In the 1990s, many great crime films were released, but not all of them were appreciated. We pay tribute to these overlooked works.

As a rule, compared to action movies, films about organized or domestic crime are based on real events and pay attention to both bloody scenes and the development of characters who combine a propensity for violence with noble traits. Such works always arouse interest among viewers, and in the 1990s many were released that are worth watching but remained in the shadow of the best representatives of the genre.

Internal Affairs (1990)

In this thriller with erotic elements, Richard Gere convincingly transforms into a "dirty" cop hiding behind the mask of a "good guy" (the actor's usual type) and engaging in a battle with a colleague (Andy Garcia) trying to bring him to justice.

Rush (1991)

A drama about partners (Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh) who become drug addicts during an undercover operation, it differs from other works with a standard plot about agents infiltrated into the mafia and forced to choose between friendship and duty.

Juice (1992)

In this now somewhat forgotten classic about the hard life of ghetto dwellers, released during the popularity of this theme, Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur played their first roles, with Shakur creating a vivid image of a teenager obsessed with becoming a gangster and ready to do anything.

Red Rock West (1993)

The second part of John Dahl's "neo-noir" trilogy (which includes the equally noteworthy "Kill Me Again" and "The Last Seduction") is a "treasure waiting to be discovered" (as one film critic wrote) and a rare film where Nicolas Cage does not overact.

Swimming With Sharks (1994)

A young man (Frank Whaley) who becomes an assistant to a successful and cynical film producer (Kevin Spacey) takes his boss hostage and intends to get even with him for the humiliations he endured, and the tangled story of their relationship is shown through flashbacks.

Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)

Despite its leisurely pace (which is generally characteristic of the genre), the narrative about a detective in the 1940s investigating the disappearance of a femme fatale captivates with its elegant retro visuals and the performances of Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, and Don Cheadle, who is memorable despite limited screen time.

Bottle Rocket (1996)

In his debut creation, Wes Anderson, although he already employs some signature techniques, does not yet indulge in visuals at the expense of content, and as a result, the main characters—not very lucky or clever thieves (Owen and Luke Wilson)—come across as real people rather than caricatures.

U Turn (1997)

Known as a serious director, Oliver Stone made a farcical parable about a drifter (Sean Penn) stranded in a deserted town populated by lunatics (Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jon Voight and Billy Bob Thornton, completely unrecognizable in makeup).

Very Bad Things (1998)

Peter Berg's film about friends who decide not to tell anyone about an accident that occurred at a party on the eve of one of their weddings is filled with dark and sometimes brutal humor, as well as a star-studded cast (Jon Favreau, Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz, and others).

Two Hands (1999)

An Australian tragicomedy about a young man (Heath Ledger) who plans to rob a bank to pay off gangsters and save his beloved girl (Rose Byrne), like most films of that era, is inspired by Tarantino's aesthetic but possesses its own quirky charm.