Goodfellas is a 1990 American biographical crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese, and produced by Irwin Winkler. It is a film adaptation of the 1985 nonfiction book Wiseguy by Pileggi. The film narrates the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill and his friends and family from 1955 to 1980.
Goodfellas is considered a classic and one of Scorsese's best films. It crackles with raw energy and enthusiasm, and the final sequence is nothing short of stunning. The script is also excellent with memorable quotes, and the pop and rock soundtrack are winning. The cinematography and detail are immaculate, and the ensemble cast is one of the film's finest. Joe Pesci won an Academy Award for his performance, and as good as he was, he is perfectly matched by Robert DeNiro and Ray Liotta. The film is a brilliant and instant classic.
Plot
Goodfellas is a biographical crime film that follows the life of Henry Hill, a young man who becomes involved with the American-Italian mafia families in the 1950s. The film is divided into three acts and spans the years 1955 to 1980. Here is a breakdown of the plot:
Act I:
- Henry Hill starts working for Paulie Cicero and Jimmy Conway, two high-ranking members of the mafia.
- Henry enjoys the lifestyle that comes with being a part of the mafia, including access to women and money.
- Henry marries Karen, who disapproves of his criminal activities.
- Jimmy is involved in more serious crimes, including the raid of $6 million of cash and valuables at JFK airport in the 1960s.
Act II:
- Henry starts selling drugs to support his family.
- Henry, Jimmy, and Tommy DeVito pull off the Lufthansa heist, netting them around $5 million.
- Jimmy has several of their associates killed when they start flashing their big bucks around.
- Tommy is tricked into thinking he's going to become a made man and be officially ordained into the family.
Act III:
- Henry gets busted on narcotics charges and is forced to become an informant for the FBI.
- Henry betrays his former mafia bosses and enters witness protection.
- The film ends with Henry living a mundane life in witness protection, looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life.
Goodfellas is a film about the rise and fall of Henry Hill and his friends and family. It highlights one young man's desire to be part of a community. Slowly, through the course of the plot, we see Henry led astray until there is no turning back. Ultimately, the all is lost and dark night of the soul moments are key turning points in the film as Henry realizes he has no way back but to betray his former mafia bosses.
Trailer
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Cast
- Robert De Niro as James "Jimmy" Conway
- Ray Liotta as Henry Hill
- Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito
- Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill
- Paul Sorvino as Paul Cicero
Other cast members include:
- Frank Sivero as Frankie Carbone
- Tony Darrow as Sonny Bunz
- Mike Starr as Frenchy
The film also features several notable supporting actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Stacks Edwards, and Michael Imperioli, who plays Spider. Goodfellas was directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Irwin Winkler, Barbara De Fina, and Bruce S. Pustin. The screenplay was written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese, based on Pileggi's nonfiction book Wiseguy. The film was released in 1990 and has since become a classic of the crime genre.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese
Box Office (Gross USA): $47,036,784
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1990
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
General:
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