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Plot: Drama of a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn boy initiated into a neighborhood mob in his youth, and the struggles he encounters with the gang through the next 25 years.
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:September 6, 2008the best mob crime movie ever to of come out in the 1990s. GoodFellas is a drama about a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn boy initiated into a neighborhood mob in his youth, and the struggles he encounters with the gang through the next 25 years. great performances by Robert De Niro,Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci. one of the things which makes this movie a classic within itself is the performance from Joe Pesci. Martin Scorsese directs one of the best gangster movie of all time. GoodFellas is my second favourite movie of all time and i have to say i do like the tagline for this movie: "As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a gangster."
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MCT:September 4, 2008
makes the Godfather look like crap.I've allways loved mob movies and I do have the Departed among my favorites.The Godfathers ofcourse not crap.But if you like mafia movies and haven't seen GoodFellas don't just assume The Godfather is the best mafia movie
Intresting note.Lorraine Bracco Michael Imperioli and Susanne Sheapard went on to make the groundbraking show The Sopranos. -
MCT:September 4, 2008Gives clarity to the lives of working-class gangsters, this classic by Scorsese is a look into a true-life gangster who learns two rules:never rat on your ftriends, and always keep your mouth shut. A classic.
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MCT:September 1, 2008
Out of all the modern mob films, this is probably the most fun. You can't help think it is glamourised a touch, but that does not take away a slight masterwork that has a great deal of class
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MCT:August 27, 2008
Scorceses's masterpiece. Goodfellas gives us a more in-depth look at orgainised crime that other gangster movies shy away from. Along with supercool characters, honest storytelling and a few laughs along the way, this is truly a modern classic.
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MCT:August 25, 2008
One of the most amazing films ever about a man gradually climbing the mafia ladder. Boy what a cast! Can we ever thank Scorsese enough for his amazing contributions to film?
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MCT:August 24, 2008
I am really getting into gangster movies, and GoodFellas is in the top 5 of my favorite gangster films of all time. The characters are just so cool in the movie, it's almost as if the whole thing is real... which is pretty good since it's based on a true story.
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MCT:August 22, 2008
This was an excellent film full of both it's serious moments and funny moments. Joe Pesci really stands out as the star of this film. However, the film can feel like it's dragging and may feel too long for some.
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MCT:August 21, 2008
Martin Scorsese has made many cinematic masterpieces in his career, but his greatest achievement is GoodFellas. Marty's creative film-making techniques and editing is what mainly makes the film so brilliant. He also brings out terrific performances from everyone of his cast, especially Pesci as the psychotic Tommy and De Niro as the cool Jimmy. GoodFellas takes the audience to places other gangster films will shy away from. A first-hand look at organised crime. GoodFellas is a film made by the greatest director in his best ever form. Perhaps the best movie ever?
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MCT:August 20, 2008Its really long. To be honest, I got bored. I have no interest in watching this again, I dont really understand why its so highly rated. Liotta and Pesci's characters were annoying. Liotta's thought he was the shit, and Pesci's just shot everyone for no reason. De Niro and Sorvino were good. I liked their characters. The very very brief cameo by Jackson made me laugh. Oh and just a personal note, I cant stand Liotta's obnoxious laugh. I wanted to hit him. So yeah as for the story, I dont know what was special about it. Nothing special in my eyes.
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MCT:August 19, 2008
a martin scorses master piece the greatest movie ever made not one thing wrong with it. The music is perfect same with the acting the shots everything. i do think that ray liotta diserved a oscar nomination for best actor his voice over just made the movie.. this movie was robed for all the oscars it diserved
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MCT:August 13, 2008
Desde el aņo de 1980, Martin Scorsese habia parado de hacer obras maestras, ese aņo, su pelicula Toro Salvaje, fue considerada una de las mejores peliculas norteamericanas hechas, aņos despues, le siguieron varios exitos, como , el color del dinero, la ultima tentacion del cristo..etc, pero fue hasta 1990 que Scorsese volvio a ganarse a la critica especializada con un veredicto unanime, una obra maestra que ha superado el paso del tiempo, convirtiendose en una joya innegable del cine norteamericano.
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MCT:August 13, 2008
Almost every filmmaker in the history of cinema would be thrilled by the knowledge that a feature of his (or hers) is considered an undisputed classic - a benchmark by which other, similarly themed movies are judged. Director Martin Scorsese, considered by many to be the finest American film craftsman working today, can claim a unique distinction - he has been responsible for a classic during each of the last three decades of the 20th century. In the '70s, it was Taxi Driver. In the '80s, it was Raging Bull. And in the '90s, it was Goodfellas (the most lauded, at least in terms of official awards and nominations, of the director's features). No one else, not even greats like Ingmar Bergman, Stanley Kubrick, and Eric Rohmer, can make a similar claim. With patience, care, and strict attention to detail, Scorsese has staked out an impregnable position in the history of motion pictures.
It is not a coincidence that Scorsese's three masterpieces all star Robert De Niro. These two men, who have worked together eight times, bring out the best in each other. Even their "lesser" collaborations, such as Casino and The King of Comedy, possess an energy and intensity that shows how well they understand one another. Scorsese is at his best when directing De Niro, and De Niro is at his best when being directed by Scorsese. The pair has become inextricably linked in the public consciousness because of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas.
There are essentially two kinds of Mafia movies: those that romanticize the life and those that depict it with gut-wrenching clarity. The best known and most accomplished of these films, The Godfather, stakes out its territory firmly in the first area, leaving Goodfellas to stand atop the other. Both pictures have fully realized, three dimensional characters and strong atmospheres, but Francis Ford Coppola's effort embraces the mythos of the gangster, while Scorsese's exploration is more pragmatic. Violence is a key component of each, but it is a more brutal companion in Goodfellas than in The Godfather. Clearly, the different approaches adopted by the directors result in films that, while populating the same genre, are dissimilar in temperament and tone.
Goodfellas is, as we learn at the very beginning, based (however loosely) on a true story. Developing the screenplay's skeleton from the events related in the novel Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi (who also co-wrote the script), Scorsese has used the facts from an infamous '80s case involving an important mob informant to develop a rich and multi-layered study of three characters and the culture that shaped their lives. It's a fascinating exploration of a lifestyle that has beguiled Americans for most of this century, whether in movies, in novels, or on television.
The story opens by introducing us to 13-year old Henry Hill (played by Christopher Serrone as a youngster and by Ray Liotta as an adult), our narrator. It's the '50s in New York City, and becoming a member of the mob looks like one of the coolest employment opportunities around. "As far back as I can remember," Henry recollects, "I wanted to be a gangster." And no wonder - to a kid just entering his second decade of life, these men have everything: friends, girls, cars, cash, and, most importantly, respect. "Being a gangster was better than being the President of the United States." Henry pursues his goal and soon has become a gofer for the brother of Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), the neighborhood boss. His first taste of the life is a heady experience. "I was treated like a grown up. I was living a fantasy... At 13, I was making more money than most of the adults in the neighborhood."
By 1970, Henry has achieved a position of some importance in the organization. He and his two closest associates, hotheaded Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) and no-nonsense Jimmy Conway (De Niro), are becoming involved in areas that aren't approved of by everyone in the mob - in particular, drug dealing. Henry, now married to a nice Jewish girl named Karen (Lorraine Bracco), leads an increasingly more reckless life that results in his taking on multiple mistresses, becoming involved in Tommy's murder of a "made" mobster, and spending a term in jail. Once Henry returns to the outside world, he becomes aware that old alliances are shifting and that his life may be in jeopardy from those he once considered to be his closest friends. There are two principles of the gangster way - never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut - and Henry may have to violate both in order to preserve his life.
Goodfellas is as compelling and absorbing as any crime drama I have ever seen. The script shows all the facets of these characters; they are all fully developed individuals capable of great good and great evil. The moral ambiguity of their lifestyle is treated with a shrug. Goodfellas is not about Mafia dons, but about those who exist on a lower level. It's about the bonds that are formed between compatriots in crime, and how betrayal is the most heinous offense imaginable. The mob is a fraternity - an all-boys club where everyone looks after each other.
The story, which spans a quarter of a century, has an epic feel despite its intimate perspective. The first forty minutes, which detail Henry's childhood and his acceptance into mob life, is presented almost as a fairy tale, using the same kind of romanticized approach embraced by The Godfather. The purpose of this segment is to forge a bond between the audience and the main character while he is still relatively innocent. Henry does not grow up to be a nice man, but, because of the way Scorsese has structured the early portions of the film, we remain sympathetic to him throughout.
Over the years, few directors have exhibited Scorsese's ability when it comes to using pop music to set a scene or cement the atmosphere. On many occasions, the appropriation of period songs seems like a transparent attempt to sell the movie's soundtrack album. But, in Goodfellas, Scorsese's selection of "Then He Kissed Me", "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", "Gimme Shelter", "Monkey Man", "The Magic Bus", "What Is Life", and dozens of others proves to be invaluable. The songs mesh perfectly with the visuals, successfully taking the place of a strong score.
Goodfellas begins calmly, but, by the time the final credits roll, there has been a great deal of blood shed. Some of the violence is sudden, shocking, and visceral. One death in particular comes as a total surprise, and leaves the viewer momentarily stunned and disoriented. Even after I have seen the film numerous times, this scene remains unsettling. There are many other moments that have a similar, albeit less amplified, impact. Goodfellas does not rely on plot twists to hold the viewer's attention - the strength and breadth of the story and characters do that - but one of the film's strongest traits is the sense of uncertainty that hangs over every frame. Scorsese's tactic of using two narrators (sometimes Henry's voiceovers are replaced by Karen's) even leaves open the possibility that Henry might not survive the film.
As is often true of the director's work, Goodfellas is a masterpiece of visual composition. Employing the services of German-born cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (who also collaborated with Scorsese on After Hours, The Last Temptation of Christ, and The Age of Innocence), Scorsese eschews a static camera, always keeping the canvas of his film fluid. There are long pans and innovative flourishes, all designed to enhance the mood and involve the viewer in the action. On one occasion, the camera sweeps around a bar then into a back room, pausing on faces as Henry's voiceover introduces each of the wise guys. Later, we are presented with the famous, disorienting shot of Henry and Jimmy facing each other across a table at a diner. They appear to remain in the same position relative to us while the background slowly recedes (this effect was accomplished by moving the camera away from the actors while simultaneously using the lens to zoom in on them).
For character-based dramas such as Goodfellas to rise above the level of a well-crafted melodrama, strong acting is a necessity, and this movie contains several unforgettable lead performances plus solid support by those in lesser roles. The most flamboyant portrayal is turned in by Joe Pesci as the often out-of-control Tommy. Pesci won an Academy Award for his work here, crafting a character that can be charming at times and unexpectedly violent at others. (Pesci virtually replicated this part for Scorsese's Casino.) The brilliance in the performance is how easily and rapidly Tommy shifts from one mode to the other. A single minor thing - an action, a word, etc. - can set him off. Pesci makes the sudden transition seem credible rather than jarring.
While their parts aren't nearly as scene-stealing as Pesci's, Liotta and De Niro form the bedrock upon which Goodfellas is constructed. De Niro, who has become associated with this kind of role over the course of a long and successful career (owing in no small part to his portrayal of the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II), slides easily into the role of the charismatic, yet potentially violent, Jimmy. Like almost every memorable wise guy on screen over the years, he is both suave and dangerous. Watching De Niro's perfect interpretation of Jimmy brings to mind his version of Al Capone in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables. Both characters share a host of traits, both in terms of temperament and personality (although Jimmy is considerably lower on the mob food chain). Liotta has the arguably thankless job of playing the most normal of the gangsters. It's not a splashy part, but he is convincing enough to provide an easily accessible entry point into the story for the viewer. In a real sense, Liotta's Henry becomes our guide through the murky world of crime, friendship, and betrayal. Without Liotta's unflagging performance, we might become lost.
Also worth singling out for notice is Lorraine Bracco, who received Best Supporting Actress nominations from both the Academy and the Golden Globes. This is without a doubt the most impressive work the actress has accomplished during the course of an uneven career. She brings both strength and vulnerability to Karen, and makes the most of a limited amount of screen time. Paul Sorvino fits snugly into the role of Paul Cicero. Like De Niro, Sorvino often finds himself playing gangster types. In other supporting performances, Catherine Scorsese (Martin's late mother, playing Tommy's mom) and Frank Vincent (as Billy Batts, the object of Tommy's bloody ire) are striking in the few minutes accorded to them.
Film critics will argue over which represents Scorsese at his best - Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, or Goodfellas. Each movie has its fierce advocates, but to single out one at the expense of the other two seems to be a pointless and counterproductive enterprise. Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are more focused on an individual than Goodfellas, which examines how a culture shapes values, life choices, and relationships. Taken together, these three offer insight into the themes and ideas that are closest to Scorsese's heart. Taken individually, each represents an amazing motion picture accomplishment, with Goodfellas standing alongside The Godfather as one of the two greatest mob stories told on film. -
MCT:August 12, 2008
Epic crime saga. Explores the criminal underworld to its very depths. Has many iconic scenes and images, together with the great acting make this a must-see for anyone with any interest in stories that expose mafia networks.
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MCT:August 5, 2008
Drama of a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn boy initiated into a neighborhood mob in his youth, and the struggles he encounters with the gang through the next 25 years. a great film. A great mob film made, possibly one of the best mob films ever made. Great directing by Martin Scorsese. This film is just as good as Casino, although most of the characters who star in Casino are in goodfellas aswell. Great acting by Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta and Samual L. Jackson. A few moments of comedy with Joe Pesci's charactor in this film. One of the greatest mob/drama films of the 1990's but i think that it is one of the greatest mob films ever made.
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MCT:August 4, 2008
Likely the greatest mob drama ever made. The quintessential Deniro/Pesci flick is fantastic. Based on true events it can make you want a taste of the lifestyle
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MCT:August 1, 2008
One of my first gangster movies that I ever saw. This one made me fall in love with Ray Liotta at an early age.
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MCT:July 28, 2008Based on the book "Wiseguys" by Nicholas Pileggi, "GoodFellas" is a fair Mob movie about former Mob member Henry Hill (Ray Liotta).
Hill rises from a young man who does odd-jobs for members of his neighborhood Mob Family in the 1950s, to a man who becomes fed up with the life and turns State's witness to put away the Mobsters he admired as a boy.
For a Mob movie, the violence is not much. However, it is sufficient for what is presented. If you want blood in a Mob movie, I suggest the "Godfather" Trilogy.
The acting is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. Despite the great cast, none stand out and steal scenes -- however, Joe Pesci is pretty funny in a good number of scenes he's in.
The story itself is somewhat interesting. However, I was expecting a violent, crime-driven motion picture.
The directing was pretty good. But the director didn't set up any scenes where you were surprised when a gun was shot. I probably jumped once not expecting a shooting.
Overall, this is not the Mob movie you are expecting, if you are looking for one like the "Godfather" Trilogy. It's more about one man's journey in and out of organized crime. -
MCT:July 26, 2008
martin scorsese is the best director in doing mob movies, theres no other.
i completely fell in love with the movie in the first 15 minutes where henry is telling the story, absolutely phenomenal.
with awesome storytelling, great directing, and awesome actingthis movie could not be any better -
MCT:July 26, 2008
"My most beloved and dearest Scorsese film"
He turned organized crime into a believable thing. I consider Scorsese the KING of camera movements, he made the handy-cam an art form, I mean how did he pulled the long-shot scene where Liotta and Bracco enter the restaurant by the back door? the orchestration is perfect and yet looked very natural, and the soundtrack?: not only he has good taste in music but he envisioned every song incorporated (like Tarantino), Martin just knew what he was doing! -
MCT:July 25, 2008
Based on a book, based on a true story, this film still retains some believability despite the best efforts of Ray Liotta. This one is less about family than The Godfather Trilogy and more about business.
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MCT:July 25, 2008
In my opinion, the greatest gangster epic ever made, plain and simple, from the master, Martin Scorsese. Tremendous performances from De Niro, Pesci and Liotta combine with great cinematography to produce one of my all-time favourite pieces of cinema. Like a fine wine, this brutal epic improves with time
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Comments
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senad901posted 368 days ago -
"Ever since i could remember i always wanted to be a gangster" awesomeness scorsese's best
posted 376 days ago -
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This movie was in my erra and some of that story had to do with some friends involved in that Heist at the airport, Knew that fat guy who bought that Pink Caddy, I didnt like him lived accross the street from my inlaws, As it is said and done, He got what he deserved But I will never forget in that movie the Diner on Rockaway Blvd in Ny where my husband had breakfast every morning. and we lived like 5 blocks from there . Now who could say all that and know the truth about that Story !
posted 549 days ago -
i own it on dvd 2-disc including with special edition.
im so enjoying goodfellas. director martin scorsese is kick ass yeah!posted 566 days ago -
The Best movie I ever watched!I can watch this everyday over,and over and over.If you don't have this movie in your collection,your without the best story(a real-life tale)that anyone could of had made!!
posted 567 days ago -
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