Goodfellas (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Goodfellas' (directed by Martin Scorsese) is viewed as one of the best crime sagas in cinematic history. Do I believe that? Well, it's certainly among the best crime dramas and, is one of the best films of 1990. The film is 'mostly' based on a true story and opens by introducing us to 13 yr. old 1/2-Irish, 1/2-Sicilian Brooklynite Henry Hill (Christopher Serrone here, & Ray Liotta as an adult). It's the 1950s in NYC and, becoming a member of the mob is considered more cool than becoming President of the United States {these guys have it all: buddies, plenty of girls, hot cars, $$, respect, & more}.
Henry is adopted by an unsavory group of gangsters & becomes a go-fer for the brother of Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), the soft-spoken boss of the local, labyrinthine organized crime operation. By 1970, Henry achieved a position of some importance. He & his 2 closest associates, short-in-stature psychopath, Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) & icy, no-nonsense hijack specialist, Jimmy Conway (Robert DeNiro), become involved in areas that aren't approved of by most within the mob. i.e., drug dealing. Henry, now married to an attractive Long Island Jewish girl, Karen (Lorraine Bracco), leads an increasingly reckless life that results in him bedding multiple mistresses, living the high life, avoiding corrupt cops, becoming involved in a murder, & eventually spending time in jail.
Once Henry is released to the outside world {1980s}, he sets-up his own drug operation and Karen joins in becoming addicted to cocaine. But paranoid, drug-addled Henry also sees that old alliances have shifted & that he may be in deep trouble from those he once considered to be his closest pals. See, there are 2 things you never, ever do in gangster life: 1) NEVER rat on your friends {especially to the FBI}. And 2) always keep your mouth shut. For Henry {& his family}, he might have to disobey both in order to save his life. Drama ensues.
This classic tale of mob life takes a vivid look at the depravity & ugliness of a sub-culture that has been romanticized in other films for over 50 years. It's a great film; one of the very best that 1990 had to offer. I mayyy have enjoyed Academy Award-winning Dances with Wolves a touch more ... but truly, this is a case of apples & oranges; flip a coin, etc. There are so many strengths that this film contains: direction, acting, editing, period craftsmanship, music, etc. Though the film is nearly 2.5 hours long, director Scorsese & his top-notch filmmaking team bring propulsion to the crazed narrative. And nothing prepares the audience for the raw amorality & warped values of the characters -- you just can't believe what these people do & say, haha.
Ray Liotta has his stand-out moments, but mostly provides a steadying effect while crazier characters explode around him. Robert DeNiro is always exceptional in these mob movies. Lorraine Bracco - who I loved in 1989's The Dream Team - is given plenty to chew on with her Karen role. And best of all is Joe Pesci, our pint-sized maniac whose unpredictable rage can ignite at any second. Thanks to cinematographer Michael Ballhaus & editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese gives us a perfectly realized look at organized crime in NY that spans 30+ years. 'Goodfellas' goes to show that: like common folk, glamorous mobsters can't escape life's blows. Despite $$ & power, luck runs out, personal demons take-over ... and karma is a b*tch.
Henry is adopted by an unsavory group of gangsters & becomes a go-fer for the brother of Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), the soft-spoken boss of the local, labyrinthine organized crime operation. By 1970, Henry achieved a position of some importance. He & his 2 closest associates, short-in-stature psychopath, Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) & icy, no-nonsense hijack specialist, Jimmy Conway (Robert DeNiro), become involved in areas that aren't approved of by most within the mob. i.e., drug dealing. Henry, now married to an attractive Long Island Jewish girl, Karen (Lorraine Bracco), leads an increasingly reckless life that results in him bedding multiple mistresses, living the high life, avoiding corrupt cops, becoming involved in a murder, & eventually spending time in jail.
Once Henry is released to the outside world {1980s}, he sets-up his own drug operation and Karen joins in becoming addicted to cocaine. But paranoid, drug-addled Henry also sees that old alliances have shifted & that he may be in deep trouble from those he once considered to be his closest pals. See, there are 2 things you never, ever do in gangster life: 1) NEVER rat on your friends {especially to the FBI}. And 2) always keep your mouth shut. For Henry {& his family}, he might have to disobey both in order to save his life. Drama ensues.
This classic tale of mob life takes a vivid look at the depravity & ugliness of a sub-culture that has been romanticized in other films for over 50 years. It's a great film; one of the very best that 1990 had to offer. I mayyy have enjoyed Academy Award-winning Dances with Wolves a touch more ... but truly, this is a case of apples & oranges; flip a coin, etc. There are so many strengths that this film contains: direction, acting, editing, period craftsmanship, music, etc. Though the film is nearly 2.5 hours long, director Scorsese & his top-notch filmmaking team bring propulsion to the crazed narrative. And nothing prepares the audience for the raw amorality & warped values of the characters -- you just can't believe what these people do & say, haha.
Ray Liotta has his stand-out moments, but mostly provides a steadying effect while crazier characters explode around him. Robert DeNiro is always exceptional in these mob movies. Lorraine Bracco - who I loved in 1989's The Dream Team - is given plenty to chew on with her Karen role. And best of all is Joe Pesci, our pint-sized maniac whose unpredictable rage can ignite at any second. Thanks to cinematographer Michael Ballhaus & editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese gives us a perfectly realized look at organized crime in NY that spans 30+ years. 'Goodfellas' goes to show that: like common folk, glamorous mobsters can't escape life's blows. Despite $$ & power, luck runs out, personal demons take-over ... and karma is a b*tch.