Crime and cinema go together better than peanut butter and jelly. Seeing a cowboy shoot the camera directly with a revolver is how movie making started, and how it's probably going to end, too. Seeing people do terribly awful things for their own personal reasons (right or wrong) is the best way to imagine ourselves making those exact same decisions.

How would you get away with murder or robbing a bank, if you were the main character? Here are some worthwhile films, not called "Scarface," "The Departed" or "The Godfather Part II," which will put you through the turmoil of a gangster.

'A Most Violent Year' (2014)

Have Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain ever been in a bad movie or TV show? Have either ever given a mediocre performance in their lives? The answer is no, they're as rock solid as anyone in Hollywood.

Their flick, "A Most Violent Year," is about the story of mafia-affiliated criminals, Teamsters, tax evaders, price fixers, murderers and the powers that be trying to investigate it all. It's gritty, atmospheric and anchored by two rockstars who shine in every single scene. It really sucks that director J.C. Chandor had this and "Margin Call" as the start of his career, and the only thing he gets to work on now is junk like "Kraven the Hunter."

'Carlito's Way' (1993)

Even Brian De Palma's less popular work is still a trillion-times better than most of the films that release every year. Al Pacino plays a criminal who lives in New York (take a shot every time you hear that), and his best friend is a sleazy lawyer played by Sean Penn.

There are a ton of familiar faces throughout this crime epic (Viggo Mortensen! James Rebhorn! Luis Guzman! John Leguizamo!) and despite the original reviews and box office, this is a cult classic for all of us De Palma heads out there.

'Donnie Brasco' (1997)

Watching agents go undercover is always a fun way to frame a story. It naturally lends itself to having a fish out of water protagonist enter a new crime ridden underworld, entrust new characters and eventually get to know them better. There's always a constant tension brewing.

Will they get caught before the arrest warrants and bullets start flying? It's wonderful to get more Al Pacino being a real scumbag on the streets of New York (take another shot), he's built an entire career on playing that archetype, and it's fun every single time.

'A Bronx Tale' (1993)

Robert De Niro's directorial debut is so much better, and more memorable, than it had any right to be. This is the story of his life, with the names changed, based on Chazz Palminteri's play. There aren't two better actors on planet earth that bring to life 1960s Bronx, and tell the tale of Italian-Americans coming of age in an era of radical change, racial animosity and the beginning of the end of organized crime running New York.

If you've never seen this one, you're in for a treat, as long as you know going in a lot of gangsters back then were extremely racist, and that's a big part of the plot.

'Black Mass' (2015)

Johnny Depp's personal life and extremely problematic behavior is now what takes center stage, but he's still the best part of this movie by far with a standout and transformational performance. This is about the FBI's quest to capture James "Whitey" Bulger, leader of an Irish crime family in Boston.

Joel Edgerton is the lead antagonist (or hero?) trying to catch Whitey Bulger, and he's having the time of his life in this pursuit. Benedict Cumberbatch, on the other hand, is having a terrible time trying to pull off that Boston accent. Just brutal to listen to, terrible casting for Senator Billy Bulger.

'Killing Them Softly' (2012)

There are a lot of common themes that accompany mafia movies, but they aren't usually about late stage capitalism, and the effects it has on the US political machine during election time. That's what Andrew Dominik's neo-noir is fundamentally about.

The marketing for this movie really pushed a Brad Pitt with slicked back hair and tattoos wielding a shotgun as the main reason to see it; forget about the message. Also, Scoot McNairy needs to be in more leading roles, he's such a talented star who deserves to not be stuck as a character actor.

[Image: A24/YouTube]