Post by StevePulaski on Jun 8, 2012 10:42:03 GMT -5
Robert De Niro as Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas.
Rating: ★★★★
Goodfellas is without a doubt the purest film in Scorsese's filmography, and by that I mean his crispest, most enchanting picture, one that multitasks and never loses direction. It is one of the few films that I've seen that can perform a juggling act, giving insight on history, informing its viewer on the operations of mob members, showing a raw look at organized crime, have talented actors all work together like a means of cinematic poetry, and produce one of the finest pictures in film history so effortlessly.
The story revolves around Irish-Italian Henry Hill (Liotta) who, ever since he was a youngster, looked up to the mob in his home of New York City. He says he wanted to be a gangster more than the president, because the gangsters had an untold amount of respect and dignity. The job revolves around persistency, bravery, emotionless devotion where one bad choice could ruin every good one you ever made in your life.
Hill is taken under the wing of mob boss Paulie Cicero (Sorvino) and his loyal team of Jimmy Conway (De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Pesci). Conway operates as sort of an everyman mobster who is constantly watching his back, yet at times seems like he will crumble under all the pressure. While Tommy, on the other hand, is animalistic, unapologetic, and simply shameless, reacting impulsively on violence if someone looks at him the wrong way. Pesci's role as Tommy DeVito earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, quite possibly the most violent character to ever win. While Hill is working for Cicero at a young age he learns two of the most important life lessons early on in his career; "Never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut."
Seeing six or seven Scorsese pictures in the last year or so, I think I've discovered what the man can make best; a story of glory years, depicting the rise and fall of someone. In all his big budget film works, Scorsese's main character comes from humble, rises to success, before being bombarded with guilt and regret during the third act of the film. Two Scorsese films where these characteristics are portrayed effortlessly well are this and The Aviator.
Why is it "Required Viewing?": Goodfellas is a work of cinematic art, beautifully captured in its style and information. It's two and a half hours, yet like all of Scorsese's films, hits the ground running and ends all too quickly. You become drawn into the life of Henry Hill, and as the film goes on, you see his feelings for the mob and crime itself to transcend from respect to disdain. He did it all for what? To land behind bars? I close the same way I closed my original review of Goodfellas, restating the picture's best scene. "It involves one the best jump scenes in any film I've seen recently. Along with evoking regret, naive instincts, and betrayal. It involves Joe Pesci. I will not say more."
NOTE: Just five days after publishing this entry, I'm informed that Henry Hill, Ray Liotta's character in the film and the main mobster of focus here, has died at the age of 69.
My original four star review of Goodfellas, stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=perfect&action=display&thread=2891