Although Goodfellas doesn’t aspire to the grandeur of Coppola’s mob, Scorsese’s New Yorkers have their own vitality, even if – or perhaps because – the threat of violence is never far away.
Goodfellas: A Real-Life Drama Unveiling an Engrossing Tale Beyond Fiction - The Apex of Cinematic Excellence"
As a lifelong movie buff, I have journeyed through tales woven by cinematic geniuses, from Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" to Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" and David Fincher's "Fight Club." Each of these narratives, while grounded in audacious fiction, left indelible marks on my cinematic memory. But none could quite surpass the experience offered by Martin Scorsese's magnum opus, "Goodfellas." A testament to the adage that fact can be stranger than fiction, Goodfellas not only mesmerized me but also reshaped my understanding of the power of storytelling.
While Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" is hailed as the greatest film of all time, for me, "Goodfellas" ascends a step further. Beyond just being a film, it's an immersive experience, creating a world so compelling that one doesn't simply watch, but rather, becomes a part of it.
"Goodfellas" is no mere movie. It is a high-octane ride through the treacherous, yet intoxicating underbelly of the mafia. Scorsese adapts Nicholas Pileggi's novel, "Wiseguy," to present a gripping narrative rooted in reality, thus proving that a true story, when well-told, can be as, if not more, captivating than fictional works.
The dialogues of the film are a tour de force - memorable, impactful, and infinitely quotable. They're a powerful testament to Scorsese's skillful storytelling, etching themselves into your memory and sparking conversation years after you've left the cinema.
The cinematography is nothing short of masterful. Each shot, each angle, each frame serves a purpose, painting a vivid picture of a world not many of us know, but are nevertheless intrigued by. Scorsese takes you on a visual journey that's as captivating as it is unsettling.
At the heart of "Goodfellas" is Joe Pesci's electrifying performance as Tommy DeVito, for which he earned a well-deserved Oscar. His ten-second acceptance speech at the Academy Awards stands as a symbol of his raw and pure talent - no frills needed. Pesci's portrayal of DeVito is arguably one of the greatest performances in film history, embodying a character so complex and volatile, it's impossible to look away.
The pacing of "Goodfellas" is a masterclass in filmmaking. There's never a dull moment as Scorsese expertly navigates through decades of organized crime, maintaining the narrative tension throughout. The movie flows like a torrential river, carrying its audience through a whirlwind of emotions.
Complementing the visuals and narrative is the incredible soundtrack that pulsates through every scene, enhancing the emotional landscape of the characters. From the adrenaline rush of the criminal high life to the unnerving paranoia induced by overindulgence in drugs, the music adds a layer of authenticity that amplifies the cinematic experience.
"Goodfellas," in essence, is a cinematic tour de force, a triumph in storytelling that pushes the boundaries of film, and the #1 movie in my list. Its influence stretches far, inspiring masterpieces such as "The Sopranos." Yet, it stands tall in its uniqueness, a beacon of filmmaking that reminds us why we fall in love with movies.
The stakes are getting higher and higher, our characters are taking greater risks. It all comes down to themes of trust, morality, and ultimately betrayal. And after the film we are all left stunned, having just experienced the most exhilarating crime journey of all time.
Scorsese's style, fierce as it is, doesn't accomplish what he clearly expected of it. Often, in many arts, fresh treatment can redeem familiar subjects, but it doesn't happen here. [Oct 22, 1990]
One of the best mob films ever made. It's very accurate in how it portrays the real events it depicts. You know it's good, the critics know it's good, I know it's good, so it's good. It deserves every bit of praise it gets.
Both the first time I saw it, and seeing it again after many years, I find this film decidedly unpleasant. Thelma Schoonemaker's masterful editing doesn't make up for a story that gets extremely repetitive and boring in the second part. Definitely unpleasant characters. The violence in this film is never measured and finalized but always over the top for the sole purpose of entertaining the audience. The movie remains full of skilled directing but it turns out to be a barely watchable movie for my tastes.
Goodfellas is the ultimate mob/gangster/crime film from 1990 and directed by Martin Scorsese. The director named Scorsese has gone on to make many movies including Casino which may follow on from Goodfellas but that may be highly controversial and I may be wrong. Casino has some of the same actors like De Niro and Pesci and the same director so it's similar to Goodfellas and so how it was made too. ..... The main actor in Goodfellas is a guy named quite politely Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta, other characters are Jimmy Conway played by Robert De Niro and whatever Pesci's character was called, Tommy I think. The film revolves mainly around violence and family issues aswell as a few gangster scenes, a scene where an old friend insults Tommy (Joe Pesci) at a bar, says sorry and Tommy comes back later and with his friend Jimmy Conway (De Niro) beats the **** out of him on the floor after he insulted Tommy to the point where he's a bloody mess then dump him in the boot of a car then later stab him is genuinely one of the best scenes in this movie. There are many well made violent scenes but there's a few problems with Goodfellas and one is Lorraine Bracco who plays Henry Hill's wife because all she does is moan, cry, whinge, shout, yell and be absolutely annoying and you just want to knock her out. The other problem is that Goodfellas centres too much around family involvement and family issues which makes the film more boring than is necessary for a 18 rated violent movie, some of the characters are silly and even unlikeable. I thought drug use in the movie was a good idea but being mainly centred around family and family issues weakened it for me and having kids and babies star in an adult, graphic violent movie shot the director in the leg on this masterpiece. It just didn't work and Lorraine Bracco is unlikeable as Henry Hill's wife and even Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) is a bit dull or over the top at times. Joe Pesci was excellent in Goodfellas, Robert De Niro could of been much better but the violent scenes were good with plenty of blood. However mostly I found Goodfellas to be boring, bit too long with annoying Lorraine Bracco in it which is just absolute torture to sit through and experience and that annoying kid at the beginning of the movie who played a young Henry Hill putting petrol or gasoline over cars and setting them alight so all the cars explode into a ball of fire then running away was totally unnecessary. Mostly a bland, dull, boring movie with some annoying characters, some good characters, some horrible songs played throughout the film, some good violent scenes but nothing special and a bit gloomy.... Could of been much better a film.
I've watched this film several times now and each time I've grown to dislike it more and more. There are no life lessons to be learned from this movie, viewing this film will not enrich the spirit, rather it will leave a dark stain on your soul.