As Hollywood began to shift more towards the big-budget special effects movies in the 2000s, crime films became less of a draw at the theaters. However, the genre was still strong, with talented filmmakers delivering some crime stories that have become iconic over time.
As with any decade of film, there are those underrated works from the crime genre overlooked by audiences that deserve to be discovered. Likewise, some of the crime films that made a splash during this era don't hold up as well all these years later. Check out some of the most underrated and overrated crime films from the 2000s.
10 Underrated: Insomnia (2002)
Given that he is one of the biggest directors in the world right now, it seems strange to think any of Christopher Nolan's films could be underrated. However, when discussing Nolan's best work, Insomnia is often forgotten despite being a brilliant crime thriller.
Al Pacino stars as a Los Angeles detective investigating a brutal murder in a small Alaskan town. The movie faded from memory shortly after its release but it remains one of Nolan's best films and features one of Robin Williams' greatest performances.
9 Overrated: Training Day (2001)
Denzel Washington won his second Oscar for his powerful performance in the tense crime film Training Day. Washington plays a brutal and immoral cop who is showing his new partner (Ethan Hawke) the ropes over the course of one violent day.
Washington is undoubtedly phenomenal in the role and Hawke holds his own against that towering performance. But acting aside, the movie isn't as interesting as its reputation suggests. It quickly begins to strain credulity and drags on at times.
8 Underrated: Road To Perdition (2002)
The thought of Sam Mendes and Tom Hanks teaming up for a period gangster movie should have been a big draw. Unfortunately, Road to Perdition didn't make much of an impression on audiences despite solid reviews.
Hanks stars as a mob enforcer forced to go on the run with his young son after his boss betrays him. The film has some exquisite set pieces, is beautifully directed, and features Hanks in a rare darker role.
7 Overrated: Public Enemies (2009)
Another dream pairing that drew a lot of attention was Michael Mann and Johnny Depp coming together to tell the story of famed bank robber John Dillinger. The film also stars Christian Bale as the dedicated FBI agent tracking Dillinger.
The talent involved made the film a hit with audiences and critics, but it feels like a wasted opportunity. Both Mann and Depp seem out of place with the period setting and the film becomes boring long before it ends.
6 Underrated: The Lookout (2007)
As his star was steadily on the rise, Joseph Gordon-Levitt gave a fantastic lead performance in the gritty film The Lookout. He plays Chris, a young man trying to maintain a normal life following a life-changing accident. Chris then gets recruited by a gang of criminals to rob the bank he works for.
The film was written and directed by Scott Frank, who has a real talent for the hard-boiled crime genre. It is an intense and thrilling crime story that is still searching for its audience all these years later.
5 Overrated: The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese returned to the gangster genre in the star-studded The Departed. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a cop working undercover inside the mob while trying to learn the identity of a mole inside the police department.
With Scorsese's high energy filmmaking and a cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg, The Departed is a lot of fun. But it's hard to agree that this is the film that should have won Scorsese his first Oscar as it just doesn't rank as high as other work.
4 Underrated: Memories Of Murder (2003)
While the world now knows Bong Joon-ho thanks to his ground-breaking Oscar-winner Parasite, his film Memories of Murder might be his true masterpiece. It film explores the failed investigation into South Korea's first serial killer.
The movie feature's Bong's signature ability to combine dark subject matter with a unique sense of humor. It is a beautiful yet eerie crime saga with spectacular performances and an emotional core.
3 Overrated: Mystic River (2003)
Clint Eastwood directed a stellar cast in the dark crime tale Mystic River. The movie follows three friends living in Boston who are forced to face their past together when the daughter of one of the men is murdered.
The movie features great performances from Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, among others. However, Mystic River is let down by a pretty dull mystery that leads to an unsatisfying conclusion. Despite being hailed as one of the best films of that year, it doesn't feel particularly noteworthy now.
2 Underrated: Layer Cake (2004)
Before he was known for his wild action movies, Matthew Vaughn made his directorial debut in the slick and cool crime story, Layer Cake. The film also gave Daniel Craig one of his early starring roles as a drug dealer looking to get out of the game.
Layer Cake is a stylish and thrilling saga with Craig displaying the effortless swagger he would later bring to Bond. It failed to find much of an audience initially but it remains a modern masterpiece of the genre.
1 Overrated: Blow (2001)
Johnny Depp once again stepped into the crime genre for another true story. He plays George Jung, an American who worked with Pablo Escobar to establish the cocaine market in the United States in the 1970s.
The movie was a hit with fans who saw it as an ultra-cool story of a rebel and antihero. Looking at it now, Blow feels much more hollow. The influence of Goodfellas is clear to the point that it just feels like a less interesting and polished version of that film.
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July 26, 2020 at 05:30AM
