Tag: Crime Drama
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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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WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
“We Need to Talk About Kevin” is a 2011 psychological drama based on Lionel Shriver’s novel. The film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, explores the complex and unsettling relationship between Eva (Tilda Swinton) and her son Kevin (Ezra Miller), ultimately leading to a tragic and devastating event. The story unfolds in a non-linear format, jumping between…
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THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS
“The Sugarland Express” is a 1974 crime drama directed by Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. It was Spielberg’s first theatrical feature film. The film blends elements of crime, drama, and road movie genres, exploring themes of desperation, love, and the often blurred line between right and wrong. The story follows Lou-Ann Garner (Goldie…
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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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HEAVENLY CREATURES
Heavenly Creatures (1994) is a psychological drama directed by Peter Jackson, based on the real-life 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in New Zealand. The film stars Melanie Lynskey as Pauline Parker and Kate Winslet as Juliet Hulme in their feature film debuts. It explores the intense friendship between the two teenage girls, their shared fantasy world,…
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THE GODFATHER
The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, stars Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone, the head of a powerful Italian-American crime family, and Al Pacino as his youngest son, Michael Corleone. Other key cast members include James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton. Through its portrayal of power, family…
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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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BADLANDS
“Badlands” is a 1973 crime drama directed by Terrence Malick in his feature film debut, and it stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek in leading roles. Loosely inspired by the real-life 1958 killing spree of Charles Starkweather and his teenage girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, the film is a haunting meditation on alienation, love, violence, and…
The Other Cinema 