Tag: Corruption
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CIDADE DE DEUS aka CITY OF GOD
“City of God” (Cidade de Deus, 2002) is a powerful and raw crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and co-directed by Kátia Lund. The film is based on the 1997 novel by Paulo Lins and offers a gritty, unflinching look at life in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious slums, the City of God,…
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THE HARDER THEY COME
“The Harder They Come” is a 1972 crime drama directed by Perry Henzell and written by Henzell and Trevor D. Rhone. Based in Jamacia, the film blends gritty realism, social commentary, and reggae music, starring reggae musician Jimmy Cliff in a career-defining role. The film follows a young country boy’s desperate struggle for success in…
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SCUM
Scum (1979) is a British crime drama that depicts the harsh realities of life inside a borstal in the UK. The film is directed by Alan Clarke and starring a young Ray Winstone in his breakout role. It is a shocking indictment of the British penal system, exposing its institutionalized violence, abuse, and corruption. Originally…
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DIE BLECHTROMMEL aka THE TIN DRUM
‘The Tin Drum’ is a 1979 war drama directed by Volker Schlöndorff and is an adaptation of Günter Grass’s acclaimed 1959 novel. This German film, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is a surreal, darkly satirical exploration of Germany’s descent into Nazism,…
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ON THE WATERFRONT
“On the Waterfront” (1954) is a crime drama directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger, Karl Malden, and Lee J. Cobb. Set in the grimy, corruption-ridden world of the New Jersey docks, the film tells the story of one man’s struggle to stand up against a corrupt and violent…
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SERPICO
Serpico is a 1973 gritty crime drama directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino. The film is based on the true story of Frank Serpico, an honest New York City cop who exposed rampant corruption within the police force, leading to a major investigation and reforms. It is an adaptation of Peter Maas’s 1973…
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PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW
Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) is a dark comedy-thriller directed by Roger Vadim, and starring Rock Hudson in a surprisingly sinister role. The movie is an unusual blend of crime drama, sexual farce, and satire set in a high school environment. Adapted from a novel by Francis Pollini and written for the screen…
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INHERENT VICE
“Inherent Vice” (2014) is a neo-noir crime-comedy film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s novel of the same name. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the film blends mystery, romance, and humor into a psychedelic tale of paranoia, drugs, and corruption. The story revolves around Larry “Doc” Sportello (played by Joaquin Phoenix),…
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SHORT FILM: SCORPIO RISING
“Scorpio Rising” is a groundbreaking 1963 experimental short film directed by Kenneth Anger. The film explores themes of rebellion, sexuality, and the intersection of popular culture and subversive iconography. “Scorpio Rising” is a non-narrative film that conveys its themes through visual symbolism, pop music, and a provocative editing style. The film is divided into several…
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MADE IN U.S.A.
“Made in U.S.A.” is a 1966 French crime-political film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film is a loose adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Jugger and combines elements of film noir, political intrigue, and Godard’s signature experimental style. It stars Anna Karina as a woman investigating the death of her lover in a labyrinthine…
The Other Cinema 