Review of GoodFellas (1990) by Tony P — 21 Jan 2018
Two and a half hour epic (isn't almost every Martin Scorsese directed film?) about Italian-American gangsters in New York.
The film spans a period of thirty years or so and follows the lives of three main characters or 'GoodFellas' as the film is titled. Three men in the same mob who have each other's back be it in their criminal activities of extortion, hijacking, robberies at airports, GBH, drug dealing...
The three characters are kid Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), Jimmy (Robert De Niro) and crazy psychopath Tommy (Joe Pesci).
The film is directed by Martin Scorsese. A director whose work I admire but whose films can drag on a bit in running length. You need patience for the first act at least.
At first I thought the film was glamourising the life of a sixties mobster but it becomes plainly clear that it is a dangerous profession!
Based on a nonfiction book Wiseguy rather than the fictional The Godfather. The film ends with a few cue cards of what happened next.
The close relationship between the three forms the backbone of the film. Through the good times of lots of money, through to backstabbing and witness protection that Henry goes through at the end to prevent a long prison sentence.
A good storyline if somewhat slow at first.
Stick with the film it is really good.
This review of GoodFellas (1990) was written by Tony P on 21 Jan 2018.
GoodFellas has generally received very positive reviews.
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