Gangster Squad - 2013 ****

Gangster Squad is one of those films i know I'm going to like before i watch it. It was better than 'Lawless' but not as good as a typical 1940s noir. Sean Penn was almost unrecognisable as Mickey Cohen, the sadistic leader of the gang which has total control of the whole of Chicago. Emma Stone plays his beautiful abused mistress, and Ryan Gosling plays the cop who falls in love with her, whilst trying to put an end to the bloody violence.
It's typical Hollywood. Glitzy, glamorous and indulgent. I enjoyed it, although found that it ran on a bit.

Murder with Pictures - 1936 ****

Oh Yes! This is the type of movie I needed after this weekend to cheer me up. Ironically the 2 films I have enjoyed the most have both starred Lewis Ayres. Ayres (again) this time plays a good guy (for a change) who is caught up in the middle of a murder investigation after someone is killed at a gathering of reporters and photographers. It's actually a really good story despite the sadly dire quality of the film (I do wish more of these less well-known classic movies would be digitally remastered) and I was pretty keen to find the culprit. Lew Ayres was excellent, and I think this is the start of my researching into his filmography for much more of his work.

The Doorway to Hell - 1930 ****

Those were the days. The days when Lewis Ayres was one of the 'top' gangsters in Warner Bros. The days when James Cagney really did look like he was wearing too much eye-liner. The days when every single object, person, place was perfectly glamourous. 'The Doorway to Hell' is really a film to rival 'Public Enemy' and 'Little Caesar.' Ayres and Cagney play the heads of a gang who are intent on keeping the peace between others in the Chicago area. Before long, Ayres decides to retire on his wealth and move to the country with his new wife Doris. However Cagney cannot cope on his own and is soon trying to persuade Ayres to come back..
For an unknown I enjoyed it immensely. Wonderful snapshot.
 

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - 1998 ****

I was told by my boyfriend that if I wanted to watch a 'good' film it should really be this one, and as I had recently been tied down and forced to watch 'Layer Cake' I wasn't holding out too much hope.
Yes, I have to say I was impressed and actually really enjoyed it. The cast was great, one of those films where you can spend nearly the entire time picking people out and saying 'I recognise that person from so and so', the story was complicated by gritty, and in parts downright funny (as only Guy Ritchie knows how) and there were some hilarious quotes to top it off. I can't decided whether I prefer this over 'Snatch' because I found Brad Pitt extremely amusing doing his pikey impression but that was only for a small part of the film whereas 'Lock Stock' was consistantly more funny throughout. Vinnie Jones is a highlight though of course.

Layer Cake - 2004 ***

'Layer Cake' is one of those films where the die-hard gangster fans go on and on about how you need to watch it a number of times before you can 'understand how complex' it is. In the same vein as 'Lock Stock' and 'Snatch'. Well I haven't seen 'Lock Stock' and I had no difficulty in understanding AND enjoying 'Snatch' on the first time around, so I'm not sure why this would be any different. 'Layer Cake' has a good cast (except for Daniel Craig who I'm sorry will NEVER be a good leading man *All 'Skyfall' fans jump on me in anger*) but still there seems to be something missing here. The humour, the plot and even the acting is a bit ridiculous. I wanted to see this to be able to say I'd seen it, but I really can't see what all the fuss is about with regards to Matthew Vaughan's direction, it's nothing special. Gangster-comedy-drama rarely works, and it didn't here.