Top 10 Smartest Decisions in Gangster Movies

“Casino” (1995)

When you’re involved with the mob, you have to be careful about talking on the phone. This inspires Sam Rothstein and Nicky Santoro to get creative with their conversations. Knowing that the authorities are listening, the friends devise various codes and parameters for conducting a call. They employ seemingly mundane phrases in order to send messages, causing unaware listeners to think they’re having an innocent talk. The associates also use their partner to disguise part of a call, throwing the FBI off their scent. Both methods allow the Vegas mobsters to avoid any evidence that they ever conducted unsavory business over the phone.

“Sexy Beast” (2000)

Trying to enjoy his retirement, Gary Dove thinks he’s left the criminal life behind before Don Logan shows up. The latter gangster wants the former man for a job and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. After suffering through Logan’s verbal and physical abuse, Dove and his allies decide to fight back. Their revenge might be brutal, but it’s the only way they can guarantee their safety. It also means they don’t have to hear the menacing character speak or threaten them again. The group gets rid of the body, realizing that they’ve probably done the best thing for all of them in the long run.

“Miller’s Crossing” (1990)

In this lesser-known Coen Brothers gem, Gabriel Byrne’s Tom Reagan finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between two dangerous mob bosses. The plot is a spider web of deceit and alternating allegiances, and Tom intricately plays both sides against each other. The bow that neatly ties his plan together is Reagan’s climactic murder of Bernie Bernbaum, something he’d wisely chosen not to do earlier, in one of the film’s most pivotal scenes. Tom successfully manipulates Bernie into killing the rival Italian gang leader. He then puts Bernbaum to bed with the fishes, using him as a fall guy and effectively ending the turf war. There’s a lot of cunning at play in “Miller’s Crossing”, but Tom Reagan always remains one step ahead of everyone else.

“A Bronx Tale” (1993)

Caught between the influence of his father and local criminals, the young Calogero lives on the edge of good and evil. His teen friends want him to be a gangster, taking him along as they prepare to cause chaos. The benevolent boss Sonny stops them in time to get his protege out of their car. By following his mentor’s advice, the hero avoids a grisly death by molotov cocktail. The protagonist also sets himself on a better path that doesn’t involve crimes and violence. He could’ve gotten back in the car, but he ultimately knows that his friends will only keep leading him into danger. After reassessing his life, C comes to realize the important values of a moral code.

“Road to Perdition” (2002)

On the run and looking for the man that killed half of his family, Tom Hanks’ character and his surviving son are in a jam. He engineers a scheme that will get them some money, infuriate his enemies, and hopefully draw out the killer. Sullivan robs several mob-connected banks across the Chicago area. Doing so accelerates the plot against him, but eventually it does lead him to avenge his family. Almost every choice the hero makes in this film has a positive and negative result, with this one being one of the more effective of them all. Up against a wall, the gangster’s plan buys him enough time and influence to set the final act in motion.

“The Godfather Part II” (1974)

With flashbacks set in early 20th century New York, “The Godfather Part II” partly tells the story of Vito Corleone’s rise to power. He first has to assassinate the corrupt Don Fanucci in order to free the neighborhood of their oppressor. Watching him from the rooftops, Corleone rightly stalks his prey to an apartment building without being seen. He even adjusts a light to keep himself hidden in the shadows. With the fireworks outside and a towel concealing his shot, the hero takes out Fanucci without drawing any attention to himself. You can see how this guy later became don with all of his street smarts. Not only that, the killing creates a power gap that allows for the young gangster to become the boss.

“The Departed” (2006)

Undercover cop William Costigan wants to quit, but his boss Oliver Queenan dies before he can officially resign. This all happens as police mole Colin Sullivan tries to track the trooper down. Sullivan has the bright idea to take Queenan’s phone and dial his last number, leading him to Costigan. The treacherous officer becomes one step closer to his man with this stroke of genius. Who knew such smart work could be conducted with a flip phone? Ultimately, this leads the two to meet after the death of the mob villain Frank Costello. Before setting up a violent climax, Sullivan makes a significant break in his case with the help of some basic 2000s technology.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

After Vincent Vega unintentionally shoots Marvin, Jules Winnfield stashes their suspicious vehicle at his friend Jimmie’s house and seeks the advice of Marsellus Wallace. The crime boss makes the smart choice of hiring the punctual fixer Winston Wolfe. Brought in to clean up the mess before Jimmie’s wife returns, the cool character puts everybody to work in order to resolve the situation. His expertise allows for the hitmen to clean up and dispose of the body, ensuring that each part of the plan goes off without a hitch. Nobody ends up arrested or divorced due to the quick-thinking of Samuel L. Jackson’s character, his well-connected employer, and Wolfe’s cleanliness standards.

“The Usual Suspects” (1995)

Whether or not you know the twist beforehand, you have to admit that “The Usual Suspects” finishes on a clever note. Everything about Verbal Kint’s story seems to add up to investigators - until it doesn’t. A quick inspection of the board reveals the mastermind’s strategy, complete with all of the random details he uses in his fake confession. The real Keyser Söze gets to walk out the door after the performance of a lifetime. Having planned it out perfectly, his storytelling skills come in handy as he convinces the authorities long enough to evade them. In a stroke of evil genius, the villain walks away a free man. It’s an inventive trick that you also shouldn’t try at home.

“The Godfather” (1972)

In this scene, Michael Corleone spends a seemingly normal day at his godson’s baptism. Little do his rivals know the truth about his real motivations. While Corleone stands at a church, the other crime bosses are slaughtered by the new don’s associates. He chooses to do it all whilst having an alibi in a house of worship. Call it daring or machiavellian, the ruthless plan ensures a complete takeover of New York. It’s also a surprise attack that nobody has any time to retaliate against. While he might have a corrupt soul, the war veteran understands the mobster playbook well enough to eliminate the competition. This isn’t the only smart decision in the movie either, as there’s also the famous planting of a restaurant bathroom.