Rated:
R
Runtime: 2 Hours
and 26 Minutes
Reviewer:
Erik
Grade: A+
Perhaps the best way to review Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas"
is to recall the first time I saw it. I find it difficult to recall
a movie that engrossed me so much, a movie that sucked me into it
and had me hooked from square one. But "Goodfellas" was
one, and to this day, after numerous viewings, this movie never bores
me. In some circles, it's considered a classic.
Definitely for me.
"Goodfellas" tells the story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta),
as a youngster watching local mobsters from his window wishing he
could live that good life, to a teenager getting first involved with
the mob, to an adult who loves it so much, he could live no other
life.
The movie's first half-hour to 45 minutes chronicles Henry's beginnings
with the mafia, working at the local cab stand, putting time in at
a mob-fronted pizzeria, earning more money than the adults in his
neighborhood and dealing with his parents, who are obviously not pleased
with his choice. This is the most important part of the film, as Henry
gets deeper and deeper (in a lot of funny scenes), so do we, and we
see how a child could want that life. In one particular scene, Henry
comes out of the courtroom for a stolen cigarettes charge to a courthouse
full of mobsters who hug him and kiss him and give him money. We chuckle,
because it's funny and because everyone of us would want a family
who'd love us that much.
Henry starts dating Karen (Lorraine Bracco) and we chuckle some more,
as this "21-year-old" kid sweeps her off her feet with his
front-row seats at the Copacabana, his big wads of cash and the respect
he gets from everyone. Like the film's first segment, we now see how
Karen could be swept off her feet by such a person.
But, life is not all good in the mafia. The wrong person is killed,
and there's a lot of "heat" on the street. A sloppy heist
spells the end for most of the people involved. Henry and Jimmy (Robert
DeNiro) strong-arm the wrong guy, and end up in prison.
And, finally, Henry gets involved in dealing drugs, despite a direct
warning from Paulie (Paul Sorvino), who doesn't want to spend his
last years in prison because one of his boys is dealing "junk."
The movie is essentially a tragedy. Henry's life in the mob starts
off with a genuine enthusiasm, like childish fun, earning a few extra
bucks doing simple tasks. But, by the end of the movie, the life has
taken its toll on him. He wants the life, but not the dread and stomach
knots that accompany the acts, but he's willing to sacrifice what
he feels inside to live the so-called "good" life.
The performances are top-notch, but what impressed me more is Scorsese's
direction. There are simple shots in slow-motion or freeze frames
that are breathtaking. And Scorsese is a master at picking the right
music for each scene (in my opinion, Scorsese is a true innovator).
Scorsese's movies always have style.
"Goodfellas" is the greatest movie these eyes have ever
seen.
NOTE: One criticism of the movie
is that it goes on far too long. I'd recommend watching half this
movie, stopping for a few hours, a day, whatever, and then returning
to it. You'll then see the second half is as good as the first.