GOODFELLAS - Movie Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
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As far back as I can remember I always wanted to see a Deep Focus Lens review of Goodfellas.
I C what you did there.
I love how Henry Hill's increased involvement in this criminal world is graced with luxurious long shots, like the restaurant tracking shot that you mentioned, while the final half hour is full of hectic and jerky camerawork to illustrate Hill's drug-fueled paranoia during his downfall.
My favorite bit like that a lot of people miss is after the Hill's home gets an upgrade (when Belle and Morrie visit). There's a shot from Karen's pov when she's holding the gaudy 70s looking remote, as she reveals the new fixture's. It's really not a huge decision but showing it from her POV really adds to the level of seduction 'the life" offers these characters.
This is my favourite movie of all time along with 3 others: Toy Story, Unforgiven, Bicycle Thieves.
Have you seen Scorsese’s Silence? IMO it’s in Scorsese’s top 4 best films.
That is a SUPER underrated Scorsese film
Agreed. Feels like the movie he’s always wanted to make.
Personally my favourite Scorsese film.
A mid film that got overlooked so now it’s heroic to state that it’s his forgotten masterpiece
@@AssClapCowboy Nah it's a film that people who actively follow cinema know was close to Scorsese's heart so they can recognize a lot of elements that might be overlooked. Great film by any stretch.
I've always wanted to see you do a full review of "Goodfellas" ever since I heard you briefly mention it in other videos of yours, and it did not disappoint. I, like many people, I'm sure, rewatched it recently in light of Ray Liotta's death. I forgot how much I love watching it. The filmmaking and world-building are on another level; I can only hope we get quality like this again in Hollywood someday. I agree it doesn't quite have the same emotional resonance and thematic depth I felt with works like "Taxi Driver" and especially "Raging Bull," and even things like "Silence" and "The Irishman," to name later examples. However, given the stripped-down grittiness and romanticization of the world created here, I would argue that's a strength. Nevertheless, great review, Maggie.
PS: Kudos to Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorcese's editor: she is a HUGE part of every Scorsese film, and DEFINITLEY "Goodfellas".
James T. Kwei also co edited the picture
I actually rewatched Goodfellas in memory of Ray Liotta. Still one of my favorite movies ever, there's just an energy this film has that most can't achieve. Although, I have to also agree in preferring The Godfather, the Shakespearan and operatic feel of that film hits me more.
For me, what makes "Goodfellas" so brilliant - apart from the dark humor, the cast and the endlessly-quotable dialogue - is how seductive it is. It completely seduces you into this world and shows you why it is so appealing, and by the end, the last thing you want is to be a gangster.
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
“If you build it, he will come.”
R.I.P. Ray Liotta…
His performances will live on in perennial classics such as ‘Something Wild,’ ‘Field of Dreams,’ and, of course, this seminal gangster film which only grows more and more iconic with the passage of time.
To which, I feel compelled to offer these two cents:
Ray Liotta’s work in ‘Goodfellas’ is the unsung hero of the whole ensemble. In fact, it may very well be the key to its enduring legacy; no small feat given the film’s pedigree.
The film bears the imprint of multiple influences - including the French New Wave and classic Hollywood - with many homages to Scorsese’s heroes such as Truffaut, Godard, Raoul Walsh, and Hitchcock, to name a few.
There’s a lot going on here stylistically.
However, Liotta’s performance as Henry Hill grounds the entire affair. He’s also tasked with acting opposite such powerhouses as De Niro and Pesci. And as dynamic and essential as they may be, Liotta’s performance is the subtlest and most nuanced of the bunch. In fact, his protagonist serves as the linchpin of the whole group.
Which hails back to Hitchcock.
Henry Hill is the nearest version to a “Hitchcock Everyman” that the audience can identify with. His moral compass is broken, to be sure. Yet he’s surrounded by such amoral, despicable types that we’re forced to latch onto him by default - the equivalent of taking refuge in a patch of quicksand surrounded by toxic waste.
And although Henry Hill can be every bit as unsavory as his cohorts, Liotta still manages to evoke a layer of humanity lacking in anyone else around him.
By turns, his character is shy, relaxed, charming, self-effacing, intense, indignant, aggressive, paranoid, homicidal, stoned, and strung-out - before quietly surrendering to his fate. And much of what he is able to convey is not through dialogue but rather through his forceful presence alone (his steely, blue-eyed gaze performs wonders in this regard).
So while much about this film has been praised to the heavens, it still seems to me that his contributions are a little bit undervalued and taken for granted.
Because, in truth, his performance is a tour-de-force.
It may only not seem like one, initially, due to its casual and sometimes understated delivery. But that is only because Mr. Liotta is simply that good. He makes it look natural and effortless.
He delivers a disciplined, well-crafted, ultra-committed performance which will endure the test of time alongside the film we all know and love.
He will be missed.
Ray Liotta
1954 - 2022
I thought it was interesting in a conversation with Jim Jarmusche, Scorsese said that he didn’t tell his mom that Pesci, DeNiro and Liotta were gangsters or that they had just killed someone. He just said “he’s your son, he’s home, etc”
Joe Pesci’s mom’s house in the movie was filmed on the block where I grew up. 241 street in Bellerose, Queens, NY. I remember when they filmed it. Who knew it was going to be classic? Thanks for the great review.
This movie conveys its story in such a realistic fashion that it feels like you are watching real life or else a documentary with tons of real-life footage. I have noticed that movies which tend toward the realistic end of the spectrum tend to be more popular than movies on the stylized end of the spectrum (examples: Edward Scissorhands, Dick Tracy, Speed Racer, Hook). While I slightly prefer stylized movies (including golden age Hollywood movies), I understand the appeal of realistic movies and I also enjoy them very much.
So glad to see you review this! One of my favorite films
I always hear people talk about how great De Niro and Pesci are in Goodfellas but nobody ever talks about how great Liotta is. He holds his own with these two Legends of cinema because he is one himself!
Rest In Peace Ray Liotta.
I think there's something incredibly anachronistic and brilliant in making a Italian American Gangster movie, and putting George Harrison's What is Life in the montage.
But The Irishman's final act, when he grows old is one of the last great things he's ever filmed.
I really liked the scene where Peggy (the daughter) asks “why?” It’s like…an anti-climax? But not in a derogatory way if that makes sense
Thanks for discussing. It's on my top 10 list of all-time favorite films. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular (and movie buff)
You should do your reviews on The Godfather: Part 2, The Godfather: Part 3 (which is now called The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone), The Sopranos, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack Of The Clones, Revenge Of The Sith, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises, Game Of Thrones, Vikings, Rome, The Tudors, Westworld, Stranger Things, The Mandolorian, Saving Private Ryan, Band Of Brothers, The Pacific, Chernobyl, Deadwood, Casablanca, The Princess Bride, and The Adventures Of Robin Hood
This is one of the greats. It's so rewatchable, and arguably scorcese's best movie
Now go get your fucking shinebox.
@@rong2912 That shinebox did 20 fuckin' years in the can!
@@HOTD108_ It ate grilled cheese off the radiator.
I respect your opinion on Goodfellas being Scorsese's last materpiece.
I'd love to see you review Silence. It's my third favorite film from Scorsese, but I don't hear many people talk about it online outside of reddit.
Underrated film
It is. More people should see Silence.
Actually Goodfellas was the start of Scorses's second golden age, 1990-95 - four classics.
I'm subbed to Michael Franzese and he said Goodfellas glamorized Henry's life too much. Henry did not live that luxurious. But Franzese did say Goodfellas is one of the most accurate portrayals of the mob life.
Right afta I got hee , I ordered some spaghetti wit marinara sauce and I gotz egg noodles and ketchup. Smattawichooo !!
Now you can add Paul Sorvino to the list of Great Mob Actors that we lost. R.I.P. 😔
You’re right, GoodFellas is Scorsese’s last true masterpiece. Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and GoodFellas are his three masterpieces. Several of his movies after (Casino, The Departed, Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman) are still great but I don’t think he ever achieved the level of merit of GoodFellas. I can go on and on about how much I *love* this film.
Silence as well
@@caleb232w I need to give that another watch
Hugo and Silence are amazing imo no one likes those movies because they’re not as exciting and don’t have violence or sex but oh well.
“What-o I amuse you?!” So good
Fantastic review, you nailed so many things - and you brought new observations to the subject. I couldn't agree more about this being Scorsese's last real masterpiece, as good as many of his subsequent films are. (PS: I'd LOVE to see you do a review of Scorsese's "After Hours"! In fact, that one, "King Of Comedy" and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"!) PSS: Off the Scorsese track: "Make Way For Tomorrow" (1937). Unbelievably great film, the inspiration for "Tokyo Story". PLEASE shine a light on this fantastic, heartbreaking movie!
In terms of stuff like pacing and cinematography, I think Goodfellas wipes the floor with stuff like The Godfather and The Sopranos. However, like you mentioned, I don't think Goodfellas is as narratively ambitious as the other two either. But I don't think it really needed to be. Goodfellas is more of a quick look into mafia life and doesn't want to overstep with any messages of morality and whatnot. The depth it does have is very subtle (which I like) and the film never feels like its trying too hard. Every scene puts a big smile on my face and I think I might actually prefer it over Godfather and Sopranos (as close as it is).
I love what Goodfellas says about friendship and family. We have to grow up and face the fact that people are not what we thought they were, when we were impressionable children. For some, it seems that they only really know brutality and betrayal from their own blood relatives, so gang life certainly must have it's appeal. The montage of photographs technique Scorsese used and the Christmas scenes really make you feel like they are a family with all the arguing that entails.
''Your killers come with smiles, the same people that have cared for you your whole life, and they always come when you are at your weakest and most in need of their help''. When someone is killed or goes missing, you first question those closest to them.
I haven't seen The Sopranos but I love Once Upon A Time In America. It goes deeper into those familial themes, the passing of time, mortality, memory and regret.
Classic movie. I first saw Goodfellas when I was eleven years old and ever since then I've become a Scorcese fanboy. The one scene I love and Scorcese took from Alfred Hitchcock is the very beginning of the story where we see Henry hills eyes looking through his window. The scene shows us he's locked away in a cage living an average life and wants to be part of them.
I’m going to see it in the theater Wednesday, with my friend who’s never seen it, I can’t wait
What did your friend think of it?
@@thelegendarymvg7807 sorry, I meant next Wednesday
Love your reviews!!! I really want to hear your take on The Lives of Others.
The helicopter sequence that concludes with Henry's arrest is great.
The best mafia movie ever, never got bored watching it.
Goat movie of all time , love it ,everthing in the movie is perfect
Have you seen Silence (2016)?
I think the freeze frames in this film with the voiceover were inspired by Jules et Jim and the shot where in goes round introducing all the guys was taken from I Vitelloni. I also get A Clockwork Orange vibes from this film as the first half of both films are a set of stunning set pieces before settling in to the more brutal reality in the 2nd half, and with both films I prefer the first half. But I agree it is Scorceses last masterpiece, along with Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Goodfellas probably has a broader appeal as it contains more humour than the others.
STOP.
The biggest thing Scorsese did in this film is capture a Time. And he does it perfectly. It brought me back home.
Goodfellas is my most watched Scorsese. Color of Money is possibly my favourite though. Props to Bringing Out the Dead, and love to Ray Liotta.
My favorite shot in this film is where they are all burying Billy Batts body in the middle of the night. The lighting in that scene is insane.
Rip Paulie
I'm going to see Goodfellas in theatres this weekend !
I heard this once:
To Scorsese the tragic characters in Goodfellas are Karen and Paulie( he was worse in real life), both liked Henry and wanted to make him happy.
Good fellas is great. I liked it when I first saw it, but after a couple watches, I loved it. I take this movie for what it is pure entertainment. It's a good story, funny, and keeps you on edge the whole time. I do think scorsesse has made some masterpieces after this. Casino, the aviator, and Irishman are all amazing in my book too. Great review
I have to agree with you on Scorsese’s run. His later films feel borrowed or parodies of earlier films. His early films have consistent themes (guilt/ outsiders/ crime/ identity) but King of Comedy, goodfellas, raging bull, dog day afternoon feel very separate and original stories.
I think Kubrick remains the most original auteur each film feels very unique.
Dog Day Afternoon?
@@Bigfrank88 🤣🤣🤣, meant Mean Streets and went with Dog Day Afternoon (which I like a lot). Thanks 🙏🏾
Please do The Age of Innocence next !!!
But there's still a cold piece left .
Goodfellas is my favorite film of all time. I have seen probably 100 times and I never get bored of it. Plus you have Frank Vincent delivering one of the greatest lines in film history. "Now go home and get your fucking shine box!"
One of my 13 all time favorite films. Thanks for the review.
Nice review!
"Now go home and get your f**king shinebox" 😁
Greatest film ever made
No doubt it's a classic with Scorsese's unmistakeable fast-moving camera, great characters, great dialogue and voiceover. There would be no Sopranos without it (and I've never seen it because I don't know how it could top this - why watch season after season when it's all here?) and no Pulp Fiction in the way Scorsese is fast and loose with crime giving us the ride of the gangster life like it's that of a rock star whch Tarantino would only expand on. A milestone film of its time.
Where Tarantino falls short is that he's basically a drooling impressionable child "saying "Coool..." and he never goes beyond the veneer.
Goodfellas is an incredible movie. If you love movies and you haven't seen this one, I am jealous that you're going to get to experience it for the first time. They brought it back into the theaters after it got nominated for Best picture that's when I got to see it twice I might add brought some other friends the second time.
Intelligent, beautiful and athletic...my fav. "One dog goes one way, the other goes the other way...wadda want from me?"
excellent review, but want to go off topic. I've never had any reason to subscribe or believe in the 'mandela effect' for any reason - until a recent rewatch of this movie. ...I clearly remember first watching Tommy kill the 'made man' decades ago. back then, realistic scenes of horrifying violence like that were uncommon. even rewatching it today, it still is highly disturbing.
the thing is that I clearly remember the background song during the scene to have been 'Quinn the eskimo.' but on the rewatch, it was a different song.
does any other old farts remember that the original song was 'quinn?'
Nobody EVER has remarked about "Who do you think you are Frankie Valle?"
I think you make some very valid points and this is a wonderful review...I do feel that Casino is Goodfellas' spiritual sequel in a way.
This is Scorsese's last masterpiece? Maggie, you insulted him a little bit, a little bit. Now I want to you walk down the street, yeah right there, go on, down the street, turn the corner, ...
Get the papers, get the papers...I see what you did there LMFAO
Damn I wasn't sure if it was just an editing error, took me a few minutes to get it lmaoo
The only movie I'd ever give a perfect score on....thrilling & gripping from the beginning to the very end
Goodfellas and Scarface are the ultimate double bill when it comes to gangsta movies. The only dilemma is which is the best order to watch the two masterpieces. Not one second of screentime wasted in both films 🤘
Triple feature: Godfather - Scarface - Goodfellas. I will generally go with watching them in chronological order.
@@NaughtyVampireGod yep, excellent trio of Gangsta films bro.. and we didn't even get one like? Scorsese's gonna be pissed when he finds out!
@@Catweazel1976 - thx man. I like her reviews but community-wise this channel is kinda dead.
Yeah bro, and I like her reviews too. Though lately she's starting to second guess the Original Star Wars Trilogy, and says now it's really that good anymore, and it cracked me up, cos I don't know if she's selling out or what, but last time I checked The Empire Strikes Back is a near perfect film.....still 42 years later! So I can't figure her out, I guess we agree on some stuff and disagree because I'm right and she's wrong🤣
"says now it's Not" Spellcheck is my worst enema bro🤣
That gravy represents normalcy. And things are going off the rails.
No mention of Nick Pileggi? :(
Isn't the last shot of Joe Pesci recreating/referencing the classic shot from the great train robbery?
I think the aviator is a classic,i think departed is way overrated!
I agree. Really struggle with Departed. I saw Internal Affairs years before and not sure if it clouded my judgment.
Departed felt like a shot by shot remake without the heart of the original - an amazing cast thou
jfc fsdssk even though it shall be 41 degrees in my country tomorrow.. I suppose I can see how it has its plus points...
Great film Goodfellas, one of my fave things about it is the soundtrack.
You're a pistol, you're really funny. You're really funny.
You really love The Sopranos......it's been 15 years since I've seen it.....will revisit.
Im glad that this movie is loved so much, i couldn't believe how entertaining & engaging this movie was.
Im surprised how many people gave unanimous positive reviews for this, which surprised me pleasantly.
Like the Sopranos connections you make. Great video. You killed it, or perhaps I should say that you whacked it.
Marty's mom has a small part in Casino as well.
Casino over Goodfellas imo
Joe's character in Casino is epic.
Mean Streets is my favourite Scorsese movie
Do Glen Gary Glen Ross. The other all time bro movie.
"Bro movie"?
My favorite movie of all time. In a sense it was life changing.
How about a review of "Donnie Brasco"?
Another excellet review with great insights!
Along side Akira. Goodfellas is my favourite film. Love you Maggie.
RIP Ray Liotta
A very good movie. Being of Sicilian blood, I love mafia movies, and Goodfellas is right up there with the best of them. Excellent review.
So is she.
@@fattymcfatso1083 I did not know that
It's sad that after the success of Home Alone, which came out the same year, Pesci abandoned those scary tough guy roles for more safe, Hollywood bumbling comedic roles.
To be fair I know he was in Scorcese's Raging Bull before this and in Leone's Once Upon A Time In America and so forth, but he was the comedic relief in Lethal Weapon 2 and in Easy Money and Betsy's Wedding before Goodfellas.
just saying he had a taste of it before Goodfellas too.
I 100% agree with this as his last masterpiece and tell people this all the time.
I know it is a bit cliche for a guy my age to say this is one of his favorite movies but it is for me.
Scorsese is so specific in how he crafts it it is jaw dropping.
For example all the freeze frames at the beginning are indelible memories etched in his mind forever.
But all the freeze frames at the end is when anytime the die is cast in a situation.
I think Ray Liotta did a fantastic job in this film, he was the lead and a narrator. A style imitated by American Made with Tom Cruise, but Goodfella's is far superior. I can see the theme of your review, but I would have focussed on the acting performance of the top tier talent used here.
No Goodfella's and no GTA Vice City, again voiced by Ray Liotta!
Or no Goodfella's, and we would not have had the excellent Boardwalk Empire TV series.
Pls do an After Hours review. Scorsese’s greatest film imo.
Hi. I actually thought that was a relatively weak film. The best part is stolen from Mickey Spillane - which is a screenwriting issue, i know.
Karen from goodfellas is a whole ass mood
He never had the makings of a varsity film maker
deep focus lens: If there were a movie to be made about you, which movie actress would you admire to play as yourself?
One negative comment on Goodfellas... the morality of this film is something I have a problem with more and more i rewatch it (and just like You I adore this film). It reallly show mafia in a flashy, almost glorious way and doesn't fully portray Henry Hill downfall or how discusting character he really was. Also it treats murders and violence in an unrealisticly light way. I didn't realise it fully until I heard that story of Spider is true and his family to this day didn't retrieve his body... and until I watched Sopranoes and Breaking Bad. Sure, especially Sopranoes is full of dark humor and jokes about most gruseme topics, but it doesn't shy away from showing full horror of murders and violence and how evil and corrupted its main characters are. Also the ending of Goodfellas is just a glorification of mafia "rebel" myth. I agree that Sopranoes are much deeper albeit less flashy than Goodfellas.
... and I can make even stronger point about Wolf of Wall Street being deeply imorral and somewhat "corrupted" film. I had husge fun watching it, because wo doesn't love orgies with bunch of hookers fueled by cocaine and fun music. But apart from all the sex, drugs and 80's pop what the hell is this movie about? That every party must come to an end and people on Wall street are corrupted? Not exactly original cocnlusion (although I'm sure correct one). I think that the whole film was just an excuse to join the lavish party with diCaprio & friends under the pretense that there is some deeper moral behind it and that the filmmakers and viewers are condemning the wall street corruption... it's a sexploitation movie or whatever you call it nowadays
The murder of Spider was not treated lightheartedly.
It’s a testament to how great a movie is when you consider how many movies have tried to rip it off and fail. Completely unrelated, you should review ‘Gotti’.
Yeah. Goodfellas spawned a lot of mediocre mob movies in the 90s.
Overall a great movie. I don't think De Niro is very good in it, at times I felt like he was phoning in his performance.
True. he started to repeat himself. His later films are not as organic.
great analysis
Casino is a possibly classic example of Martin Scorsese believing in his own hype. Even though Casino is a very good film it feels a repartition of Goodfellas. There is a heavy contrast between Mean Streets & Goodfellas, but Goodfellas & Casino repeat themselves a lot. The violence, the voice overs & Joe Pesci’s characters are very similar.
They are similar but so are Godfather parts 1 and 2.
Great reviews. Beautiful and smart lady. What better combination can you get!
Best mobster movie by far is Batman: Mask of the Phantasm!
I love everything about this film except the voice over. There was a lot of unnecessary exposition that wasn't needed
My favorite mobster movie!
Now Paul Sorvino😔😔😔😔
Scorsese, Hitchcock, Leone... The big 3 to me
I'm gonna go watch the review, watch the review!
nice comment nice comment
You are so pretty and intelligent!!!
Scorsese’s over reliance on narration for storytelling is his downfall. Goodfellas is the only film of his where I can tolerate it. The best example is Wolf of Wall Street. The narration in that movie is extremely erratic and spurious. It does nothing but cause confusion. When is the narration occuring? Why is it occurring? These questions are enough for me to completely lose focus on what is actually being presented. Its a shame too, because there is so much to love about it, and the movie could easily work a hell of a lot better without this narration. It would be nice to see a final cut, similar to Blade Runner where all of the unnecessary narration is removed.
Hard disagree on Taxi Driver, one of the best uses of narration.
@@Bigfrank88 I do need to rewatch Taxi Driver. I’ve only seen it once and it was a decade ago.
There’s nothing wrong with narration. Just depends if it’s used right. So Film Class 101 to attack all narration, yeah?
You heard of unreliable narrator? Don’t confuse narration with exposition. If you want a great example of this then check out Days of Heaven.
@@fattymcfatso1083 I wasn't attacking narration. I was attacking Scorcese's over reliance on it, and the fact that when he does do it, it rarely makes sense.