GangstaΓÇÖs Paradise

Omair Alavi|Instep|February 9, 2020

At a time when The Irishman and The Gentleman depict the present gangster film genre, The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies by George Anastasia and Glen Macnow, does a tremendous job of debunking the myth.

If you think that Martin ScorseseΓÇÖ The Irishman is the best gangster film of all-time or that Guy Ritchie has mastered the genre, think again. While The Irishman is streaming on Netflix and Guy RitchieΓÇÖs The Gentleman screened in cinemas, read all there is to know about gangster films. You will be surprised to know there is a lot more [to it] than meets the eye.

Co-authors George Anastasia and Glen Macnow present The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies that is a step ahead of 100 Greatest Gangster Films of All Time.

The book not only features material that is featured in 100 Greatest Gangster Films of All Time but informs in a much more detailed fashion. For readers who donΓÇÖt know that The Godfather has three parts, The Usual SuspectsΓÇÿ lineup scene was improvised as nobody could stop laughing or that Tim Roth was cast in Reservoir Dogs because of his anonymity rather than acting skills, will enjoy the insider information.

The book makes you want to watch gangster films, even if you havenΓÇÖt seen most of them. The authors have done a marvelous job in resurrecting classic gangster movies from the black and white era by not only including them in their 100 list, but also by writing about them with research-based authority.

Be it a Hollywood classic or a Japanese one, featuring Sicilian Mafia or the Irish Mob, this book talks about them in a fashion that is befitting of gangster style. Every film comprises a chapter that is further divided into side-bars. In ΓÇÿHitΓÇÖ, the authors mention the reason why a film became a huge hit while in ΓÇÿMissΓÇÖ they criticise the film if there is any reason to do so. In the section ΓÇÿWhat They Wrote At That TimeΓÇÖ the leading criticsΓÇÖ review that were published after the filmΓÇÖs release are mentioned (and you will be shocked to read some of the comments). In ΓÇÿGoofΓÇÖ, the filmΓÇÖs biggest mistake is revealed and ΓÇÿReality CheckΓÇÖ offers a list of discrepancies in the final version. In ΓÇÿRepeated Watching QuotientΓÇÖ we get to learn if a film can be watched again while ΓÇÿPivotal SceneΓÇÖ talks about the most iconic scene in the movie.

Then there is ΓÇÿDonΓÇÖt Fail to NoticeΓÇÖ where you get to know something that you didnΓÇÖt before, which is followed by ΓÇÿCasting CallΓÇÖ where actors and actresses missing the film are discussed. ΓÇÿViolence Level and Body CountΓÇÖ provides insight in assessing the film in holistic fashion.

ΓÇÿBet You DidnΓÇÖt KnowΓÇÖ brings forth one or two previously unknown facts about the movie. ΓÇÿThe Best LineΓÇÖ is exactly what you think it should be while ΓÇÿI Know That Gal/GuyΓÇÖ mentions an actor you didnΓÇÖt know also starred in a movie. And if you do like a certain film, this book refers another one in ΓÇÿIf You Liked This, YouΓÇÖll LikeΓÇÖ sidebar section

Naming some of the films that we already have in our list of best gangster includes The Godfather trilogy although the last one wasnΓÇÖt that big a hit; Goodfellas released the same year as the final Godfather. You canΓÇÖt keep The Usual Suspects, Heat, Reservoir Dogs, Once Upon A Time In America, The Untouchables, Gangs of New York, Midnight Run, Snatch, Layer Cake, Lucky Number Slevin and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels away from the list. The way each film is dissected allows you learn more about gangster films than an average fan. And while youΓÇÖre at it, there is a hidden list featured as well that rates the worst gangster movies somewhere in the book and Sylvester StalloneΓÇÖs name prominently features in there.

The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies is a book you canΓÇÖt put down because it talks to the readers rather than the readers going through it. Also included in the book is a foreword from the real-life Donnie Brasco (Joe Pistone), actors and directors who made a name for themselves through gangster films (Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen and Tim Roth among others). Using compelling photographs from the movies instead of movie posters, the book intelligently stays away from giving away spoilers. So, if you donΓÇÖt want to know who Keyser Soze was or which actor died in a movie, go through it without the fear of knowing the end.