(DML Top 20 Lists - Action Crime Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

Con Air (1997), Director: Simon West, Writer: Scott Rosenberg, rated R for violence, language

One wrong flight can ruin your whole day

Starring: Nicholas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappelle, Rachel Ticotin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash." – Garland Greene

Why watch this? This is high-flying action on steroids, and you'll remember the name Cameron Poe.

Plot Summary: The story follows Cameron Poe, a decorated Army Ranger, who is paroled from prison after serving time for manslaughter. While on a flight transporting some of the country's most dangerous criminals, the inmates seize control of the plane, and Poe finds himself caught in the middle. With the help of a U.S. Marshal on the ground, Poe must work to stop the criminals' escape plan.

Dad's Preview: This and The Rock (1996) are awesome Nicholas Cage action films at the height of his muscular popularity. Con Air is a little more quirky and fun. It's up to Cage to save the f'ing day... That Southern drawl just rolls off his tongue like butter, and he's such a likeable hero. The secret to this film's success is the band of villainous convicts causing all the ruckus. This includes John Malkovich (truly an inspired performance), Ving Rhames and Dave Chappelle.

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films;
Buena Vista Pictures Distributing

Top 20 Action Crime Films #20 Top

Fight Club (1999), Director: David Fincher, rated R for language, violence

Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.

Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Jared Leto, Holt McCallany, Zach Grenier, Eion Bailey, Peter Iacangelo, Thom Gossom Jr., Christina Cabot

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your f***ing khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."– Tyler Durden

Why watch this? Let this be a lesson to prove that violence leads to death and ruin.

Plot Summary: An unfulfilled, dull office worker finds a form of fulfillment from attending survivor support groups, though he has experienced no trauma. Then he meets a man who lives life on the edge, Tyler Durden. Durden spits in the eye of America's system of corporate greed and male suppression. Together they start a club for men to beat the shit out of each other, you know, turn the beast loose. The group grows, as does its violence. Plans are made to hit back, including destroying property and bombing buildings. Where can all this be heading...?

Dad's Preview: Much has been said about Fight Club. Some is critical, yet most gushes praise. It's complex, raw, bold, allegorical, and touches on an amalgam of genres. It has a very unexpected ending. Start of finish, it is a mind game. So why, as I write this review, do I hate it? Because the film makes me look at the mirror's reflection of me, and the larger us. Do we humans really have a chance? Are we really ever going to elevate ourselves above the horrible things we do to each other? I fear the answer is "No" and I hate that fact. In an attempt to become free from society's trappings, Tyler becomes what he hates and worse - a Frankenstein of anarchy. That is inescapable hopelessness. Don't get me wrong, it's a great, well-done movie, but I have to force myself to see it as a cautionary tale. Let's hope it has that influence.

Fox 2000 Pictures, Regency Enterprises,
Linson Films; 20th Century Fox

Top 20 Action Crime Films #19 Top

Point Break (1991), Director: Kathryn Bigelow, rated R for nudity, language, violence

100% Pure Adrenaline.

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, Anthony Kiedis, Chris Pedersen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I know Johnny. I know you want me so bad it's like acid in your mouth. But, not this time." - Bodhi

Why watch this? ... non-stop action with criminal surfers. Awesome, dude!

Plot Summary: FBI agent Johnny Utah goes undercover to investigate a string of bank robberies committed by a gang known as the "Ex-Presidents". Utah suspects the robbers are surfers and infiltrates the surfing community, immersing himself in their adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. He forms a complicated relationship with Bodhi, the enigmatic leader of a group of surfers he believes are responsible for the robberies.

Dad's Preview: If this is on, I'm watching it. There are so many great moments. An undercover cop, Johnny Reno, is assigned to find out who has been robbing local banks. He infiltrates a group of thrill-seeking surfers, led by zen guru, Bohdi. It is great film-making as the plots and subplots wraps themselves up and back again. The action sequences are dangerous and thrilling. The best moments are between Swayze and Reeves as they form a fragile friendship.

Johnny Utah Prod., Largo Ent.;
20th Century Fox

Top 20 Action Crime Films #18 Top

The Accountant (2016), Director: Gavin O'Connor, rated R for violence, language

Calculate your choices.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, John Lithgow

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You think if you don't fight back then maybe they'll like you, stop picking on you and calling you a freak? Well, here's what it is. They don't like you, they don't dislike you. They're afraid of you. You're different. Sooner or later, different scares people." - Christian’s father

Why watch this? It's one of the most intelligent action movies in a long time.

Plot Summary: Christian Wolff, a math savant with high-functioning autism, works as a freelance forensic accountant for dangerous criminal organizations. He takes on a legitimate client, a robotics company, where a financial discrepancy leads him to uncover a conspiracy and become a target. As a Treasury agent closes in, Christian must use his unique skills to protect himself and others while uncovering the truth.

Dad's Preview: A while back, I started to trust Ben Affleck, both as actor and director. This tight thriller about a modern day vigilante is unique and interesting. The premise, which includes a protagonist with Wolff's autism, is brilliant. There is a strong supporting cast in J. K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal and the ever-delightful, and surprising, Anna Kendrick. This really is an action film with a huge heart.

Electric City Ent., RatPac-Dune Ent.;
Warner Bros. Pictures

Top 20 Action Crime Films #17 Top

Heat (1995), Director: Michael Mann, rated R for language, violence

A showdown like Los Angeles has never seen before!

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner."" - Neil McCauley

Why watch this? A first class crime action film with a first class cast.

Plot Summary: Master thief Neil McCauley and his crew plan and execute high-stakes heists across Los Angeles. Meanwhile, obsessed LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna relentlessly pursues them, driven by a personal commitment to his job that mirrors McCauley's own dedication to crime. This cat-and-mouse game escalates as their worlds collide, exploring the blurred lines between their professional lives and the impact their obsessions have on their personal relationships.

Dad's Preview: This film brings together two tough-guy film icons in Pacino and De Niro. They only have one scene together, a quiet conversation in a small diner. One is a sophisticated criminal, the other a vice cop. There's a healthy level of respect between them, but they don't leave as friends. They know they're going to meet again, and one of them is going down. I wish there were more films with these two great actors going at each other, but perhaps, that's the point - less is more. Regardless, I love this superb action heist flick.

Regency Enterprises, Forward Pass;
Warner Bros.

Top 20 Action Crime Films #16 Top

The Warriors (1979), Director: Walter Hill, rated R for language, gang violence

These are the Armies of the Night. They are 100,000 strong. They outnumber the cops five to one.

Starring: Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, David Harris, David P. Kelly, Brian Tyler, Tom McKitterick, Marcelino Sanchez, Terry Michos

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"One gang could run this city! One gang. Nothing would move without us allowing it to happen. We could tax the crime syndicates, the police, because WE got the streets, suckers! Can you dig it?" - Cyrus

Why watch this? This is one bad-ass film.

Plot Summary: In New York City, a charismatic gang leader attempts to unite the city's myriad street gangs at a midnight summit. When this leader is unexpectedly killed, a Coney Island gang called the Warriors is wrongly blamed for his death. Now, targeted by every other gang in the city and pursued by the police, the Warriors must fight their way across enemy territory to reach the safety of their home turf in Brooklyn.

Dad's Preview: As toxically masculine high school males, most teen boys loved this intense movie about NYC street gangs (I was one of them). It combines non-stop action and a great rock soundtrack (which I played non-stop in my 1979 blue Camaro Z28's 8-track player). At a secret gang pow-wow in uptown New York City, the rebellion leader, Cyrus, is killed. The Coney Island Warriors, are framed for murder and are being hunted. The tough cadre has to battle their way back home to Coney, if they can survive. There are great fight scenes. The film's finale, back on the beach, as dawn breaks, still hits hard.

Lawrence Gordon Productions;
Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Action Crime Films #15 Top

Hell or High Water (2016), Director: David Mackenzie, rated R for violence, language

Blood always follows money.

Starring: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham, Marin Ireland, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi, Buck Taylor, Kristin K. Berg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I am a Comanche. Do you know what it means? It means 'Enemy to everyone'." - Bear

Why watch this? This is one, brutally great Texas crime film.

Plot Summary: After their mother's death, two brothers, a divorced father and an ex-con, desperately resort to bank robberies to prevent the foreclosure of their family ranch. Two Texas Rangers, one close to retirement and his loyal partner, investigate the crimes and pursue the brothers across West Texas. This creates a compelling cat-and-mouse narrative exploring themes of desperation, family loyalty, and societal injustice.

Dad's Preview: Texas, with its sparse, angry-poor landscapes, is such a great setting for crimes bred out of poverty. Hell folks, this is where I grew up. I recognized the signs to Coleman, Texas and I've walked those small town streets. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are stellar as two hard-scrapple brothers. There is a desperation in their nature. However, it is Jeff Bridges, as the seasoned Sheriff Hamilton, who delivers another unforgettable, career-defining, performance.

CBS Films, Sidney Kimmel Ent., OddLot Ent.,
Film 33, LBI Ent.; Lionsgate

Top 20 Action Crime Films #14 Top

The Fugitive (1993), Director: Andrew Davis, rated PG-13 for language

A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbé, Daniel Roebuck, Tom Wood

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." - Dep. Marshall Sam Gerard

Why watch this? This is a well-done action thriller. Jones and Ford are excellent!

Plot Summary: Dr. Richard Kimble is a respected surgeon who finds his wife murdered in their home and claims the killer was a one-armed man. Despite his protests, he is convicted of the murder, but escapes from custody after a bus crash. As U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard leads a relentless manhunt, Kimble endeavors to prove his innocence by tracking down the true killer.

Dad's Preview: Adapted from the popular 1960's TV show, The Fugitive, director Davis gives us a superb film with a tidy script. It is a real treat to watch Tommy Lee and Harrison square engaged in a desperate game of pursuer and prey. A respected surgeon is wrongly accused of killing his wife. He escapes (what a scene that is!), lays low, and covertly starts his search for the real murderer. Hot on his trail is a tenacious US Marshall and his crackerjack team.

Kopelson Entertainment; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Action Crime Films #13 Top

Eastern Promises (2007), Director: David Cronenberg, rated R for language, nudity, violence

Every sin leaves a mark.

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent Cassel, Sinéad Cusack, Jerzy Skolimowski, Donald Sumpter, Josepf Altin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Forget any of this happened. Stay away from people like me." - Nikolai Luzhin

Why watch this? This is a rock solid, A+ Russian gangster film - a tense crime thriller.

Plot Summary: Anna, a London midwife, discovers a diary belonging to a pregnant teenage girl who dies in childbirth. Her efforts to translate the Russian-language diary and find the baby's family embroil her with a powerful Russian crime family that is involved in human trafficking. Anna finds herself increasingly drawn into a dangerous world of secrets, violence, and shifting loyalties as she tries to protect the baby and uncover the truth.

Dad's Preview: This new masterpiece from David Cronenberg is smart, intense, and really solidifies the director as one of the best in his profession. It's a story about the ultra-dangerous underworld of the Russian mafia, and how unwise it is for regular people to encounter or cross them. Watts, as usual, is perfect, but Mortensen, as "the driver" called Nikolai, who delivers maybe the best performance of his career to date. He's chilling. The fight scene in the bath house shower is unforgettable.

Focus Features, BBC Films, Astral Media,
Corus Ent., Telefilm Canada, Kudos Pics,
Serendipity Point Films, Scion Films; Pathé Distribution

Top 20 Action Crime Films #12 Top

The French Connection (1971), Director: William Friedkin, rated R for violence, language

When "Popeye" cuts loose, anything goes!

Starring: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi, Bill Hickman, Ann Rebbot, Harold Gary

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"All right, Popeye's here! Get your hands on your heads, get off the bar, and get on the wall!" - Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle

Why watch this? It remains a pinnacle film in its crime action genre.

Plot Summary: New York City narcotics detectives, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo are investigating a major heroin smuggling operation spanning from Marseille, France, to New York. Their relentless pursuit of French drug kingpin Alain Charnier, known as "Frog One," leads them through tense stakeouts, dangerous surveillance, and iconic car chases through the streets of New York.

Dad's Preview: This is the gritty crime drama about NYPD detectives Popeye Doyle and Cloudy Russo. Based on a true story, this film is action-packed, but manages to elevate itself above the standard "cops and robbers" films of that time period. Hackman's portrayal is brutal and unforgiving. He's not a heroic figure, but he gets his man. The film won five of eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Hackman).

Philip D'Antoni Prod., Schine-Moore Prod.;
20th Century Fox

Top 20 Action Crime Films #11 Top

The Rock (1996), Director: Michael Bay, rated R for violence, language

Alcatraz. Only one man has ever broken out. Now five million lives depend on two men breaking in.

Starring: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, William Forsythe, John Spencer, David Morse, John C. McGinley, Tony Todd

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I was trained by the best. British intelligence. But in retrospect, I would rather have been a poet. Or a farmer." - John Mason

Why watch this? This is as good an action flick as you'll ever see.

Plot Summary: A rogue general seizes control of Alcatraz Island and threatens San Francisco with deadly chemical weapons unless his demands for military reparations are met. To prevent catastrophe, the FBI sends a chemical weapons expert and a former Alcatraz inmate, with intimate knowledge of the prison, to infiltrate the island. The unlikely duo must navigate the dangerous fortress and confront the general's forces to disarm the threat before it's too late.

Dad's Preview: Nick Cage starred in a number of mid-90's action flicks. This Michael Bay offering is one of the best for three reasons. 1 – Ed Harris as the disgruntled Army colonel causing all the ruckus, 2 – A superb plot about holding hostages at the abandoned Alcatraz prison. And 3 – Sir Sean Connery – who, despite is age, kicks ass and takes names. There are lots of explosions, car chases and close calls. It's a thrilling ride until the explosive (and I mean KA-BOOM!) ending.

Hollywood Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry
Bruckheimer Films; Buena Vista Distribution

Top 20 Action Crime Films #10 Top

Sicario (2015), Director: Denis Villeneuve, rated R for language, intense violence

The border is just another line to cross.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, Jon Bernthal, Maximiliano Hernández, Victor Garber, Daniel Kaluuya, Julio Cesar Cedillo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You should move to a small town, somewhere the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and this is a land of wolves now." - Alejandro

Why watch this? It will help you understand the brutal drug war border states faces every day.

Plot Summary: This intense film follows a female DEA officer who wants to make a difference. She is assigned to an experienced team working on a big drug bust. She quickly learns that things work very differently than the black and white world she's used to. She's also in way over her head.

Dad's Preview: Del Toro once again chews up every scene with his ability to portray the tough guy with a touch of heart. His experienced CIA assassin completely juxtaposes against Emily Blunt's role as FBI Border Agent Kate Macer. The scene where they infiltrate the drug tunnel at night using infrared goggles is heart-stopping! The driving, suspenseful soundtrack is beyond powerful, as is the stark desert backdrop. If you want an education on the real "war on drugs", this is it.

Black Label Media, Thunder Road; Lionsgate

Top 20 Action Crime Films #9 Top

Traffic (2000), Director: Steven Soderbergh, rated R for language, sexuality, drug use, violence

No One Gets Away Clean

Starring: Don Cheadle, Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Erika Chistensen, Jacob Vargas, Miguel Ferrer, Tomas Milian, Amy Irving, Topher Grace, Albert Finney, James Brolin, Benjamin Bratt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy. And I don't know how you wage war on your own family." – Robert Wakefield, U.S. Drug Tsar

Why watch this? It drives home that drugs are here, and the war is in our homes.

Plot Summary: This is a multi-narrative exploration of the illegal drug trade, from various perspectives including law enforcement, politicians, traffickers, and users. One storyline follows a judge appointed as the US drug czar, grappling with his new role while discovering his daughter's drug addiction. A second thread focuses on two DEA agents tracking drug distribution across the US-Mexico border, leading to the arrest of a major trafficker. The third narrative delves into the complex world of a jailed drug lord's wife who tries to navigate and maintain the family business.

Dad's Preview: This powerful film is a harsh blast of truth into the average suburban citizen's life, as it tells the story of drug use in the United States, and I am not talking pot. It covers all the related topics and gets down and dirty. There are unforgettable scenes that will make you flinch. It portrays its characters realistically - nobody is truly good or bad. Del Toro's performance really stands out as the Mexican cop working against the drug trade from the other side of the border. It is a parental must see.

Bedford Falls Prod., Laura Bickford Prod.,
Initial Ent. Group; USA Films

Top 20 Action Crime Films #8 Top

Dirty Harry (1971), Director: Don Siegel, rated R for violence, language

Detective Harry Callahan. He doesn't break murder cases. He smashes them.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon, John Larch, Woodrow Parfrey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya... punk?" – Harry Callahan

Why watch this? ... for Eastwood's performance - a stoic man-of-action with an engaging charisma.

Plot Summary: Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is a no-nonsense San Francisco cop with unorthodox methods. He's assigned to track down a deranged serial killer nicknamed "Scorpio" who is holding the city ransom with a series of murders. Callahan must navigate bureaucratic obstacles and legal limitations to bring the psychopathic killer to justice, even if it means bending the rules.

Dad's Preview: Before Dirty Harry, Eastwood was mostly known for his Spaghetti Westerns. This film boosted his journey to mega-stardom. Harry is the detective that gets the worse assignments. Why? Because he gets the dirty jobs done - his way. Here, he's tasked with stopping a killer called "Scorpio" (convincingly played by Andy Robinson). I was surprised to find him so likeable - the man does exude an irresistible charm.

The Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Action Crime Films #7 Top

The Untouchables (1987), Director: Brian De Palma, rated R for language, police violence

Never stop fighting till the fight is done

Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way!" – Jim Malone

Why watch this? A great, if romanticized, account of the Elliott Ness story.

Plot Summary: Federal Agent Eliot Ness arrives in Prohibition-era Chicago, determined to bring down the notoriously powerful and corrupt gangster Al Capone. Facing widespread corruption within the city's police force, Ness realizes that traditional methods are insufficient to tackle Capone's illegal empire. He assembles a small team of trustworthy lawmen who are unburdened by fear or bribes to confront the ruthless crime boss and his network of organized crime.

Dad's Preview: Based on actual events, Elliott Ness and his deputies (called the Untouchables) went after notorious gangster Al Capone in Chicago during the 1920's. This film by Brian De Palma is superb - Connery finally won an Oscar for his portrayal of beat cop, Jim Malone. Costner is steady as Ness, but Robert De Niro, who gained weight to play the part, steals the show as the brutal, tough gangster Alphonse "Al" Capone.

Art Linson; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Action Crime Films #6a Top

Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for violence/language

Here comes the bride

Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Julie Dreyfus, Chiaki Kuriyama, Michael Parks, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Gordon Liu, Michael Bowen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I can tell you, with no ego, this is my finest sword. If, on your journey, should you encounter God, God will be cut." – Hattori Hanzo

Why watch this? Uma Thurman is a tour de force!

Plot Summary: A former assassin, left for dead on her wedding day, awakens from a coma and embarks on a global quest for revenge. Seeking to eliminate those who betrayed her, she confronts members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad one by one. The first volume culminates in a brutal showdown in Tokyo, where she faces a prominent former colleague turned criminal underworld leader.

Dad's Preview: I was not a huge Tarantino fan until this. Yes, it romanticizes murderous assassins. It is violent. Too many of the characters are beautiful. Yet, it works. This is definitely a woman's story filled with strong ladies, all just as deadly as their male counterparts. The fight scenes are choreographed so perfectly. The final battle at the House of Blue Leaves restaurant alone is worth the price of admission! I was impressed by Chiaki Kuriyama as femme fatale GoGo Yubari.

A Band Apart; Miramax Films

Top 20 Action Crime Films #6b Top

Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for violence/language

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Bo Svenson, Larry Bishop, Clark Middleton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That woman deserves her revenge, and we deserve to die… But then again, so does she. So I guess we'll just see... won't we?" – Budd

Why watch this? ... the bride's showdown with Elle in Budd's double-wide. Keep an eye out.

Plot Summary: Following her murderous spree in the first film, The Bride continues her quest for revenge against the remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and their enigmatic leader, Bill. Her journey involves confronting former colleagues, recalling her intensive martial arts training under a strict master, and facing unexpected twists related to her past with Bill. Ultimately, The Bride seeks to complete her mission and find a new beginning away from her violent past.

Dad's Preview: The conclusion to this tale of bloody revenge does keep pace with Part I. We're shown the Bride enduring the tough training under the master, Pai Mai. It's this very training that helps her survive being buried alive. Bill's motivations are explained. I really love the finale. Instead of a big, elaborate showdown, it begins as an intimate, civil discussion between two former lovers looking out for their child. They just happen to both be paid killers. It's personal, and that makes it all the more engaging.

A Band Apart; Miramax Films

Top 20 Action Crime Films #5 Top

Ronin (1998), Director: John Frankenheimer; rated R for language, violence

Anyone is an enemy for a price.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, Jonathan Pryce

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Of course I'm afraid! You think I'm reluctant because I'm happy?" - Sam

Why watch this? This may be Frankenheimer's best film. It's smart, well-paced and full of intrigue.

Plot Summary: A group of international mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious briefcase from heavily armed convoys and then navigate shifting loyalties to deliver it to its rightful owners. The team, comprising ex-military and intelligence operatives from various backgrounds, must work together, despite not entirely trusting each other, to complete the mission.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb action film from the master himself, John Frankenheimer. It features a group of secretive people with special skills, assembled to steal a mysterious case "from men intent on keeping it". The fewer questions the better. De Niro and Reno join a stellar cast as the story, wrought with deception and double-crosses, unfolds. De Niro is one tough hombre. Is it all about the contents of the case, or could it be something much larger?

United Artists, FGM Entertainment;
MGM Dist. Co.

Top 20 Action Crime Films #4 Top

The Dark Knight (2008), Director: Christopher Nolan, rated PG-13 for intense violence, scary scenes

Why So Serious?

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #20 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Dark Knight

"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." – Alfred

Why watch this? This Nolan effort set a new, grittier standard for comic book films.

Plot Summary: Following the events of Batman Begins (2005), the emergence of a criminal mastermind known as the Joker throws Gotham City into a state of chaos and anarchy. Batman, along with Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, try to combat the escalating threat, but the Joker's unpredictable nature challenges their methods and forces Batman to confront his own beliefs. The film explores the fine line between hero and vigilante as Batman faces his most personal and challenging struggle yet.

Dad's Preview: This iconic masterpiece has so much: great action sequences, compelling characters, twists and turns, heroes and villains. Bale continues perfection in the dual role of millionaire Bruce Wayne and the crusading Batman. Then there's Heath Ledger's Joker - his defining career performance. The actor received the Best Actor award after his death at the young age of 28. If this is not the best super-hero film ever made, it's in the top three.

Legendary Pictures, Syncopy;
Warner Bros. Pictures

Top 20 Action Crime Films #3 Top

Die Hard (1988), Director: John McTiernan, rated R for language, violence

40 Stories Of Sheer Adventure!

Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Gudunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, De'voreaux White, Paul Gleason, William Atherton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #47 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Die Hard

"Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?" - Hans Gruber

Why watch this? It's the action film by which all action films are compared.

Plot Summary: This crime story centers on New York City cop John McClane, who travels to Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his estranged wife and their children. While attending his wife's company Christmas party at the Nakatomi high-rise, criminals take over the building and hold everyone hostage, except for McClane who escapes detection. He then must single-handedly fight the criminals to save the hostages, including his wife.

Dad's Preview: The real genius (beside loveable, compelling lead actors; interesting supporting characters; a creative, fresh plot; perfect pacing; breath-taking special effects) is the relationship between the hero, NYC cop John McClane, and the criminal mastermind, Hans Gruber. It drives everything and both are equally charismatic and complex. It's action film 101 - and Die Hard is teaching the class.

Gordon Company, Silver Pictures;
20th Century Fox

Top 20 Action Crime Films #2 Top

No Country for Old Men (2007), Directors: Joel & Ethan Coen, rated R for language, violence

There Are No Clean Getaways

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, Beth Grant

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #16 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of No Country For Old Men

"If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?" - Anton Chigurh

Why watch this? This tour de force examines the dangers surrounding the Mexican drug world.

Plot Summary: While hunting in the West Texas desert, Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and finds a briefcase containing millions of dollars, which he takes. His decision sets in motion a violent chase with a ruthless and enigmatic killer, Anton Chigurh, pursuing Moss and the money across the landscape. Meanwhile, a jaded, tired Sheriff Ed Tom Bell investigates the mounting casualties, grappling with the escalating violence and the unsettling nature of the criminals involved.

Dad's Preview: This Texas story's backdrop is the harsh scrub-brush lands near the Mexican border, where life is cheap, especially when you are entwined within the drug trade. The great performances by the film's cast are almost too many to mention. Jones, Bardem and Brolin certainly own the film, but the supporting actors and actresses also contribute, injecting tons of realism. Every time I watch this, it feels fresh, cutting-edge, and pertinent in its masterful simplicity.

Paramount Vantage, Scott Rudin Prod.,
Mike Zoss Prod.; Miramax Films

Genres Action-Crime, Action-Thriller, Crime-Cops, Crime-Crooks, Crime-Drama, Crime-Thriller, Crime-Thriller-NeoNoir, Mystery-Thriller; Neo-Western, Western-Drama

Top 20 Action Crime Films #1 Top

Lethal Weapon (1987), Director: Richard Donner, rated R for violence, language

If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance.

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Lycia Naff

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You make it through tomorrow without killing anybody, especially me, or yourself, then I'll start trusting you." - Roger Murtaugh

Why watch this? ... it's Mel Gibson when he was People Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year.

Plot Summary: Roger Murtaugh is a seasoned LAPD detective celebrating his 50th birthday. He's partnered with Martin Riggs, a younger, emotionally unstable detective with a death wish following his wife's recent passing. Their initial investigation into an apparent suicide leads them down a path of drug trafficking and former Special Forces mercenaries.

Dad's Preview: This awesome action film started the cop buddy genre, and is easily the best. It also catapulted Mel Gibson to the top of the A-list. For half the film, we think his character, Riggs, is literally insane. However, when things get dicey due to involvement with some really bad drug smugglers, Riggs and his special skillsets, come in real handy. Danny Glover, as Lt. Murtaugh, a good cop on the verge of retirement, is excellent as Riggs' grumpy police partner.

Silver Pictures; Warner Bros.