humor. The cinematography of Henri Alekan captures the beauty of Istanbul far better than From Russia With Love. A masterpiece of its kind.
DP's can never get too much credit (as far as I'm concerned) for the success of great movies, and Alekan is a real master. His "Wings of Desire" work is a personal favorite of mine.
TOTALLY AGREE that Kelly's Heroesis numero uno but how about "To catch a Thief"-every thing Cary Grant did was superb, so wsith Grace Kelly how could you top it?
[...] the past, Irv and his crew made some reliable recommendations on the best heist movies and the finest in the Asian action genre. Not to mention his preferred chillers of the 1930s. [...]