GoodFellas

Interestingly, I rewatched Goodfellas, #94 on the AFI top 100, right after rewatching A Clockwork Orange, #46 on the AFI top 100. Both are about an enthusiasm for violence. Both tie music into what is going on with the plot. Watching them back to back, even accepting how "groundbreaking" A Clockwork Orange is with its alternate universe and its invented language, I still think Goodfellas should rank far higher than it. The acting, the plot, and the insight in Goodfellas is simply phenomenal. First, we start with the actors. In A Clockwork Orange there is Malcolm McDowell, and while he's good, I'm not sure one person alone can stand up to Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and the many other fantastic actors that are everywhere you turn in Goodfellas. Every single person is simply amazing. Even the "bit parts" like Michael Imperioli's "Spider" character get you interested. You are watching the very best of the best. And what they are playing is a real life story. This isn't an invention or fantasy. This really happened. These characters, their intrigues, their lies and deceptions and lust for violence, all of this was real. The men joking around with the mistress while the wife went to the family functions, the assumption that violence could happen at any time, this was the life they lived in. The music here is simply phenomenal. It sets you into the timeframe, and you can literally watch as the years unroll. It's not just the music, it's the hair styles, the cars, the decor of the rooms, everything. You can feel yourself reliving the decades and the feelings that they brought. The characters evolve over time. They rebel and feel angst and come to accept and then embrace what is happening around them. It's interesting because there's the same lust for violence here as in A Clockwork Orange. The characters enjoy pummeling another person. When Lorraine's character is roughed up by a neighborhood slick-guy, and Ray goes in to teach him a lesson, Ray *wants* to beat him up and put him in his place. When Joe feels disrespected in the bar, he wants to beat the guy into a bloody pulp, and he does. The violence is a normal, natural part of life. The women, unfortunately, hold the same be-used-and-often role in this movie as well. Women are there to be wives, kicking out kids and attending functions, or as mistresses, proving sex. In both cases they are supposed to be good natured, appreciate their part, and not attempt to change anything. A woman who complains at all about the small portion of life she's allowed can be beaten or worse. Still, I do at least give Goodfellas credit for giving part of the story through Lorraine's eyes. We see how hard it was for her, as the wife, to know there was a mistress around, that she "lost" her husband for days a week into that woman's arms, and that there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't divorce, she couldn't complain. She just had to take it. The only other women she could ever talk with were other mob wives in the exact same situation. All the advice she got was "at least he's not in jail". However, in terms of the Bechdel test, it fails. The women rarely talk with each other, and when they do, it's about their men. A powerful look into a very real segment of society - and as much as it glamorizes how nice it was at times to be in a mob environment, it also shows the darker underside of it. While it might be fun while it lasted, it didn't necessarily last long. A great, powerful, well acted film. Well worth watching.

Don't get me wrong - this is an incredibly violent movie and I still have to cover my eyes or look away during certain scenes. But the acting and intensity makes it irresistible. I read the biography of Henry Hill before I watched the movie, and the movie is incredibly true to the book. You don't see that very often. Actually, I couldn't see any embellishments at all, Henry Hill was a violent, over the top gangster in every sense of the word - if nothing else, some of the situations were toned down a little. Truly one of the best gangster movies of all time, second only to The Godfather (but I don't think ANYTHING will ever surpass The Godfather).

Great movie great stars and never boring love it.

My 37 year old friend had never seen GoodFellas before, which is a travesty. I found the lowest cost copy of the DVD I could find and this delivered. No scratches and good quality. GoodFellas is a must watch for anyone over the age of 16 or so

This movie has got to be one of the finest crime dramas ever made. Its realistic, and its gritty, the actors and actresses all do a fine job. But Joe Pesci stands out, his character is in my view is a picture of mob figures. The viscious nature that he expresses is truly frightening. But what is more telling is the fact that he sees nothing wrong with his actions. These men seem to believe that their way on viewing life, is the only correct view. The films ending shows the illusion that they have been living.In the end their lifestyle destroys them. This movie is a must have, for anyone interested in crime dramas. JRV

Goodfellas is a classic gangster flick. Definitely one of the greatest movies ever made, it deserves all the accolades it gets. Every performance is great and believable. The only issue I have with this product is how this bare bones product is presented. Perhaps its because I bought a used product and the new ones are different. When you put the movie in it goes directly to the film, the menu option is kind of lacking. There is go to option for every other scene. Zero special features, and the wide screen presentation does not stretch to each side of the screen.

So, although this movie is called 'GoodFellas' there aren't really many 'Good Fellas' in at all. In fact most of them are very bad fellas and I probably wouldn't invite many of the characters in this movie to my birthday party. If I did, I'd make them leave their guns at the door in a big bowl that I usually keep for M&Ms, or occasionally mini snickers bars. But I don't have mini snickers bars in it often because they melt and the bowl gets very messy and is hard to clean. A bit like a baby gorilla at feeding time. Anyway, back to the movie, remember that. If you like rainbows or unicorns or romantic comedies or anything with Sandra Bullock in it then this probably isn't for you. On the other hand, if you like great dialogue, wonderful acting, sublime directing and an amazing amount of hard core seriously disturbing violence that would make Vlad The Impaler feel a bit queasy, then this is probably your thing. The fact that most of the scenes in this movie actually happened makes it all the more disturbing. After watching this this you'll want to contact all the actors and tell them how great they were. Just don't tell Joe Pesci he's a funny guy.

Best movie . Just remember when the movie times out just flip the disk

Scorsese at his very best. This is the ultimate mob film to watch! Scorsese is one of the best director ever (Casino, Raging Bull, The Departed, etc.) and this movie is one of the proof!

DVD doesn't work.

PARFAIT.

I'm just a sucker for Mafia type movies - never used to be, now I can't get enough. GREAT cast and acting - sure I have to half cover my face when there's real violence but it's worth it. Considering I've seen The Godfather Trilogy - can't even count how many times (have the soundtrack too - haunting and beautiful). How many times die I watch The Sopranos? - can't even count

By now this is such a classic I'm not sure if there's anyone out there that hasn't seen it. If by chance you haven't, it's a great Mafia film, very well directed and narrated, and as always Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are spectacular