I love a good heist film. These films always feature a group of criminals coming together to pull off a crime none of them could do on their own. I always enjoy the interaction and banter between the members of the gang, and despite trying to figure out what the group is about to do, like the police chasing them, I’m usually one step behind. There are many classic films including the Oceans 11 franchise, Point Break, and The Italian Job. Here are four of my favorites.
First up is Reservoir Dogs (1992), the directorial debut of Quentin Tarantino. In this film, things go terribly wrong after six men known only by aliases like Mr. White and Mr. Pink attempt a jewelry heist. By the end of the film several members of the gang have been killed, an undercover cop has infiltrated the group, and one very unlucky police officer ends up tied to a chair. Reservoir Dogs is not for the faint of heart, but then again neither is a good jewelry heist.
House of Games (1987) is a lesser known film that features a group of conmen who cross paths with a psychiatrist, Margaret Ford. Ford is sucked in by the group’s jobs, alternating between being a member and a mark of the group’s cons. When Mike, the leader of the group pushes Margaret too far, the two go head to head in a battle of the minds… and also, bullets.
Third up is The Usual Suspects, the groundbreaking film from 1995. After meeting in the clink, five local criminals team up to begin working together. The danger mounts when the group begin working for the mysterious crime lord Keyser Söze, a criminal so underground that no one has ever seen his face. The story unfolds through the eyes of Verbal Kent as he relays the group’s activities to a detective. By the end of the film you’ll discover that Kent may not have been entirely truthful to the police… and by the very end you’ll be hit with a twist that will not only blow your mind but demands you watch the film a second time.
Wrapping up this week’s episode is one of my favorite films of all time, 1998’s Ronin.
”Ronin” were samurai who lost their masters and roamed the earth as mercenaries for hire, which defines the criminal masterminds that come together in this film. Four men are hired to obtain a briefcase, despite not knowning what’s in the case, who has it, or who' they’re delivering it to. The stakes continue to rise as one mission leads to another, and things really spin out of control when one member of the gang attempts to make off with the briefcase for his own purposes. Starring Robert De Niro as Sam, the self-appointed leader of the gang. Ronin features a twisty plot, non-stop tension, and jaw-dropping car chases. A must watch.
