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Boston, especially during the Revolutionary War era and beyond, has a rich and rebellious history that has made it a captivating backdrop for numerous films. This historic city, with its ties to organized crime and the influential Catholic Archdiocese, as well as its political legacy from figures like Samuel Adams to the Kennedys, has been featured in many movies. Even renowned directors like Martin Scorsese and Sidney Lumet from New York have tried their hand at capturing the essence of Boston on film.
From the screen adaptations of Whitey Bulger’s life in movies like “The Departed” and “Black Mass,” to Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of a quintessential Bostonian in “The Town,” and Paul Newman’s role as the struggling lawyer Frank Galvin in “The Verdict,” Boston has built a proud tradition of crime films that skillfully incorporate the city’s Irish influence, highlighting its inseparable connection to the city’s history. While it may not match the sheer scale and volume of films set in New York City, Boston has established itself as a prominent hub for crime dramas that rival its larger neighbor across the Northeast.
Below, you’ll find a list of the top ten crime dramas set in Boston.
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The 10 Best Crime Dramas Set in Boston
Blown Away (1994)
“Blown Away” has a strong ’90s vibe, which has its pros and cons. The film features American actors Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones attempting to portray Northern Irish terrorists with character development linked to the IRA. While Tommy Lee Jones handles the Irish accent better than Bridges, neither of them would likely be honored with awards for their Irish accents.
There isn’t an official “Pete Postlethwaite Hall of Fame for Best Irish Accents” (at least not yet). However, the film’s Boston Pops soundtrack during its thrilling climax helps compensate for some of its historical inaccuracies, so there’s no need to be overly critical. Plus, it’s worth mentioning the rare collaboration between Bridges and Jones in a film, although jokingly suggesting renaming the movie “Bridges Jones’s Diary” would be going too far.
Malice (1993)
“Malice is a film that feels distinctly rooted in the 1990s. It’s a medical drama that revolves around reproductive issues, a topic that’s not as common in today’s cinema. Additionally, the concept of a surgeon having to rent a room in someone else’s house seems somewhat outdated by today’s standards.
These are the kinds of minor criticisms that wouldn’t be well-received in contemporary filmmaking. However, despite these flaws, the movie remains genuinely enjoyable. It’s also a quintessentially Boston-based production, featuring picturesque locations in the Berkshires and various Massachusetts college campuses that add a touch of New England charm to the dark and unsettling story. The contrast between the film’s visual beauty and its unsettling narrative contributes to some of the film’s most compelling moments.”
The Boondock Saints (1999)
Thankfully, Willem Dafoe’s strong performance brought some stability to this film, which was a launching point for Norman Reedus, titled “The Boondock Saints.” The movie often stretches the bounds of believability, but it still retains a certain charm, largely thanks to Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery. Despite its ’90s aesthetic, resembling a music video, the film has managed to gather a dedicated following of fans.
While many might have anticipated Sean Patrick Flanery to become the bigger star of the two, it was actually Norman Reedus who later achieved that status through his role on “The Walking Dead.” There are hints of his eventual rise in “The Boondock Saints.” The film’s director, Troy Duffy, who proudly hails from the same hometown, used the backdrop of his New England roots for this crime drama. Willem Dafoe also delivered a convincing New England accent, despite his Wisconsin upbringing.
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Once again, the Affleck brothers embraced their Boston roots in the movie “Gone Baby Gone,” with Ben taking the director’s chair and Casey as the lead actor. The film was highly praised, capturing the essence of Boston with its compelling kidnapping plot set in Dorchester.
The inclusion of the notorious Quincy Quarries as a location added an authentic touch to the film, and both Casey Affleck and Amy Ryan’s outstanding performances, the latter earning an Oscar nomination, elevated the movie. While “Gone Baby Gone” may not quite match the crime drama prowess of directors like Scorsese or Lumet, it showcased Ben Affleck’s burgeoning talent as a director, setting the stage for his later directorial success with “Argo.”
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out can be categorized as a crime drama, even though it combines elements of humor and occasional slapstick moments to relieve the tension of its gripping mystery. It also provides a glimpse into the high society of Boston, where a murder takes center stage.
The film makes use of two grand mansions in suburban Boston to set the scene. One is a privately-owned nineteenth-century Gothic Revival mansion that stands in for the Thrombey residence in exterior shots, while the other is the Ames Mansion, a historic 20-room landmark located in the Borderland State Park in Easton. To capture the essence of the Northeast’s picturesque autumn settings, the costume department simply had to provide the appropriate peacoats and cardigans. And there you have it!
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The Departed (2006)
Is it not peculiar that Martin Scorsese, a prominent figure associated with New York, directed “The Departed,” a renowned crime drama set in Boston? It’s somewhat surprising, similar to how the main bar scene in “The Verdict,” supposedly in Boston, was actually filmed in midtown Manhattan.
Despite the historical rivalries between the cities in terms of baseball teams and organized crime, there are substantial connections between them. This connection makes it less unbelievable for Scorsese to take the helm of one of Boston’s most iconic crime dramas. We can even overlook Jack Nicholson’s less-than-stellar Boston accent due to the entertainment his portrayal of Frank Costello, a character reminiscent of real-life Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, provides.
The Town (2019)
“The Town” paid homage to the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, which gained notoriety for numerous bank robberies in the latter part of the 20th century. The film, with its heist-centric storyline, would have earned approval from Sidney Lumet, a master of the genre. Drawing inspiration from bank heist classics such as Lumet’s “Dog Day Afternoon” and Michael Mann’s “Heat,” the movie wove a uniquely Boston narrative.
Jeremy Renner skillfully embodied the essence of the city’s Irish-American culture by portraying Gem, a hard-drinking ex-convict with an extensive criminal record. Ben Affleck, a local hero from Cambridge, also brought a genuine Boston flavor to the film. It’s still a mystery how Renner managed to master such an authentic Boston accent, considering his upbringing in Modesto, California. He certainly knows how to park the car in Harvard Yard!
Mystic River (2003)
“Is that my daughter in there?!” Sean Penn’s iconic line as Jimmy Markum in Mystic River showcases the actor’s ability to deliver intense performances, though some may argue that he pushed the boundaries. Nonetheless, at the time, the film was highly praised for these emotionally charged portrayals. Clint Eastwood’s movie firmly established itself as a classic in the realm of Boston crime films, featuring standout performances from Penn (who won an Oscar for Best Actor) and Tim Robbins (who won in the Supporting Actor category). It also stands as one of Eastwood’s most critically acclaimed directorial endeavors.
The movie is celebrated for its exceptional acting during a decade when Boston played a significant role in the world of filmmaking. This influence extended to television, with references like “Nomar” on SNL and David Kelley’s series like Ally McBeal, all of which were set in and around the city of Boston.
Spotlight (2015)
Corruption within the Boston Catholic Archdiocese has been a deeply scandalous subject that has inspired cinematic retellings. The issue first gained significant attention in 1982 with the release of “The Verdict,” but it wasn’t until 2015 when “Spotlight” won the Best Picture Oscar that the extent of this corruption was truly acknowledged. Earlier in the same night, the film also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. This Boston-based crime drama marked a significant achievement in the acting careers of Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams. Their exceptional performances were instrumental in exposing the long-standing cover-up of a lineage of abuse by the Catholic Church, shedding light on a series of crimes that had been hidden for years.
The Verdict (1982)
Is there a more quintessentially Boston film than “The Verdict”? It’s quite intriguing, considering that the movie was directed by Sidney Lumet, a filmmaker known for his ties to New York City. Nonetheless, “The Verdict” boasts several distinct Boston elements, not to mention a remarkable performance by Charlotte Rampling that can be aptly described as sensational.
In this film, Paul Newman starts to embrace roles more in line with his age, portraying a down-and-out attorney tasked with a challenging mission: taking on the formidable Boston Catholic Archdiocese (also portrayed as the antagonist in “Spotlight”). Newman’s intense blue-eyed gaze introduces one of his finest late-career performances. His portrayal of a whiskey-drinking, heart-troubled lawyer embodies the idealism associated with America’s most historically significant colonial city.
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