A Fistful of Crimes! (Brad's Picks)

To celebrate Crime Week (although, I'm starting to think Crime Week might be Crime Month????  We'll see, we'll see), Matt & I are dishing out our favorite criminal acts with this Fistful of Crimes!

5.  The Kidnapping of Jean Lundegaard (Fargo):  Unable to pay some serious debt, Carsalesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy at his most pathetic) hires two lowrent scumbags (career highlights from both Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife so he can skim the top off his father-in-law's ransom.  Could this possibly go well?  A Comedy of Horrors.

4.  The Murder of Marion Crane (Psycho):  "We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes."  There is no other murder in cinema as historic as the stabbing of Marion Crane, and even though the shower scene is pretty much burned into the brain at geek birth, every time that granny silhouette creeps in and the Bernard Herrmann score screeches I get chills.  It's obviously, beautifully shot but what I really love is the madness Crane's death ignites for the rest of the cast.  Fantastically demented.

3.  The Robbing of New York Finest's Taxi Service (The Usual Suspects):  Yeah, it's possible that the inciting crime that brings the boys together doesn't even occur but that's also what kicks ass about it.  Who is Keyser Soze?  And what diabolical plans does he have for The Usual Suspects?  It's crime as Epic Mythology.

2.  The Picking of Candy's Pocket (Pickup on South Street):  Richard Widmark's Skip is a simple working criminal.  He makes a few bucks here and there lifting wallets from Subway passengers.  But when he lifts Candy's wallet he also comes into possession of some serious Cold War paraphernalia.  Soon, he's being hunted by Reds and G-Men, but you better not wave the flag at him cuz he's just lookin' out for A # 1.  There's gotta be a buck to be had.  Skip McCoy is my favorite cinematic Hero of Self; seriously, nothing beats his cynicism.

1.  The Assault on Precinct 13 (Assault on Precinct 13):  Inspired by Rio Bravo, John Carpenter traps a few cops and a few criminals in a tiny soon-to-be-condemned police station and sets loose a marauding Warriors-esque multi-ethnic gang of savages.  Pounding to the greatest synth score ever composed, good guys and bad guys have to band together if they're going to survive the bullet barraged night.  It's the ultimate siege picture.   No rules (did you see what happened to the girl with the ice cream???), constant threat, and it's totally terrifying if you're in the right mood.  Must-See.