Dating back to the earliest age of narrative film-making, crime cinema is a defining pillar of film history. The genre has always been rife with both excitement and intriguing moral ambiguity, largely thanks to its singular ability to bring profoundly human stories of greed, violence, power, and justice to life with enthralling intensity and a captivating sense of style.
Sent to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino, Ace clashes with friends, rivals, and corrupt politicians to appease his bosses and operate a successful establishment. His managerial style is beautifully summarized with the line he delivers to a floor manager concerning the placement of the best machines. Sharp and assertive, and leaving no ambiguity as to who calls the shots, the quote embodies the decisive, authoritative, and morally subjective approach many movie crooks adopt to do their job.
As men, Noodles and Max clash over the prospect of making more money through investments. Max takes a dig at Noodles’ preference for the slums they were raised in over political positions and high-end finances they could access. Noodles’ response hearkens to a sense of familiarity and security that, no matter how decrepit the streets get, he understands them.
Paranoia is a powerful theme within many crime stories, with suspicions and anxieties around police informants an ever-present element, particularly as the crimes committed become more severe. Sheeran’s quip about secrets is a great yet ominous line about the importance of secrecy and the lengths some criminals will go to ensure their deeds are not brought to light.
Scarface has many great quotes, but one of its most defining comes in the restaurant when Tony Montana and Elvira have a loud domestic dispute before she storms out. With all the patrons watching him, Tony launches into a drunken, spiteful monologue where he labels those observing as “a-holes,” criticizes them for lying about what they want, and asserts that society needs villains like him.