3. The Wild Bunch (1969)
William Holden and Ernest Borgnine head up a gang of aging outlaws who find themselves out of step as the era of the Wild West draws to a close. The gang seek out one final score in Mexico whilst being chased by a gang of bounty hunters led by a former member of their group. Pretty much the granddaddy of the Geriaction genre The Wild Bunch became infamous upon release for its graphic, bloody violence and uncompromising nature. Director Sam Peckinpah pioneered the use of slow motion action and realistic bullet squibs in his films, and this is never more evident than the epic blood soaked finale where the gang make a desperate last stand against hundreds of Mexican soldiers. Peckinpah's usual themes of nihilism and bad men trying to redeem themselves are all here. The gang may not be very likable but the actors bring a real sense of humanity to their parts. The films influence has spread far and wide over the years, and can be seen clearly in the works of John Woo and Quentin Tarantino. And I suspect the final showdown may have inspired the next film on the list