White Heat (1949) 4.1/4

I LOVED White Heat. James Cagney is at the top of his game as a mob boss like nothing seen on screen before or since. His performance and the rich, blunt, twist-filled script puts this movie in among the greats.
The film wastes no time with explanation as it begins at the onset of a train heist orchestrated by Cody (James Cagney) and his gang. We witness his viciousness early on as he kills two conductors in cold blood for hearing his first name.
With many surprises ahead, this synopsis should be seen as a spoiler. Heck, the rest of this review. Trust me and watch this movie and then come back and read the rest.

To escape murder accusations, Cody opts for another robbery that was committed on the same day in order to get a reduced sentencing. In prison, one of Cody's cellmates is an undercover cop trying to get the identity of Cody's overseas money changer.
While in prison, a member of Cody's gang, Big Ed, takes Cody's position and his wife. The relationship between Cody and his mother is fascinating. He gets debilitating headaches that started at childhood as a ruse but over time have become real. His mother is very much the woman in his life and the attention he gets from her is truly a need.
The three act structure of the story is expertly delivered; Before prison, during prison, and after prison. Movies like Face/Off and American History X have also used this structure effectively where prison isn't the pinnacle or climax but the foundation for the film. In yet none of these three movies can be called prison films.
Another script element I feel is worth noting is the constant plot twists and surprises. Even without them the script holds together as a great and unique gangster piece but with them we get a painstakingly tight structure. For example: While Cody is in prison, his wife murders his mother. If his mother had died of natural causes, we still would see Cody's reaction to the news (which turns into one of the strangest and most surreal fight scenes I've seen) but with this extra twist we get an excellent look at his wife's disloyal and two-faced, femme-fatale persona. Twists can be a very risky move with any genre as we have seen in movies of recent years (Ex: "Basic", although that film had a lot more problems than just nonsensical twists). There are many other examples of this risk/reward throughout White Heat, such as the breathlessly suspenseful moment where the undercover cop must improvise a fight to avoid detection of his real identity (which was also used in Face/Off).
The movie never apologizes for Cody's action, nor does it give him any saving grace other than his psychological condition. In yet I couldn't help sympathizing with his Freudian ambition for success. On yet another level, the film also works as a parable on the dangers of misguided, blind avidity.
And what a climax! It's hard to beat the literally explosive conclusion. Without the incredible build up to Cody's final words, I don't think, "Made it ma, top of the world!" would have become so canonical. But that makes it all the more impressive that it has.
These rambling paragraphs don't do this film justice. It's a wonderfully entertaining, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and cathartic experience.