"Goodfellas" is a film based on a true story told in Nick Pilleggi's book "Wiseguy" and is about the 30-year exploits of a young New York kid named Henry (Liotta- who should have been at least nominated for an Academy Award), You can visibly see his transformation from a young, energetic gangster to an older, paranoid man constantly on the run. Soon, Henry and his two best buds Jimmy (DeNiro in one of his most sadistic role ever!) and Tommy (Pesci, whose delightfully evil here), paint the town red and cause chaos towards rival hoods. Henry later marries a local girl named Karen (Bracco), who seems like putty in Henry's hands, but becomes shocked when she discovers her husband's true colors with the mafia. With tension filled scenes and a gripping script which is narrated by the 3 leads, (a concept used in another brilliant Scorsese film "Casino") the viewer will feel every bit of the heat that is simmered by the cast and atmosphere. Plus, a lively soundtrack consisting of rock music and old Italian love songs make the movie more enjoyable to the viewer. The only flaws that might make the viewer cringe are the slightly grim violence (check out the beginning of the movie. Whew!), Martin Scorsese delivers the ultimate gangster flick, and his argueably finest movie ever. Complete with an ensemble cast consisting of Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco, the actors leave no stone unturned as they play their parts with a lot of heart and soul, as if it would be the big- gest roles of their lives. On top of all this, look at the camera work. Notice the scene in The Copacabana where Henry Hill introduces us to his mob buddies. Notice how the camera doesn't cut away and how we are able to get a glimpse of each character and have an understanding of who they are and what their importance is. Also, look at the famous shot in which the camera follows Henry and Karen from their car all the way to their table. It is almost four minutes long!!!
The camera work again comes into play in a more subtle manner in certain scenes of the movie. Notice how the camera is sped up during the events of May 11, 1980. Every single scene, including the kitchen scene, are given a sense of urgency due to this camera work. There is one amusing scene with Catherine Scorsese as Pesci's mother.

DeNiro and Scorsese are among the very best in their respective fields. They have been a very successful team on such classic films as Mean Streets ,Taxi Driver (there best for the 70s),The King of Comedy, Raging Bull (there best for the 80s) Casino and Cape Fear. Goodfellas is the very best film they've made together for the 90s.
"Goodfellas" is a prime crime thriller, not to be missed! Watch this excellent mob thriller... or be whacked!!

I know a lot of people just it but Id put it behind 'Heat' and 'Casino'. For me 'Goodfellas' is just a little too cliched. Still great though of cause!
[This message was edited Wed Dec 17 4:15:37 PST 2003 by JDINTERACTIVE]

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Heat is one badass movie. I still wish DeNiro would've popped Pachino at the end. Now that would've been the perfect ending!

sinisterpentatonic said:

I have to disagree with U! I think the ending was utterly moving. It shows the depth and admiration for each other which is 1 of the many great things about the film. Such an ending would have rendered the coffee shop seen as pointless.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

I agree that there was a great respect between the both of them, but like DeNiro told Pachino during that coffee shop scene, if it comes down to it he will do whatever's neccessary to get away. DeNiro was shooting at him in the end as was Pachino, so if there was this great respect Pachino would've of let him get away. But nooo it's just another typical bullshit hollywood ending where the good guy gets the bad guy.

The coolest thing about this movie is that it follows the book (without the slow parts of the book) and that it's based on a true story.

I would love to see a few more movies based on Mob books.

Naah, I'm not into gangstermovies. They bore me. So for me, the first best film of the 90's was Hardware.

Does anyone here notice the similarities between Goodfellas and Boogie Nights?The protagonists in both films share an incredibly similar journey.

Slave2daGroove said:

not a big fan of this movie. it's okay, it just doesn't blow me away. too many genre cliches, and the cast is kinda weak, filled with the also-rans of the mafia character actors society.

AaronAlmighty said:

I agree. I find it kinda drags.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

perhaps also hearing the many many appearances that the real Henry Hill has made on the Howard Stern show has tarnished my opinion of him and his story. he's just a fucking idiot.

:WORSHIP: :WORSHIP: One of my favorite movies EVA!!!

FiveFootNine said:

holymoses54 said: