With Prisoners storming the critics reviews this week with many calling it the companion piece to Se7en, we decided to take a look at the best crime thrillers.
In this particular case, a crime thriller can be a kind of grey area but we’re talking about those films that begin with a crime, have a couple of nice twists and turns along the way that ends with the big reveal. There are various other categories that these films probably fit into, but they are some of our favourite crime thrillers.
1. Se7en
There is no question about it, Se7en, directed by the amazing David Fincher, is arguably one of the best films ever made, not just one of the best crime thrillers. With a cast to die for which included the wonderful Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt, Se7en had so many twists and turns upon first viewing that you were never really sure where it was going. Although there is arguably one of the greatest reveal scenes in cinema, Se7en demands several more viewings just to get all those amazing little bits that you might glance over.
2. The Departed
Yes it’s a remake of the excellent Infernal Affairs, but the Departed is good enough to warrant a place in this crime thriller list. After realizing that both the cops and the gangster ring have a mole in their midst, both an undercover agent and a dirty cop try desperately to find the other out before it becomes too late for either of them. Along with some stunning performances, particularly Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg among many others, the direction of the wonderful Martin Scorsese will have you on the edge of your seat.
3. Zodiac
Another entry for the wonderful David Fincher, Zodiac is one of those films that is one hundred times better the second time you watch it. Based on the true story of the serial killer nicknamed the Zodiac, the film revolves around a journalist who attempts to crack the code and find the true identity of the murderer. Fincher certainly knows how to pick a cast, and Zodiac is no exception, most importantly in the form of the amazing Robert Downey Jr. who proves he is far more than an iron superhero.
4. The Firm
Yes, it’s Tom Cruise, but it is some damn fine Tom Cruise. The Firm is one of those films that grabs you by the neck at the beginning and doesn’t really let you breathe until the end. Following the career of a young lawyer who begins to understand that not everything is quite as it seems at his new law firm, the film throws up enough twists and turns from the Grisham novel to constantly keep you guessing. It seems to be one of those films that always turns up on TV, but is certainly worth the watch.
5. The Silence of the Lambs
Many would classify the Silence of the Lambs as a horror, but most of its elements are actually those of a crime thriller. Clarice Starling, a young FBI agent on the hunt for a serial killer who has kidnapped his latest young victim must entrust a killer who eats his victims to help her find him. The Silence of the Lambs is certainly not a walk in the park and there are plenty of scenes that will make you jump out of your skin but it will all be entirely worth it for that Anthony Hopkins speech.
6. LA Confidential
Absolutely everything works about LA Confidential, the casting, the story, those sets, Curtis Hanson and crew left nothing to chance. Diving into the underbelly of 1950’s LA, three cops attempt to solve some mob murders but find that their investigations are leading them a little bit too close to home. Starring the relative newbie, Russell Crowe, and with one of the best script adaptations, LA Confidential cleaned up in Oscar nominations and managed to take a couple home. Timeless and a masterclass in acting, Confidential is completely deserving of it’s place on the list.
7. Catch Me If You Can
Undoubtedly something a little lighter, Catch Me If You Can brought the true story of Frank Abagnale to the big screen. Abagnale managed to successfully forge millions of dollars worth of cheques before his 21st birthday and pursued relentlessly by Hanratty, he managed to pass himself off as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor without any investigation. The fact that is another true story just makes everything more enjoyable, plus it is certainly not as dark as many of the others.
