When two charming characters turn to a life of crime together, their magnetic chemistry and devilish outlook on the ways of the world enthrals cinema audiences who cheer on their illicit schemes.
Focus
With the upcoming release of Focus, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, the stakes are high, the skill is unparalled and the chemistry is captivating, as the pair attempt the ultimate dangerous and fast-paced con.
To celebrate the release of Focus on February 27, we take a look at the criminal couples we couldn't look away from as they carried out their corrupt plans.
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - Warren Beatty & Faye Dunaway
Taking inspiration from its source material, Bonnie and Clyde broke many cinematic taboos in the way it showed sex and violence.
Telling the true story of a young and attractive couple who go from pulling small-time heists to robbing banks, only to attract the attention of the law, the film effectively introduced the tragic icons to a new audience.
It was back in 1967 when Bonnie and Clyde hit the big screen and it remains one of the best crime/dysfunctional love story movies of all time. Beatty and Dunaway give truly terrific performances as the title characters.
Their performances are engaging and layered and there is a strong chemistry between the pair.
- Natural Born Killers (1994) - Woody Harrelson & Juliette Lewis
Named the eighth most controversial film of all time, Natural Born Killers is the tale of two victims of traumatic childhoods who become lovers and mass murderers.
Shining a light on how the mass media irresponsibly glorifies criminals, the deadly pair are elevated to cult hero status as the body count rises.
Hard to believe, but Natural Born Killers celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. Of course, this violent movie may not be to the taste of everyone but it is a brutal and slightly ridiculous film.
While this may not be a movie that I would watch very often, it was great to see Woodley Harrelson and Juliette Lewis truly thrown themselves into the central roles of Mickey and Mallory Knox.
- Casino (1995) - Robert DeNiro & Sharon Stone
When a mafia associate is sent to run the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas in order to skim the profits for the mob, he falls in love with an expert hustler.
The pair has an explosive relationship as their status and wealth rises, but suspicions around illegal licenses and former boyfriends threaten not only to tear them apart, but also the entire mafia organisation.
It was back in 1996 when Casino finally reached the big screen in the UK, and marked the return of Martin Scorsese to the director's chair with another collaboration with De Niro.
Casino is an incredibly visceral movie experience as Scorsese explores the themes of money and sex. Stone gives one of the best performances of her career as a drug-addicted hooker, while Scorsese always seems to bring something more from De Niro compared to other filmmakers.
Sadly, Casino is a movie that will forever be in the shadow of Goodfellas - which is a major shame.
- Mr & Mrs Smith (2005) - Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie
The action-packed blockbuster revolving around a married couple who are both unaware that the other is a skilled assassin has a great mixture of humour and thrill.
After putting their marital problems to bed, the violent duo team up to take on the very companies that pitted them against each other in a gloriously entertaining shoot out.
The chemistry between Pitt and Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith are just dynamite in this action comedy that sees a couple trying to kill one another.
It is the chemistry and star power for Pitt and Jolie that really elevates this movie to more. The pair will reunite on the big screen for the first time since Mr & Mrs Smith, as will star in By The Sea.
However, By The Sea will be the first time that Jolie has directed Pitt.
- Focus (2015) - Will Smith & Margot Robbie
After teaching a novice the tricks of the trade, a master con artist abruptly cuts ties after she gets too close for comfort. Now an accomplished femme fatale, she turns up in the midst of his most dangerous scheme yet and throws his plans through a loop... and the con man off his game.
With fascinating sleight of hand tricks that baffle the mind and captivating on-screen chemistry between the two leads, Focus is a slick heist film with a sophisticated vibe in which the stakes start out high and get exponentially higher.
