Goodfellas (Widescreen)

 

 

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This is simply a great mob movie. Based upon the best selling book, "Wiseguy", by Nicholas Pileggi, it traces the rise and fall of "gansta" wannabe turned government informant, Henry Hill. Skillfully directed by Martin Scorsese, this film with its all star cast, megawatt performances, and period music soundtrack packs quite a wallop to the senses. Named 1990's best film by the Los Angeles, New York, and National Society of Film Critics, it garnered six Academy Award nominations and earned Joe Pesci an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In the 1950s, a preteen Henry Hill (Christopher Serrone) began his career as a "gansta" wannabe on the mean streets of East New York, where a small Italian American community thrived. Working with Paul Cicero's (Paul Sorvino's) crew, he worked his way up, doing the penny ante, gofer stuff, until he began more heavy duty involvement. As a young man, Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) took to his life in the underworld like a fish takes to water. He married a nice, jewish girl whom he turned into a shrewish girl, as he lived the life he wanted. His wife, Karen (Lorraine Bracco), also became entranced by the perks available to a mobster

Henry teamed up with Jimmy "The Gent" Conway (Robert DeNiro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci). Together they stole, lied, cheated, and killed their way through life, until they got wacked or got caught. When Henry, against the express advice of Paul Cicero, got involved with Jimmy in the 1970s cocaine drug trade, it was the beginning of the end for him and Jimmy. The film skillfully chronicles the rise and fall of Henry Hill from wiseguy to goverment informant in the witness protection program..

It is amazing that the actor playing young Henry Hill, Christopher Serrone, resembles Ray Liotta so much, right down to the piercing hazel eyes. He gives a terrific performance as young Henry, expressing all the joie de vivre that young Henry had over being associated with mobsters. Ray Liotta, as the adult Henry Hill, gives an outstanding performance. The viewer senses his absolute love for the life that he lives. He clearly enjoys all the perks of a mobster, his only regret being that he could never be a "made" guy, because he was not fully Italian, as his mother was Sicilian but his father was Irish.

Robert DeNiro is wonderful as Jimmy Conway, low key yet powerful. Joe Pesci gives an over the top performance as the wild, volatile, and totally crazy Tommy DeVito, an out of control wiseguy who has no redeeming value as a human being. He is a guy who does not think twice about killing someone over something trivial. Paul Sorvino is excellent as the mob boss who is all about the family and plays it the old fashioned way. Lorraine Bracco gives the performance of her life as Karen Hill, a woman besotted by the life of a mobster's wife, until she realizes that girlfriends are an expected part of that life. She is sensational.

This is simply a great mob movie. It is a film that the viewer will watch again and again. I, myself , have seen it at least three or four times, and each time is as if it were the first. Vastly entertaining, this film is a worthy addition to one's collection.

This is one of my most favorite Scorsese films. His camera work is magnificent and so is the soundtrack. The actors are briliant. What I loved most about this film was that you learn more about mafia life than you do in anyother mob film. Even "The Godfather" Many great modern directors have used this film as a guide line because of how perfect it is. I highly recomend this movie to anyone.

Cody

Goodfellas is the quintessential gangster movie. Joe Pesci's role fits him like the killer suits he wears (pun intended). Throw in DeNiro and some pre-Soprano characters and you've got a winner. Great quality DVD. One you'll watch often, especially after you see bits of the sanitized version on network TV.

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5.0 out of 5 stars These are working guys, living it up and "Earning" at all costs
Scorcese & Pileggi's masterpiece on the life of Henry Hill as a Brooklyn NY mob wise-guy is great film. Read more

Published on July 4 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Does it get any better than this??
This movie is the BEST mob movie ever made! Hands down. It has it all! You will not be disappointed in buying this dvd!!

Published on Aug 23 2004 by Kellylynn

1.0 out of 5 stars Martin Scorcese and WB can kiss my ass.
After already buying this film (a crappy DVD by the way) and a few others (All crappy transfers accept for Mean Streets.) here comes the re-releases. Read more

Published on Aug 18 2004 by Antonio Giusto

4.0 out of 5 stars I Must Be Getting Old.
People say this movie is great, or "The Best", but I just thought it was a good movie. IT DOES NOT COMPARE TO THE GODFATHER! Read more

Published on July 24 2004 by M. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Mob Movie Ever
This is by far the best mob movie ever. Based on real life, it's just the best

Published on July 18 2004 by Jeff

5.0 out of 5 stars I hope that it's not a "flipper" AHHHHHHH!
This movie is a true classic, but I'm not going to talk about it. There are 413 other reviews that drool about how great Goodfellas is. Read more

Published on July 15 2004 by Brasington

5.0 out of 5 stars great
best mafia movie i've ever seen, though i haven't seen the godfather. can't wait for the commentary with the criminal and fbi agent.

Published on July 12 2004 by thmnshw4

5.0 out of 5 stars "WE ALWAYS CALLED EACH OTHER GOODFELLAS. . . "
GOODFELLAS is one of the greatest mob movies ever, perhaps the greatest movie. Everybody has to check this out. Read more

Published on July 11 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A Notch Below Godfathers I and II
Forget Joe DiMaggio. Where have you gone Ray Liotta? His electrifying performance in Goodfellas was followed by...nothing. Read more

Published on July 7 2004 by J

1.0 out of 5 stars Lives of not-so-quiet desperation
It's not often that I walk out on a movie. This one, however, which I saw when it was first released, nearly threw me out of the theater. Read more

Published on July 5 2004

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