Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) 9/10

John Carpenter took Rio Bravo and brought it into a modern setting, added his own wonderful music, and created a powerful crime thriller that reflected the fear and irrational violence of its era.

Blue Thunder (1983) 8/10

Underrated 80s gem with implausible script but high-tech gadgets, dazzling LA aerial pursuits, Roy Scheider, Malcolm McDowell in villainous mode, and Warren Oates in his last role.

Brannigan (1975) 6/10

John Wayne stars in another Dirty Harry-esque, cop out of water flick about a Chicago lieutenant sent to London to escort an organized crime boss back to the USA; good potboiler with effective backdrops.

Charley Varrick (1973) 8/10

Walter Matthau took a break from comedy with this Don Siegel crime flick about a crop duster who turns to a life of crime; dirty, gritty, straightforward 70s fun with fabulous cast and Lalo Schifrin score.  See also Neo Noir

Coogan’s Bluff (1968) 7/10

Clint Eastwood transitioned from westerns to hard boiled cop flicks – playing an Arizona deputy sheriff in New York to extradite a fugitive – in well-made if formulaic Don Siegel entry.

Cops and Robbers (1973) 7/10

Comic caper that was not well-received but has believable characters, moral dilemmas, Joe Spinell in a Hawaiian shirt, and excellent New York location work.

The Dead Pool (1988) 7/10

Fifth and final in the Dirty Harry series, this has wit and style, with Liam Neeson as an obnoxious director and Jim Carrey as a drug-addicted rock singer; lots of fun, with Lalo Schifrin back for one more score.

The Departed (2006) 8/10

Martin Scorsese finally won his first Oscar for this movie, even though it’s a remake; a great crime thriller with morally questionable characters played by too many movie stars which lessen the impact.

Dirty Harry (1971) 9/10

San Francisco backdrops, spectacular sequences, Lalo Schifrin score – Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood’s inimitable classic has so much to admire that it doesn’t really matter that the story is rather clunky.

The Driver (1978) 8/10

A box office disappointment, for a movie whose nameless characters are all business (especially The Driver), this is thrilling stuff, with Walter Hill delivering tense action scenes.

The Enforcer (1976) 6/10

The least of the Dirty Harry movies, this offers a more fleshed-out female partner for Clint Eastwood, but its tale of disgruntled Vietnam vets, despite being a big box office hit, lacks thrills and falls flat.

Fargo (1996) 10/10

A different kind of cop movie – with Frances McDormand as a pregnant Minnesotan police chief, alongside other wonderfully drawn characters – a Coen Bros. classic of the highest order.

Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) 7/10

The South Bronx looks like a war zone in this grimy crime flick, but amid the dilapidated buildings Paul Newman sticks out like a sore thumb, and Pam Grier is sadly wasted; overlong, patchy but watchable.  aka Fort Apache the Bronx

The French Connection (1971) 10/10

William Friedkin’s all-time classic about New York City cops is as dirty and grimy as it was on first release – smart, thrilling, and very convincing, with Gene Hackman at the top of his game.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 8/10

Robert Mitchum delivers his best performance as an ageing, weary, small-time crook – but sadly has no friends despite the title; a somewhat forgotten, unsentimental crime classic.  See also Capers and Heists

Hell or High Water (2016) 8/10

Grimy tale of two brothers planning a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch – thoughtfully violent entertainment.

In Cold Blood (1967) 9/10

One of the best true crime films, this is truly chilling, shot on location where the crimes really occurred – an example of Hollywood new realism and just as good as the Truman Capote novel.

The Incident (1967) 8/10

Two thugs hold the diverse passengers of a New York subway train hostage, but Beau Bridges is here to save the day; a harrowing, realistic, well-made, and unfairly forgotten thriller.

Infernal Affairs (2002) 9/10

Engrossing Hong Kong cop drama about an undercover cop and a mole – fast-moving, with emotional depth, which makes for a rare but winning combination.

Jackie Brown (1997) 10/10

Quentin Tarantino’s underrated flick is set against a seedy LA, with Pam Grier and Robert Forster as world-weary lovers – everything works from dialogue to soundtrack, and the themes are fascinating.  See also Blaxploitation

Magnum Force (1973) 7/10

Dirty Harry pursues vigilante cops in decent sequel - good action sequences, less self-righteous than the original, but not very believable, though Lalo Schifrin’s score is superb.

McQ (1974) 7/10

John Wayne obviously saw and enjoyed Dirty Harry, and here plays a Seattle cop trying to clean up a corrupt force in well-helmed flick by John Sturges; it hangs together thanks mostly to its star.

The Mechanic (1972) 8/10

This received mixed reviews but is one of Charles Bronson and Michael Winner’s best collaborations with spectacular sequences, solemn moments, and intriguing and unusual ending.

Messenger of Death (1988) 6/10

Charles Bronson investigates the mass murder of a family of Mormons in rural Colorado in his eighth collaboration with director J. Lee Thompson; efficient genre piece.

Mr. Majestyk (1974) 7/10

The one where Charles Bronson plays a melon farmer battling organised crime; while this crime flick won’t set your pulses racing, it has some outstanding moments and great performances.

The Mule (2018) 7/10

Clint Eastwood directed this tale of an old man turned drug mule for a Mexican cartel – quite soulful and satisfying, it could have used more excitement considering the explosive true crime story.

The New Centurions (1972) 7/10

Stacy Keach joins the L.A.P.D. and police work becomes his entire life, but George C. Scott steals the show in this gritty and realistic police procedural that doesn’t quite engage emotionally.

Night of the Juggler (1980) 9/10

James Brolin races across New York on the tail of his kidnapped daughter in this frenetic update of High and Low that shows off the city at its seedy best.

Pulp Fiction (1994) 10/10

Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece packed a wallop in 1994, with a clever narrative, iconic characters and wonderfully banal dialogue; it might be too clever for its own good but remains a classic.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) 9/10

Quentin Tarantino’s independent crime flick about a heist gone terribly wrong introduced its director’s many hallmarks and homages – a hard-hitting debut that maintains its cleverness to this day.  See also Capers and Heists

Serpico (1973) 9/10

Sidney Lumet classic of police corruption starring Al Pacino in one of his best roles – its documentary-style realism was welcome at the time and even more relevant today.

The Stone Killer (1973) 7/10

Charles Bronson teams up with Michael Winner for another cop flick involving Vietnam vets being used as assassins; bas ass entertainment with great Roy Rudd score, but a little lacking in substance.

Straight Time (1978) 8/10

Dustin Hoffman is a former prisoner trying but failing to go straight in this downbeat but searing character study that really shows Hoffman’s acting chops; rest of the cast outstanding too.

Sudden Impact (1983) 7/10

The Dirty Harry movie with the line “Go ahead, make my day” – this is more character-driven, with a revenge plot and Lalo Schifrin score, and deservedly saw the biggest box office of the series.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) 10/10

A film that perfectly encapsulates New York of the 1970s, this is a fast, funny, thrilling ride on the subway, with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw shining in their roles.  aka The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The Yakuza (1974) 8/10

Robert Mitchum is at his world-weary best as a PI in Japan searching for his friend’s kidnapped daughter in this stylish if ponderous forgotten gem.