A very impressive British sleeper, this 1979 film features Bob Hoskins (Mona Lisa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit) as a ruthless gangster caught up in the competitive turf wars of the London underworld. Just when the gangster thinks he's made a deal to insure his financial security and solidify his power, he is targeted for assassination by an unseen enemy and must go to war for his very survival. Hoskins turns in a tightly coiled yet sympathetic portrayal of a man tragically trapped by his own ambition. Featuring a sexy performance by Helen Mirren (White Nights, Prime Suspect) as the mistress he can't quite trust, The Long Good Friday is a moody, evocative thriller and an undiscovered gem of the crime genre. --Robert Lane