John Chard

Nov 16, 2014

9.0

In a world that's powered by violence, on the streets where the violent have power, a new generation carries on an old tradition. Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is without question one of the finest gangster movies ever made, a benchmark even. It’s that rare occasion for a genre film of this type where everything artistically comes together as one. Direction, script, editing, photography, driving soundtrack and crucially an ensemble cast firing on all cylinders. It’s grade “A” film making that marked a return to form for Scorsese whilst simultaneously showing the director at the summit of his directing abilities. The story itself, based on Nicholas Pileggi’s non-fiction book Wiseguy, pulls absolutely no punches in its stark realisation of the Mafia lifestyle. It’s often brutal, yet funny, unflinching yet stylish, but ultimately from first frame to last it holds the attention, toying with all the human emotions during the journey, tingling the senses of those who were by 1990 fed up of popcorn movie fodder. It’s not romanticism here, if anything it’s a debunking of the Mafia myth, but even as the blood flows and the dialogue crackles with electricity, it always remains icy cool, brought to us by a man who had is eyes and ears open while growing up in Queens, New York in the 40s and 50s. Eccellente! 9/10

Martin Scorsese (director) always loves details in crime films, but he is not primarily interested in the crime itself. That is why his films are always produced with details that you may see as unimportant to you, especially if you want to see the movie for the purpose of seeing scenes of theft, murder, and so on, but you see the opposite. Somewhat other details are visible on the scene mostly The film talks about liberation, stereotypes, and entering a new world for humanity. It was Ray Liotta (Henry). He wanted, as I said, to break free from stereotypes and enter the world of gangs. Martin Scorsese (the director) filmed this unfamiliar life and directed it in the form of a film similar to documentaries because he filmed it as if it were a real, realistic life. That is why the presence of Voice Over was important in order to give you the feeling that there is a person sitting next to you telling you the story while whispering in your ear as it happens in the movies documentaries.

CinemaSerf

Aug 26, 2023

7.0

Ray Liotta is superb here as "Henry Hill", a man whom ever since he was young has been captivated by the mob. He starts off as a runner and before too long has ingratiated himself with the local fraternity lead by "Paulie" (Paul Sorvino) and is best mates with fellow hoods, the enigmatic and devious "Jimmy" (Robert De Niro) and the excellently vile "Tommy" (Joe Pesci). They put together an audacious robbery at JFK and are soon the talk of the town, but the latter in the trio is a bit of a live-wire and when he goes just a bit too far one night, the three of them find that their really quite idyllic lives of extortion and larceny start to go awry - and it's their own who are on their tracks. Scorsese takes him time with this story: the development of the characters - their personalities, trust, inter-reliance, sometimes divided, fractured, loyalties and ruthlessness and are built up in a thoroughly convincing fashion. We can, ourselves, see the obvious attractions for the young "Henry" of a life so very far removed from his working class Irish-Italian background - the wine, the women, the thrills; it's tantalising! If anything let's it down it's the last half hour; it's just a little too predictable and having spent so long building up the characters, we seem to be in just a bit too much of a rush; but that is a nit-pick. It's not the "Godfather" but it is not far short.

A really good film. i loved it!

The Goodfellas is an absolute masterpiece in every sense. Martin Scorsese delivers a raw, unflinching look into the world of organized crime that’s as captivating as it is brutal. Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci shine, each bringing unforgettable depth and intensity to their roles—especially Pesci, whose portrayal of Tommy DeVito is both terrifying and fascinating. The storytelling is flawless, pulling you in with a mix of dark humor, sharp dialogue, and iconic scenes that stay with you long after the credits roll. Add in the perfect soundtrack, and it’s no wonder this film is considered a classic. The Goodfellas isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience that I can watch over and over again.

I enjoyed the film. Especially the character of Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro. Great Film!!

JackthePGL

Aug 19, 2025

10.0

Martin Scorsese was at his best when he made GoodFellas. It received five Oscar nominations and a winner for Best Supporting Actor for Joe Pesci. It's speechless for how great this movie was and it still is. GoodFellas is a fantastic crime drama and it's impeccably done throughout. The story is based on a true story ad it's taken place from 1955 to 1980. It tells a story about Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta narrating about his life as a gangster. Lorraine Bracco sometimes narrates as Karen Hill, aside from that, Ray Liotta does all the narrating. It's in the book. It's in the non-fiction book by Nicholas Pileggi called Wiseguy. Of course, everyone knows the scene where Henry tells Tommy that he is funny cause the way he tells stories and Tommy says "What do you mean I'm funny?" "Funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?" This is a famous scene for Joe Pesci as his acting is incredible. As far as this film goes, this is a perfect film for everyone who is a huge fan of Martin Scorsese. It has a great story that is so true, fantastic Oscar winning acting by everyone who played great characters and best direction from Martin Scorsese. It's everyone's favourite film of all time and considered one of the greatest films of all time. Never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.

The film pulsates with a raw, kinetic energy that few crime dramas ever capture and even fewer sustain. From the slick suits and the endless slang to the sense of dangerous privilege, the world at the centre of the story is seductive, loud and chaotic. But beneath that surface glitz is a quieter, creeping rot—friendships fraying, rules being broken, loyalty turning into self-interest. The direction is confident and ruthless. Scenes of violence erupt almost as glibly as jokes, glamour flips into terror with no pause. The camera virtually breathes with the characters, pulling us into their atmosphere of exclusion and belonging, bravado and fear. And yes, the performances are razor sharp when the façade cracks, you feel the damage. What stands out most is how the movie makes you like people you shouldn’t like, and even root for them, for a moment. Then it reminds you why you shouldn’t. That tension between identification and recoil is the film’s heart. It doesn’t moralise so much as it observes the glamour and the cost, sometimes simultaneously. If there’s a caveat, it’s that the film doesn’t walk you neatly to redemption. The climax doesn’t feel like a tidy payoff but rather a slow unravelling, where the narrative tension loosens into regret and routine. Some viewers find that unsettling; you expect a grand statement, and instead get fractured silence. In closing:- this is a bold, unflinching look at power, loyalty, decay—and the seductive danger of a life built on impulse and advantage. It stands as a towering piece of filmmaking.

"Goodfellas" really only takes a small ration of incidents from Henry Hill's life of crime and proceeds to weave the story from this. What unfolds is an absolutely compelling film which is a superior motion picture on every level that paints a quite frankly deeply unappetising portrait of three decades of life in the mafia which initially appears to be glamorous and it undoubtedly provides unlimited and substantial rewards. However, this film amply illustrates that once you scratch the surface you find the lucrative lives they are leading has a chillingly sinister underbelly. Martin Scorsese excells superbly in the director's chair as he has done throughout his entire career. He is one of the true modern day masters of his craft and certainly on this occasion he literally re-invents what a motion picture about the mafia can be by delivering what is essentially a commanding directorial display which never gets in the way of the gripping and brilliantly crafted story.