Monday, November 2, 2009

Monday Movie Meme - Sleeping with the fishes




Today's Monday Movie Meme from the Bumbles is all about mobsters. Did any of you see any wee mobsters out last night gunning for candy? I know I didn't. I saw butterflies, Star Wars characters and more than a few superheroes, but no Tony Montana! I think most parents would draw the line somewhere in there. Mobsters are pretty brutal, but oh are they fun to watch at the movies! Here are a few of my all-time (I'm talking dozens of viewings in the Nawrot household) mob movies:

The Godfather 1 and 2 - I am being pretty specific here, because the third one blew. This is cinematic euphoria in my book...Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Marlon Brando. These two movies would definitively fall in my top 10 movie list.

Scarface - yes, I like Al Pacino. And a little healthy gratuitous violence and language. This movie is SO over-the-top, with so many quotable lines, I never tire of watching it. The guns! The drugs! The accents! I understand that I may have something wrong with me, as I've not met many women that can stomach it.

Goodfellas - Another classic, with phenomenal performances by DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, directed by Scorsese. When it comes to classic mobsters, this is up there with The Godfather, plus (added bonus) it is based on a true story of Henry Hill, the oft call-in visitor of Howard Stern back in the days.

Eastern Promises - No way I can walk away from this one. The plot surrounding the Russian mafia is OK, but you will not be able to shake the vision of my dear Viggo, tattooed from head to toe, in the nude, in a bathhouse, fighting for his life. Dude has got it all going on.










Pulp Fiction - More gratuitous violence ala Quentin Tarantino. Is is just me, or did this movie just blow your mind? At the time, I'd never seen anything quite so fresh, so bizarre, and just so...cool.


This is a genre that I could talk about for hours. If it weren't late at night, I might have added more, like Kill Bill, Chinatown, The Usual Suspects or Reservoir Dogs. So lay it on me! Which are your favorites?





17 comments:

Beth F said...

Any post with Viggo in it is a good post!

Don't forget Casino -- another really good one.

bermudaonion said...

I loved Goodfellas too!

kayerj said...

You make them sound interesting, which is good considering I've never been into mob movies.

If you want to come on by here’s movie list

ds said...

Ahhhh, Viggo!! May have to find that one. Forgot about Pulp Fiction (how could I?)--that was great! Thanks!

Unknown said...

Great list Sandy! I have Scarface in my list too. I agree with Beth, any movie with Viggo is worth watching and I'll add Johnny Depp to that list!

Goodfellas is definitely one of the best!

Kathleen said...

Godfather 1 ad 2 are definitely at the top of my list. I enjoyed Scarface and Goodfellas also. I can't believe I have never seen Eastern Promise OR Pulp Fiction...I know it is crazy!

caite said...

oh, this is my genre! maybe it has to do with being from New Jersey...
Godfather, Pulp Fiction, Goodfellows...

I must say I have never seen...or actually heard of....Eastern Promises. Off to Netflix to check that one out.

Alyce said...

Pulp Fiction shocked me when I watched it my freshman year of college because I wasn't prepared for the violence. I love the Godfather movies (for some reason though they are violent they don't bother me as much as Pulp Fiction).

Jenners said...

I remember seeing "Pulp Fiction" in the theater and being blow away. I went to see it the next day by myself. Still one of my favorite movies of all time.

Alice said...

I don't remember watching PULP FICTION. I need to play catch up! Coming to think of it, I don't really watch movies so I need to do that more often...

The Bumbles said...

I don't think there's anything wrong with you! I'm a fan of violence for a purpose in the plot - or for ridiculous over the top screw it we might as well shoot him up 1,000 times to get the point across - type of scenes too. Pacino was so great in Scarface wasn't he? Another goodie of his was Carlito's Way with Sean Penn.

I haven't seen Eastern Promises yet *gasp* though it has been sitting on the queue for a while now.

P.S. I like your new photo for your profile page - I was getting tired of your striped jersey ;0)

Lisa said...

Great choices!

Sandy Nawrot said...

Beth - yeah, girl, I know you're with me on that one! As far as Casino, I think I've seen it but have no solid memory of it (?!)

Kathy - I never tire of seeing that one!

Kaye - you should give one of the "goodies" a try! You just have to be in a hard state of mind for the violence.

ds - yes, I threw that little picture of him in there for you all. Just a little treat for Monday!

Amy - Viggo has been in some stinky movies, but for some strange reason I can still watch them!

Kathleen - you definitely need to put those two movies on your list if you like the others. I'm pretty sure they would blow you away!

Caite - I learned something new about you! If you are into mob and don't mind a little Viggo skin, you must rent Eastern Promises.

Alyce - it IS shocking, just because it is really over the top violence. The first time I saw it, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open.

Jenners - yeah! And it isn't often that movies do that to you! Plus the music of course! And the moving back and forth in time. What a trip!

Alice - definitely rent it, just hang onto your hat!

Bumbles - I guess I have that side to me. I loved Kill Bill too for that reason. I change my profile picture on Facebook frequently, but I forget about my blog. You didn't like the "big bumblebee" (as named by my husband) shirt? Ha! At least I'm dressed up a little in this one!

Lisa - thanks! It was fun. I love this genre!

Susan said...

I haven't seen Eastern Promises and I read that is extremely brutal. Not sure I can handle that! And I'm probably one of the few people who hasn't seen Scarface, but the others are definitely 5 outta 5 stars. Ba-da-bing!

Unknown said...

I LOVE mobster movies and you've listed a few of my all time favs: The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas. Absolutely brilliant :)

Heidenkind said...

Eastern Promises is a great movie. I love how they left the relationship between Viggo and Watts, too.

I have this really odd fondness for Married to the Mob... :D

Anonymous said...

The scene was Viggo was awesome. I had forgotten about this movie when I saw the meme. How could I have forgotten about that scene in so short a time?!