Review of GoodFellas (1990) by Ethan P — 13 Dec 2015

Goodfellas is a unique film. It begins with a clear, fiery energy and a simple story of a boy joining a close-knit, small town mafia. The film builds considerably with brilliant moments of Joe Pesci lashing out and intricate heists and beautiful women.

We are invited into a wonderful world of power, loyalty and raw masculinity, but then that world of greed and immorality comes crashing down. The mistreated wives fight back, the gangsters get sent to prison, they run out of money, turn to drugs and eventually turn on each other.

The unbreakable bond that brought them together tears them apart. I was disappointed at the end and the film was also longer than it needed to be. The mob spun out of control, the film left my head spinning and I got an awful feeling of guilt and frustration.

I think this movie perfectly captures what mafia life would be like, but its hard to enjoy watching the awesome fantasy that unfolded before you completely implode. Goodfellas is a very interesting film and I still have to get used to the idea that Scorsese's gangster films aren't romanticized.

They are dramatic, but realistic as well.