Gangsta, Gangsta! 3x1
Cagney = 5'5 legend

Gangsta, Gangsta! 3x1
Cagney = 5'5 legend

Spectacular, an exhilarating journey through the dazzling decade of the 1920s through the story of one man, a man who rapidly rose to the top of the game through ruthless racketeering, but a man who also rapidly plummeted into obscurity. Raoul Walsh’s fantastic gangster film manages to capture the dazzling life of the 20s from the post-war unemployment crisis all the way through to the exciting bootleggers of the prohibition and the dire economic crash that caused the Great Depression. I found the way he presented this journey exceptionally compelling, its structured in an almost historical montage way with grand narration to talk the viewer through the years and some brilliant newsreel-like transitions (some of which were technically beautiful). All of this shows that this isn’t just a film about one singular guy, even though it may be portrayed in that way, it’s a film about the entire decade of the 20s and how formative and immense it was. Walsh’s execution of this story is absolutely phenomenal, with pin sharp dialogue and quick pacing that keeps the film alive from the opening credits until the bitter finale. Visually it’s stunning, especially on the Criterion 4k restoration; the black and white cinematography is gorgeous and so striking in its contrasts, the compositions and camera work is also magnificent, working hand in hand with the sharp tone of the film. While the film is extremely exciting and very witty there is still a very apparent melancholic undertone which rises throughout the storyline and plummets right at the end, what a powerful ending. James Cagney’s performance was riveting, he was absolutely electric in his leading role and gave the film a certain wit that really lent into the charm of the 1920s. I mean this was all I could’ve ever hoped for, when I bought the Criterion 4k a few days ago I just knew this film would be a masterpiece, and dare I say it exceeded my expectations. Absolutely wonderful.

Spectacular, an exhilarating journey through the dazzling decade of the 1920s through the story of one man, a man who rapidly rose to the top of the game through ruthless racketeering, but a man who also rapidly plummeted into obscurity. Raoul Walsh’s fantastic gangster film manages to capture the dazzling life of the 20s from the post-war unemployment crisis all the way through to the exciting bootleggers of the prohibition and the dire economic crash that caused the Great Depression. I found the way he presented this journey exceptionally compelling, its structured in an almost historical montage way with grand narration to talk the viewer through the years and some brilliant newsreel-like transitions (some of which were technically beautiful). All of this shows that this isn’t just a film about one singular guy, even though it may be portrayed in that way, it’s a film about the entire decade of the 20s and how formative and immense it was. Walsh’s execution of this story is absolutely phenomenal, with pin sharp dialogue and quick pacing that keeps the film alive from the opening credits until the bitter finale. Visually it’s stunning, especially on the Criterion 4k restoration; the black and white cinematography is gorgeous and so striking in its contrasts, the compositions and camera work is also magnificent, working hand in hand with the sharp tone of the film. While the film is extremely exciting and very witty there is still a very apparent melancholic undertone which rises throughout the storyline and plummets right at the end, what a powerful ending. James Cagney’s performance was riveting, he was absolutely electric in his leading role and gave the film a certain wit that really lent into the charm of the 1920s. I mean this was all I could’ve ever hoped for, when I bought the Criterion 4k a few days ago I just knew this film would be a masterpiece, and dare I say it exceeded my expectations. Absolutely wonderful.

James Cagney was pure charisma.

The camera loved Priscilla Lane.

It was weird seeing Humphrey Bogart as a scared weasel at the end.

James Cagney was pure charisma.

The camera loved Priscilla Lane.

It was weird seeing Humphrey Bogart as a scared weasel at the end.

A really great gangster film i mean you got James Cagney and young Humphrey Bogart what could go wrong

A really great gangster film i mean you got James Cagney and young Humphrey Bogart what could go wrong

With that face, you can never tell if Cagney's gonna hug someone or kill them.

With that face, you can never tell if Cagney's gonna hug someone or kill them.