Top Ten Gambling Movies

The world of gambling is a fixture in crime movies for obvious reasons. The idea of luck and "easy" money will always draw out the criminal element. The casino world in particular can support any number of shady figures and occupations, including loan sharks, leg breakers, card cheaters, and heisters, not to mention organized crime figures, who like nothing more than high volumes of money pouring in as a natural means to clean money obtained from other enterprises, combined with the profit factor from a never ending stream of losers. The gambling isn't always conventional either, any career criminal is gambling in a way, trying to come out ahead when their occupation contains dire and possibly fatal consequences. They continue though, convinced they'll get lucky. Some can't resist the idea of an enormous payoff, no matter what risk is in the way. Even more troubling though, are those for whom no payoff is enough, as if self destruction is the best pay off of all. A real gambler just can't quit while he's ahead because then he would lose the power to risk it all, and wouldn't be gambling anymore.

Here are my top ten picks. Feel free to add your own suggestions, as there are many others out there I'm sure I've overlooked.

10) Heat

Burt Reynolds is Nick Escalante or "Mex," an ex mercenary well known for his skill with his hands and with knives.He lives in LasVegas where he has a "chaperone" business, taking odd jobs that involve his skill set such as bodyguard gigs. Mex has his own set of standards determined by his moral code. When an ex girlfriend is abused by an entitled mobster, she turns to Mex to get payback. At the same time, he's hired by a mild mannered young guy, Cyrus, (Peter McNichol) who has money, but wants to know how to be tough. Mex and Cyrus start becoming friends and Mex shares his goal of moving to Venice. Although he briefly has enough money to accomplish his dream, we get a glimpse of Mex's real problem when he immediately gambles it away. His dealings with DeMarco get increasingly violent until a predictable final showdown, where everyone gets what's coming to them.

Luck is riding on my shoulders. Luck is right here with me.I want you to hit the nineteen with a two, because 19 and 2 is 21. That means I win. Give me my two, Cassie. -Mex

9) The Cooler

Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is a "cooler" in Las Vegas at the Shangri La Casino, working for Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) who once cured Bernie's gambling problem by breaking his knees. He lives a dreary and lonely life, showing up at the casino to rob the luck of any customer on a hot streak, and then going back to his small apartment with little interaction with anyone. When a waitress named Natalie (Maria Bello) becomes interested in Bernie, everything starts changing, starting with his luck, which greatly compromises his abilities as a cooler. Shelly isn't willing to let Bernie off the hook however, as he's already frustrated with his business partners pushing to modernize the Shangri La. He discovers that Maria falling for him is not quite what it appeared to be and he has to decide whether to trust her or not, as well as how to reconcile his obligations, hoping to start things over if his new luck holds up.

Lootz is Kryptonite on a stick.-Shelly Kaplow

8) The Cincinnati Kid

Steve McQueen is The Cincinnati Kid, a poker player convinced he's the best there is. To prove that though, he has to beat the renowned Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson.) While he has offers to help him get an unfair advantage, he insists that it only counts if he beats Lancey fairly. His focus is challenged by his girlfriend, Christian (Tuesday Weld) who wants more from him, and his friend Shooter's (Karl Malden) wife, Melba (Ann Margaret) who also has an interest in The Kid. Lancey's success has gained him many enemies, and the pressure for the Kid to accept a little help increases, making it difficult for him to stick to his

principles.

Listen, Christian, after the game, I'll be The Man. I'll be the best there is. People will sit down at the table with you, just so they can say they played with The Man. And that's what I'm gonna be, Christian.-The Cincinnati Kid

7) Owning Mahowny

Dan Mahowny (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is a very successful assistant bank manager at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.To all appearances, he's serious about his work and mild mannered otherwise. They don't realize that Mahowny has a serious gambling problem, which is only made worse by the easy access to funds that his job gives him. Mahowny figures out ways to get money from the bank undetected and gambles it away in Atlantic City as soon as he gets it. No matter how much he wins, he keeps betting it all again, until his obsession catches up with him, his luck runs out, and others catch on. If a problem is big enough you can't keep it hidden forever.

I have a... financial problem. A shortfall. -Dan Mahowny

6) Croupier

Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) imagines himself a writer, except that he can't seem to write or pay the bills. He's surprised to be offered a job via his estranged father, as a croupier at a casino, which is an easy fit for him as he had croupier experience in the past and has a clear talent for it.He soon finds himself immersed in the gambling culture, including the schemes and drama of his fellow employees and the gamblers around him. While he professes a strict code of ethics, his behavior shows more flexibility than he admits. He soon sees himself as a character in the novel he's been planning to write, and his disconnect puts him in the middle of what seems to be a more exciting life, although not without great cost to the guy he used to be.

Welcome back Jack, to the house of addiction. -Jack Manfred

5)The Gambler

Axel Freed (James Caan) is a literature professor who loves the work of Dostoevsky. He's also a guy with a serious gambling problem. He's held in high regard by everyone around him, his girlfriend Bille (Lauren Hutton) and his supportive family. Axel ends up deeply in debt to his bookie, Hips (Paul Sorvino) who promises consequences if Axel doesn't take care of his debt. He borrows money from everyone who can get it, mostly Billie and his mother, only to gamble it away again, leaving him as broke as he was before. Finally he thinks of a scheme to straighten things out, although it has a high moral cost for him, and a student who's involved. It becomes clear that as low as he is, Axel has a long way to go before he hits bottom. He won't stop until he destroys himself.

"I play in order to lose. That’s what gets my juice going. If I only bet on the games I know, I could at least break even.” -Axel Freed

4) The Hustler

Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) is a gifted pool hustler who's too big for his surroundings. He thinks he's the best there is until he's beaten by the legendary Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) Fast Eddie spends a long time rebuilding his confidence, with the help of Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie,) a young girl who falls in love with him. Of course it's only a matter of time before Fast Eddie becomes obsessed with going after Minnesota Fats again. He enlists the help of shady manager Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) to arrange it, although Bert makes no secret of the fact that he thinks Eddie is a talented loser. It becomes clear that win or lose the match and his obsession will cost him more than he ever imagined.

I'm the best you ever seen, Fats. I'm the best there is. And even if you beat me, I'm still the best. 

-Fast Eddie Felson

3) Intacto

Samuel Berg (Max von Sydow), is a casino owner who also holds an annual high stakes contest, which ends every year with him being the luckiest man alive. His employee Federico (Eusebio Poncela) grows tired of living in Berg's shadow and decides to go out on his own. Before he leaves, Samuel touches a horrified Federico, removing his luck. This sends Federico in search of the luckiest people alive, singling out Tomás (Leonardo Sbaraglia) the lone survivor of a plane crash. Federico takes Tomás on a tour of an underground circuit where their paths cross with others who trade in luck, in hopes of returning to Samuel's casino to beat him in his annual contest. Of course, everything doesn't go as planned and luck isn't quite everything Federico assumes it is.

Nobody's ever come here out of love. -Samuel Berg

2) Casino

Ace Rothstein (Robert DeNiro) is the mobster in charge of the Tangiers casino,
and Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) is his psychotic muscle. We watch their individual fortunes, and the greater mob involvement, change in the 70's and 80's. Ace's biggest problem is Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) a grifter who he knows is only out for his money, yet he can't free himself from her. Nicky's temper and lack of loyalty to his employers is his main source of misfortune. As the FBI starts showing more of an active interest in the casinos, the pressure on the Mob increases until the glory days Ace and Nicky and their bosses disintegrate.

In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.-Ace Rothstein

1)Bob le Flambeur (Bob the Gambler)

Bob (Roger Duchesne) is an aging ex con, who has been around the block.While he's comfortable being a criminal, he lives his life with a certain code of decency and presentation. He's well liked in his community, especially by young Paolo (Daniel Cauchy) who looks to him as a mentor. Bob hears about an opportunity for the perfect heist and starts planning. his life is complicated when he rescues young Anne (Isabelle Corey,) from a pimp. She soon ends up involved with Paolo, who seeking to impress her, tells her about the heist. She in turn tells the pimp, who tells Police Inspector Ledru (Guy Decomble.)  Ledru resolves to stop the heist and tries to find Bob to warn him not to do it. Bob, however, is already occupied in the casino with an unbelievable winning streak, at least until everyone else arrives. Bob Le Flambeur was also remade by Neil Jordan's as "The Good Thief" and P.T. Anderson, as "Hard Eight."

Look, my luck's coming back! -Bob

Top Ten Robert De Niro Anti Heroes

Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, Robert De Niro is often thought of as a guy who plays gangsters for a living. While he's certainly done plenty of those roles, he's also played diverse roles in some of the best films of all time. His commitment to the part of Jake LaMotta is often used to illustrate the limit of dedication to acting. His work with Martin Scorsese alone would be enough to make him legendary. While he hasn't received as much respect for his most recent years, he's clearly an actor that loves to work and his willingness to take a risk rather than rest on his laurels is its own statement and with almost 100 films to his credit, it's a strong one. Even today his presence is likely to be the high point of a film. Films like "Stone" and "Ronin" should be enough to dispel doubts about his contemporary ability. In trying to pick his top ten anti heroes, it was inevitable that some notables would be left out. The Godfather Part II and Goodfellas are my most felt omissions, both left out for similiar reasons, simply that while De Niro was great in both, he wasn't center stage. Feel free to mention your favorites in the comments if I left out one you love.

10. Louis Cyphre (Angel Heart)

One of the creepiest portrayals of the devil on screen. De Niro is presented at first as a ruthless businessman trying to find a missing musician, Johnny Favourite,  in order to enforce a contract. He hires private detective Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) who ends up more deeply involved in the case than he could imagine. Although his name is a pretty big hint. You wouldn't think long fingernails or the way someone eats an egg would be menacing, but they are here. DeNiro plays it straight out of a surreal nightmare. He's cast perfectly for this noirish detective story with a supernatural twist.
No matter how cleverly you sneak up on a mirror, your reflection always looks you straight in the eye.

9. Max Cady (Cape Fear)

While I'll always be a little partial to Robert Mitchum, De Niro certainly made his version of Max Cady a memorable one. Where Mitchum was a master at looming, DeNiro's menace seemed more rooted in the physical. The other factor is the pairing of DeNiro and Nolte, versus Mitchum and Peck. DeNiro easily dominates Nolte, while Gregory Peck is a pretty respectable match for Mitchum. In both cases, you can easily believe that Cady is a true psychopath, capable of any twisted act of cruelty necessary to get his revenge and it's a miracle if the attorney escapes.
It's not necessary to lay a foul tongue on me my friend. I could get upset. Things could get out of hand. Then in self defense, I could do something to you that you would not like, right here.

8. Ace Rothstein (Casino)

More of a numbers guy than a thug, Ace Rothstein becomes essential to the gambling business in Las Vegas. With his old friend Nicky (Joe Pesci) by his side, Ace struggles to keep everything under his control. Of course large amounts of money can have unexpected effects. Ace doesn't count on the actions of Ginger (Sharon Stone) a hustler he falls in love with, whose loyalties are elsewhere. He also has to deal with the fallout from Nicky's increasingly psychopathic tendencies. Add in politics, the mob, and ever uncertain loyalties, and Ace has far too much on his plate to deal with.
The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.

7. Neil McCauley (Heat)

Neil McCauley is a professional bank robber, who has heists down to a science. He's equipped with a very serious and competent crew and stays out of prison living by the motto "Never have anything in your life that you can't walk out on in thirty seconds flat, if you spot the heat coming around the corner." However, after a job goes bad, Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) notices Neil, and lets him know about it, while Neil and crew plan one more big job. Neil shows a bad sense of timing and falls in love in the midst of this. This of course leads to a big showdown with Hanna, the toughest opponent he could ask for.
A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." Now, if you're on me and you gotta move when I move, how do you expect to keep a... a marriage?

6. Johnny Boy (Mean Streets)

Charlie (Harvey Keitel) and Johnny Boy grew up together in Little Italy. While Charlie is concerned with his place in the Mafia  and in the Catholic Church, Johnny Boy seems oblivious to it all, instead revelling in his status as a thug. He isn't concerned about who he offends or owes money to, as much as he's determined to live up to his own idea of the gangster image. This makes things difficult for Charlie, who feels he has to look out for Johnny Boy. The consequences of Johnny Boy's recklessness are bound to catch up with them both and it's not likely that either Charlie or Johnny Boy are ready for success.
I fuck you right where you breath, because I don't give two shits about you or nobody else.

5. Rupert Pupkin (The King of Comedy)

Rupert Pupkin wants to be a famous stand up comic, although he's not very talented. He imagines that super popular talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) could make his dreams come true, by having him perform on his show. He stalks Langford as an obsessive fan with no success, and finally decides that his only chance at a big break is to kidnap Langford and force him to put him on TV. Given the limelight, Pupkin tells the audience what he's done, and adds "better to be king for a night, than schmuck for a lifetime."  Although faced with prison for his actions, we find that his plan perhaps wasn't so crazy after all.
Why not me? Why not? A guy can get anything he wants as long as he pays the price. What's wrong with that? Stranger things have happened.

4. Michael (The Deer Hunter)

Three friends from a working class town, Michael (Robert DeNiro) Steven (John Savage,) and Nick (Christopher Walken) are eager to serve together in the Vietnam War. Captured and held in a POW camp, their captors force them to play Russian Roulette among other tortures. The three manage a difficult escape but end up separated. Michael returns home but has a tough time adjusting to civilian life, wondering about his friends. He has difficulty hunting deer, once a favorite pastime, as he has trouble with the killing now. Briefly, he believes that Nick and Steven are both dead, but finds out that Steven has lost his legs due to injuries from their escape. During his visit, he gets a clue on Nick's whereabouts and attempts to retrieve him from a gambling den where he plays Russian Roulette for the benefit of gamblers. He finds that Nick has been changed even more than he has by the years since Viet Nam.
You have to think about one shot. One shot is what it's all about. A deer's gotta be taken with one shot.

3. Jake LaMotta, (Raging Bull)

We catch up with Jake LaMotta well past the end of his boxing career. We're shown his rise and fall, starting as a talented up and coming boxer, but getting sidetracked by his anger and jealousy. Realizing he needs the mob to get a title match, he throws a fight but makes it much too obvious and ends up suspended. Eventually he does win the championship although he's more consumed with jealousy concerning his wife. His abusiveness ends up alienating everyone he cares about including his brother Joey. His wife divorces him and he serves prison time for setting up underage girls with adult men. We get a picture of a man who nearly had everything, but couldn't stop his own self destructiveness. DeNiro's preparation for the role is legendary and shows through as he truly becomes LaMotta from start to finish.
I've done a lot of bad things, Joey. Maybe it's comin' back to me.

2. Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)

Travis Bickle drives a cab because he can't sleep. He refers to himself as "God's lonely man." as he's unable to connect with anybody. He just drives through NYC, picking people up and dropping them off. He becomes fixated on "Betsy (Cybil Shepherd) a woman working on a political campaign for a Senator Palatine. It becomes obvious quickly that Bickle doesn't have a chance with Betsy due to his absolute lack of understanding social skills. He can't stop thinking about cleaning up "the scum" from the city streets and buys a gun. This leads him into a deranged plan to assassinate Palatine, which is aborted when he's spotted by secret service men. He also meets a teenaged prostitute named Iris (Jodie Foster) and ends up altering his "quest" from killing Palatine to freeing Iris. Perhaps the most memorable anti heroes in cinema, Bickle is a
character who only by chance ends up looking the hero, and certainly never feels like it.
Thank God for the rain to wash the trash off the sidewalk.

1. "Noodles" Aaronson, (Once Upon A Time in America)

A truly epic film, Once Upon A Time in America, tells the story of "Noodles" Aaronson from growing up in Brooklyn in the '20's to returning home in 1968. He and some other kids in the neighborhood , most notably a kid named Max, form their own gang and pursue petty theft and crime, clashing with other  small time young crooks. Noodles is in love with Deborah, the local butchers daughter. An invention of Noodles impresses mobster Capuano and starts the boys earning serious money, which they keep in a train station locker, agreeing to only open it when all are present. They end up at odds with the local mobster, Bugsy who doesn't like their gang running independently. In their confrontation one of the gang is killed and Noodles, enraged, stabs a cop and gets sent away to prison. On his release, Max (James Woods) picks him up, and he learns that the gang has changed and they now run a funeral parlor to cover their real income which is illegal liquor, due to the Prohibition. He discovers that the gang is now taking orders from mobster Frankie Manoldi, which doesn't sit well with him. He reconnects with Deborah, and rapes her, ruining any chance at a further relationship. After everyone in the gang is killed in a heist gone wrong, he finds the money at the train station has been replaced by newspaper and his girlfriend is murdered. Noodles leaves town and goes to Buffalo. He returns in 1968 and finds his friends' graves were moved. He also finds money in the locker again, and that Max may not be as dead as he appeared to be, but the time may have come to settle things. I can't think of another film that better presents the weight of a whole life spent badly, and DeNiro is fully there every step of the way.
I'm not that kind of guy. Besides, I'm afraid if I give you a good crack in the mouth, you'd probably like it.

Top Ten Al Pacino Anti Heroes

Al Pacino is an actor who is often caricatured for his memorable expressions and his over the top delivery. What's remarkable about him is that he's created so many memorable characters that are impression worthy. It's hard to believe that the same man who played Michael Corleone, also played Tony Montana, and Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon. He's as likely to play a "good guy" as a "bad guy" most of his characters falling somewhere in between. We meet Michael Corleone, for example as a decent guy with a chip on his shoulder against his family's mafia activities, and watch as he becomes the most ruthless of them all. That amazing performance wouldn't be effective if we didn't believe both parts of the character. You can't imagine Corleone saying "Hooo-ah!" Pacino can disappear into a character like no one else, yet his characters always have his distinctive mark on them. It's remarkable that he's been acting since 1968 and is still putting out great performances. Here are my favorite ten of his anti hero performances, excluding Shakespeare (although he's a great Shylock too.)

10) Will Dormer, Insomnia


Will Dormer is a legendary police officer who is also under investigation by Internal Affairs. He and his partner Hap (Martin Donovan) are sent to Alaska to help track down a murderer. Hap discusses cutting a deal with IA, which angers Dormer. They investigate the Alaskan murder as Dormer realizes that there's daylight all the time, and finds himself unable to sleep. His partner is shot and only Will knows the true circumstances, although he blames the killer they're pursuing. Local cop, Ellie Burr (Hillary Swank) a big fan of Dormer's looks into Hap's death. Dormer finds the Alaskan killer, Walter Finch (Robin Williams) although  Walter knows a few things that make it difficult for Dormer to arrest him.
"You don't get it do you Finch? You're my job. You're what I'm paid to do. You're about as mysterious to me as a blocked toilet is to a fucking plumber. Reasons for doing what you did? Who gives a fuck?"

9) Sonny, Dog Day Afternoon


Sonny decides to rob a bank, as it's the only way he can pay for his male lover's sex change operation. Assisted by his friend Sal, (John Cazale) they find the robbery goes very easily with no one putting up much resistance. Unfortunately, he picked a bad time to rob the bank as it has little money on hand. The police soon respond and Sonny's efforts turn to survival and attempting an escape for himself and Sal. Negotiating with the police camped outside, even taunting them at times, he attempts to find some way out as he comes to realize he doesn't have a lot of options.
"No, I don't want to be paid, I don't need to be paid. Look, I'm here with my partner and nine other people, see. And we're dying, man. You know? You're going to see our brains on the sidewalk, they're going to spill our guts out. Now are you going to show that on television? Have all your housewives look at that? Instead of As The World Turns? I mean what do you got for me? I want something for that."

8) Steve Burns, Cruising


Steve Burns is a cop tracking down a brutal serial killer who targets gay men in the underground New York  S & M club subculture, using S & M related methods to dispatch his victims. Burns goes undercover in the community with the intent of acting as bait. As this is a William Friedkin film you know it won't be that easy. The assignment gets to Burns more than he imagined it would, leaving him deeply changed in many ways. The film is an interesting portrait of a time period and strives for authentic detail. This is not a film about a
good guy chasing a bad guy as much as it's about some people being poorly suited for undercover work.
"What I'm doing is affecting me."

7) Lefty Ruggiero, Donnie Brasco


Lefty Ruggiero is a mobster targeted by Joey Pistone, (Johnny Depp) an undercover cop using the name "Donnie Brasco" Donnie's strategy is to befriend Lefty to infiltrate the family he works for, what he doesn't count on is forming a real friendship with Lefty, which is certainly mutual as we see Lefty risk his life for Donnie. Lefty educates Donnie on all the ins and outs of Mob life, including the lingo. He says "If I say you're a friend of mine, that means you're connected. If I say you're a friend of ours, that means you're a made guy." He also explains that by vouching for Donnie, he's agreeing to take the blame for anything Donnie does. This turns out to mean a great deal, and we explore whether or not friendship is stronger than the cop/criminal divide.
"How many times have I had you in my house? If you're a rat, then I'm the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia."

6) Carlito Brigante, Carlito's Way


Carlito Brigante gets out of prison determined to go straight. The only problem is that no one wants to let him. His lawyer and friend, Kleinfeld (Sean Penn) and a thug named Benny Blanco (John Leguizamo) are especially instrumental in making his reformation difficult. Seen by some as a sort of removed sequel to Scarface (If Tony Montana got thirty years in prison he might be Carlito) it's interesting that despite many similarities to Tony Montana, Carlito is also very different. He really wants to go straight but he can't erase everything he was, every friendship or association. Whether he likes it or not, there are some things more important to Carlito than reforming, still it's nice to watch him try while hoping he can do it.
"There is a line you cross, you don't never come back from. Point of no return. Dave crossed it. I'm here with him. That's means I am going along for the ride. The whole ride. All the way to the end of the line, wherever that is."

5) John Milton, The Devil's Advocate


Pacino might not be your first pick as the Devil, (going by John Milton here,) but after seeing his performance here, I was amazed that it hadn't happened before. Pacino himself suggested that Robert Redford or Sean Connery play the part. Milton is intent on bringing his son, Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) into the family business. Kevin, an exceptional defense attorney, however, knows nothing about his father. Milton offers him an amazing job, and gradually reveals what's going on behind the curtain. Kevin resists but the battle is not as easy as he thinks.
"Don't get too cocky my boy. No matter how good you are don't ever let them see you coming. That's the gaffe my friend. You gotta keep yourself small. Innocuous. Be the little guy. You know, the nerd, the leper, shit-kickin' surfer. Look at me. Underestimated from day one. You'd never think I was a master of the universe, now would ya? "

4) Frank Serpico, Serpico
You might think that being an honest cop doesn't make you an anti hero, and ideally you'd be right. However, when the police force expects you to be corrupt, it's a whole different story. and you're working against the system, not for it. Frank Serpico refuses to go along with the corrupt practices of his police department, and gets no support at all, even when appealing to the highest authorities. Insisting on living life his own way, doesn't make Serpico any friends. His insistence on sticking to his own code gets him shot in the face and costs him everything of value in his life, including the country he lives in.
"What's this for? For bein' an honest cop? Hmm? Or for being stupid enough to get shot in the face? You tell them that they can shove it."

3) Lt. Vincent Hanna, Heat
Lt. Vincent Hanna ends up chasing a professional thief, Neil McCauley (Robert DeNiro) a super competent heist crew. Hanna is is dedicated to being a cop as McCauley is to making money, and aside from their professions the two have much in common. McCauley lives by the philosophy of never having anything you can't leave behind. Hanna seems to live by that too, although perhaps not as intentionally. He sacrifices everything in his personal life for the sake of his job. McCauley falters in his committment to this ideal, giving Hanna an opportunity to close in. Even so, the outcome is never certain as McCauley is a tough adversary. Featuring one of the best stand offs around, Heat is mesmerizing from start to finish. Michael Mann is the perfect director to give Pacino and DeNiro the perfect film to appear together, both at their very best.
"Oh, I see, what I should do is, come home and say "Hi honey! Guess what? I walked into this house today, where this junkie asshole just fried his baby in a microwave, because it was crying too loud. So let me share that with you. Come on, let's share that, and in sharing it, we'll somehow, er, cathartically dispel all that heinous shit". Right?"

2) Tony Montana, Scarface


Tony Montana is a force of nature. Starting out in a Cuban refugee camp, he won't be stopped from living his own American dream. His instincts and ruthlessness make it pretty easy for him to elevate himself quickly but the steps never satisfy him. Even after he's deposed his former boss, taken his wife, and established his own direct supply of drugs, Tony wants more. His rapid climb makes him many enemies of course, and even his "friends" are afraid of him. Tony needs help from his Colombian associates to stay out of prison, but he refuses to play by their rules, flagrantly ruining a job they need done and killing the boss's right hand man. Tony is a remarkably tough guy to kill but it's only a matter of time before someone makes the required effort.
"What you lookin' at? You all a bunch of fuckin' assholes. You know why? You don't have the guts to be what you wanna be? You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you."

1) Michael Corleone, The Godfather


Michael Corleone wants nothing to do with the "family business." He's happy to promise his girlfriend he's not like "them" at all, and he even believes it. But he does have to look out for his father, which gets him tangled up in the affairs of the "five families." He starts off reluctantly but it eventually becomes all too clear that he's not unlike his family at all, and may even be the worst of them. Hailed by many as one of the greatest films of all time, and for good reason. Its full of subtle brilliance in acting, script, and direction and Michael's journey from resistor to the crime throne seems the most natural, if tragic thing in the world.
"That's my family Kay, that's not me."