It's straight down the line, for both of us.
OK. I've done heists and cons, now it's time for the big whopper. Murders.
Sometimes murders are involved in cons and heists, but this category is reserved for movies that take murder to be central to the action. Now, a few comments. I don't include movies that have murders, but that are not planned, or are used for shock value. Psycho, for example, doesn't count here. Neither does a movie like L.A. Confidential, because the murder in that case is largely backdrop. There has to be at least some plot established. The people here have to be tried for first-degree murder.
Here are the contenders.
A Simple Plan, Diabolique, Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Body Heat, U-Turn, Red Rock West, Blood Simple, Get Carter, The Limey, The Princess Bride, The Crossing Guard, Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train, Fargo, Out of the Past, Gilda.
Note: I was also thinking, after yesterday, that The Talented Mr. Ripley is a noteworthy con, though it probably doesn't make the top five. Out of the Past is really more of a double-cross, but I've already split enough hairs over these topics. Down to the rankings.
5. Strangers on a Train
Smooth, classic. Features one of the greatest single shots ever; a tennis match, but one man's head isn't moving.
4. A Simple Plan
New, but very well done. None of these men are criminals in the usual sense, but have killed so much that murder is the only way out.
3. Body Heat
The sweatiest movie ever. Some great dance moves by Ted Danson complement an incredibly strong plot. "You're not too smart, are you...I like that in a man." "Maybe you shouldn't dress like that," "Like what? I'm wearing a dress," "Maybe you shouldn't wear that body."
2. Double Indemnity
Fred MacMurray is fantastic; so are Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. But the real star is the script: a Raymond Chandler adaptation of a James M. Cain shocker. Contains one or two nice double-crosses.
1. Diabolique
Absolutely fantastic. Great murder. Well filmed, timed, acted. Unlike the others, the audience isn't in on the plot. Great fun.
Sometimes murders are involved in cons and heists, but this category is reserved for movies that take murder to be central to the action. Now, a few comments. I don't include movies that have murders, but that are not planned, or are used for shock value. Psycho, for example, doesn't count here. Neither does a movie like L.A. Confidential, because the murder in that case is largely backdrop. There has to be at least some plot established. The people here have to be tried for first-degree murder.
Here are the contenders.
A Simple Plan, Diabolique, Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Body Heat, U-Turn, Red Rock West, Blood Simple, Get Carter, The Limey, The Princess Bride, The Crossing Guard, Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train, Fargo, Out of the Past, Gilda.
Note: I was also thinking, after yesterday, that The Talented Mr. Ripley is a noteworthy con, though it probably doesn't make the top five. Out of the Past is really more of a double-cross, but I've already split enough hairs over these topics. Down to the rankings.
5. Strangers on a Train
Smooth, classic. Features one of the greatest single shots ever; a tennis match, but one man's head isn't moving.
4. A Simple Plan
New, but very well done. None of these men are criminals in the usual sense, but have killed so much that murder is the only way out.
3. Body Heat
The sweatiest movie ever. Some great dance moves by Ted Danson complement an incredibly strong plot. "You're not too smart, are you...I like that in a man." "Maybe you shouldn't dress like that," "Like what? I'm wearing a dress," "Maybe you shouldn't wear that body."
2. Double Indemnity
Fred MacMurray is fantastic; so are Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson. But the real star is the script: a Raymond Chandler adaptation of a James M. Cain shocker. Contains one or two nice double-crosses.
1. Diabolique
Absolutely fantastic. Great murder. Well filmed, timed, acted. Unlike the others, the audience isn't in on the plot. Great fun.
posted by dd0031 at 4:25 PM
4 Comments:
Princess Bride? Which murder are you referring to? Wesley is murdered by Prince Humperdink in the Pit of Despair, but since he is only "mostly dead," I have to rule that one out. Indigo Montoya is out to avenge his father's murder, but again, that falls under the "backdrop" category you suggested. The only other murder I can think of in that movie is when Wesley poisons Vizzini with the Iocaine powder. Its a good scene, clever, with great dialogue... but i guess, since the movie seems so lighthearted, the murder doesn't seem to carry as much weight as some of these other flicks. You laugh at Vizzini's death. perhaps that is the real beauty of the scene: it is preceeded by Wesley knocking Indigo and Fezzig unconcious, and perhaps that sets up the murder scene - you laugh because its funny and it seems harmless. But really, it is cold blooded murder.
I dunno, I still don't buy it.
Well, mostly because of the revenge plot. I sort of found that really interesting. But, you know, it didn't make the top five or anything (or really even the top 10).
So stick it.
i guess i did leave out the part where Inigo DOES avenge his fathers death by killing the 6-fingered Christopher Guest. well thats fine then
I think there are some other contenders, too. But obviously, it's difficult to cover all the murders in movies because it's such a common plot. There's also: Anatomy of a Murder, Rope, Witness for the Prosecution, The Manchurian Candidate, Primal Fear, Mystic River, Se7en and Silence of the Lambs (Though the last two maybe don't fit in the same way as the others because the focus is on preventing the next potential murders rather than on the earlier actual murder(s).)
Nice picks, Dale. I haven't seen Diabolique. Now I'm interested.
R
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