Like last year’s Pulp Fiction, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is one of my favorite films of all time. Goodfellas is based on the 1985 crime novel Wiseguy, written by Nicholas Pileggi (who co-wrote the film’s screenplay with Scorsese), chronicling the thrilling life of mafia associate turned FBI informant Henry Hill. So what exactly renders Goodfellas a landmark of the gangster genre?
To begin, the film boasts an all-star cast, composed of the late, great Ray Liotta (Rest in Peace), Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro, and Lorraine Braco, among others. Liotta is insatiably compelling as the aforementioned Henry Hill, capturing the excitement and eventual paranoia of a man seduced by power, greed, and addiction, but consumed by its inevitable consequences. It is not long before Henry’s antics cause a rift in his marriage and from this, we see a strong and layered performance from Lorraine Braco as Henry’s wife, Karen. Digressing, Hill’s opening lines “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster” is ingrained in the mind of every film fanatic and sets the stage for what is to ensue over the course of the next two and a half hours. Hill makes for such a relatable character, marred by conflict and temptation (He is likewise superficially relatable to me as we are both of Irish and Italian descent, a small focal point of the film).
The next actor worth discussing is Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito (not to be confused with the Patriots Quarterback) based on the notorious gangster Tommy DeSimone. According to the IRL Hill, Pesci’s performance was mostly accurate, with the chief exception being the physicality of the two men. Of course, Pesci’s 5 ‘4 stature has no impact on the character’s volatile and brutal nature. Arguably the film’s most famous line, or at the very least, Tommy’s most iconic line, comes from what seems at first to be a verbal tiff between Tommy and Henry. “I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you?” First-time viewers could cut the tension with a knife. It is not surprising that Pesci won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but sadly this is the only award granted to the film by the Academy.
Last but not least is Robert DeNiro’s controlled yet menacing turn as Jimmy Conway, the veteran gangster with a charm and cold streak. His straight-laced nature helps balance out the care-free attitude of Tommy. Outside of the film’s S-tier acting, I greatly appreciated the realism and grit on display here. Contrasting many romanticized mob films, Goodfellas makes no bones about the barbarism of organized crime, with quick and shocking violence. Scorsese expertly strips away the glamour over time, revealing the cost of ambition and carelessness in a world where betrayal is ineluctable. Goodfellas masterfully tackles themes such as loyalty, corruption, and addiction – both literal and metaphorical.
In conclusion, for all the above reasons, Goodfellas is not only Martin Scorsese’s best (which says a lot given his impressive catalogue), but my personal favorite mobster movie (no disrespect to The Godfather), setting the stage for subsequent works such as The Sopranos. This one’s an easy 10/10. Check it out if you have not already!
