DVD Review: The Mob Box

The set includes a single disc version of Snatch, Bugsy, and Donnie Brasco. It also includes The American Gangster - a 48-minute documentary that details the beginning of organized crime in America and some of the key figures. The Mob Box also comes with a collector’s book about the three movies and the documentary, but none of the movies come with any new special features to justify fans needing to buy the set. Donnie Brasco does include some decent features, but they are the same features included in the special edition release in 2000.The set does present a wide range and styles of gangster movies crossing the classy style of Barry Levinson’s Bugsy to the urban crime noir feeling of Donnie Brasco and finally to the street thug feel of Snatch. All three of the movies have solid stories, great performances, and lots of cool gangster action.Bugsy may be a bit slow for some fans of mob movies, but it has a bit of the style that was in many of the classic gangster films – with stars like James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. The film stars Warren Beatty as Bugsy Siegel, Sir Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky, and Annette Bening as Virginia Hill.

Bugsy combines the elegance of Hollywood and the glory days of the Mob

The movie, which was directed by Barry Levinson, follows Siegel as he moves to Hollywood, falls in love with Hill, and develops a dream to build a hotel and casino in the desert city of Las Vegas. The film has a brilliant performance from Beatty (even if he does seem a little confused from time to time). The movie explores some of the unknown aspects of Bugsy Siegel – who is most known for being a hit man and enforcer. It also captures the style and glamour of Hollywood at that time.Bugsy may not appeal to everyone, but blends a story that looks at the time of the classic gangsters and the glory days of Hollywood. I would recommend the movie to anyone who enjoys those classic mobster movies from the early days or who enjoys good acting from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The DVD is a bit of a letdown with no special features at all – which is the same way it was released on DVD in 1999.Donnie Brasco stars Johnny Depp and Al Pacino and tells the true story of an FBI undercover agent (Depp) who makes his way deep inside the world of organized crime by using a low-level street gangster (played by Pacino). The movie is extremely good (even if it is a little light on action) and Pacino’s Lefty is a long way from some of the larger than life criminals and cold-blooded mobsters that made the actor a star – such as Scarface or Michael from The Godfather films.Depp holds his own against Pacino, and is convincing in the role portraying the duel personalities of his character – Brasco and FBI agent Joe Pistone. The actor does a good job in the movie, and it is a bit of a break from some of the quirkier roles that he normally brings to the screen. Although the movie is far from the best gangster movie made, it is an interesting look at the life of a low-level mobster, and is worth taking the time to watch. It is by far one of the best performances out of Pacino in a while, and I would recommend it to any fans of gangster films.

Pacino's mobster is far from the class of The Godfather and the violence of Scarface

The DVD comes with some decent special features (again these are also available on the special edition DVD) including featurettes on the making of the film and on Donnie Brasco; an isolated music score; deleted scenes; and commentary from director Mike Newell.Snatch, from director Guy Ritchie, is a fast-paced street-thug of a gangster movie that follows the lives of boxing promoters, bookies, a Russian gangster, incompetent thieves, and some “Jewish” jewelers who are trying to recover a stolen diamond. The film has a ton of stars including Brad Pitt (who is almost impossible to understand), Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina, Vinnie Jones, and Jason Statham.The movie may not appeal to everyone, and Ritchie lets it get away from him from time to time. It does capture some of the freshness and raw feeling that the director is known for, and the film’s cast of criminals are excellent in their roles. It is a complete opposite of the elegance of Bugsy, and a blast to watch if you like a good bloody street crime film.

Snatch has the grit of a good street crime film

The DVD does have the “Stealing Stones” Enhanced Branching Mode, but lacks any other real special features. There are several different versions of the film on DVD including a two-disc special edition loaded with features.The final DVD in the Mob Box is the documentary The American Gangster which takes the audience on a history of the mob. It is extremely interesting and provides a detailed look at some of the most famous criminals – including Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and Bonnie and Clyde. The documentary is narrated by Dennis Farina, and well worth taking the time to watch. Although it feels more like a special feature that should have been included in Bugsy, The American Gangster is a good addition to the Mob Box, and adds some history to characters that inspired some of Hollywood’s greatest crime movies.

The American Gangster presents the history behind criminals like Al Capone

With every film available in separate editions and a total lack of any worthwhile special features, The Mob Box fails to really give you a reason to buy it. The set has some great movies, but they have all been out on the DVD format for some time, and many of them have better special editions on their own. I wouldn’t recommend buying the set if you already own any of the films or if you are only interested in one of them. It is worth buying if you just want to pick up some good mobster movies, and don’t really care about special features.On their own, each of these films would receive at least three stars, but due to a lack of features the set is only worth one star.The Mob Box is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is no release date for the UK. Visit the DVD’s database for more information.