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All rights reserved.Goodfellas (2008, DVD)
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Henry the Tragic Hero...Review created: 03/25/00
by: xiphoid -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Amazing cinematography, acting, soundtrack.
Amazing cinematography, acting, soundtrack.
Cons:
Not for the easily disturbed public.
Not for the easily disturbed public.
Intro...
I've always considered myself to be a well-rounded, cultured girl. But up until February '00, I had never seen a real 'gangster' movie. Not even The Godfather! Everyone was always quoting GoodFellas and saying "Oh, you have to see this movie" and whatnot. I finally went out, rented it, and ended up buying it on DVD. I'll tell you why.
By the way, Martin Scorsese is a genius.
Characters...
Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), the son of an Irish father and Italian mother, is the main character. He is overwhelmed with a sense of belonging when the neighborhood 'Wiseguys' employ him, accept him, and would even kill for him. Literally. Although his parents objected, he went on rising in the mobster scene against their will.
Karen (Lorraine Bracco), Henry's wife, is a wonderful character. Her confessions are so honest, and so female. Her gradual corruption throughout the film (as with Henry's) is so natural.
Tommy, (Joe Pesci) is a kind of foil character. No matter what awful deeds the rest of the 'GoodFellas' are doing, Tommy makes them look good. He also has some psychological disorders. From my psychoanalytic perspective, Tommy seems to suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder. By loose definition, people with this disorder persistently violate the rights of others and are always in conflict with the law. They often show superficial charm. Striking features are their lack of guilt or anxiety about their misdeeds and their failure to learn from punishment or to form meaningful bonds with other people. He's black and white. Contradicting, ironic, satirical.
Other important co-stars include Paul Sorvino and Robert DeNiro (whose character might have been underdeveloped).
Cinematography/ Brief Plot Analysis...
The opening scene is classic. It's so violent, and the apathy is disturbing...it's great. The entire movie is narrated by Henry and is cinematically perfect.
With the GoodFellas, Henry was on his climb to the top; a path that all tragic heros have seen. Of course his parents were justified in their discouragement, but unfortunately in life (especially Henry's), the need to belong often surpasses the conscience.
Martin Scorsese does an exquisite job of making this film real. When Henry is still young, his innocence is displayed so subtly, but with profound clarity. The same can be said for all the scenes in the movie. The characters often seem to live in a different world, with their frequent killings and the absence of emotion that they display. Then all of a sudden, you'll find yourself identifying with the character, and they will seem so classically human.
What's in it and who should watch it?...
I don't want to reveal much of the plot, so I'll leave you with this. This is a Gangster movie. There is a lot of blood, bullets, murder, drugs, sex, cursing, and all things that you don't want your kids seeing. The rating on this movie is 'R', and rightfully so. A lot of things in this film can be misleading, and occasionally a person will comment on how it "glorifies lowlifes." I don't agree that it glorifies anything. You have to realize the messages and profound situations and irony in the film to understand the meaning...which is why I would never bring it home for the kids.
Soundtrack...
Even the soundtrack is to die for. Not only was I impressed with the specific selection of the songs, but more so with the placement of the music in the film itself. Not one song is randomly placed. Each time a song comes on, I urge you to pay attention. The lyrics, as well as the tone of the song, speak for and accentuate points and feelings in the movie. It's just remarkable what Scorsese has done with this film.
If I like this, what else would I like?
If you're really into 'GoodFellas', I would recommend renting 'Casino,' also a Martin Scorsese film. Casino goes by the same idea as Goodfellas in the sense that it's based on a true story, and narrated by the main character (Robert DeNiro). Casino is a bit longer, weighing in at about 3 hours, but just as astounding. I would also recommend 'The Godfather,' 'The Godfather II,' and the HBO series 'The Sopranos.'
Enjoy!
I've always considered myself to be a well-rounded, cultured girl. But up until February '00, I had never seen a real 'gangster' movie. Not even The Godfather! Everyone was always quoting GoodFellas and saying "Oh, you have to see this movie" and whatnot. I finally went out, rented it, and ended up buying it on DVD. I'll tell you why.
By the way, Martin Scorsese is a genius.
Characters...
Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), the son of an Irish father and Italian mother, is the main character. He is overwhelmed with a sense of belonging when the neighborhood 'Wiseguys' employ him, accept him, and would even kill for him. Literally. Although his parents objected, he went on rising in the mobster scene against their will.
Karen (Lorraine Bracco), Henry's wife, is a wonderful character. Her confessions are so honest, and so female. Her gradual corruption throughout the film (as with Henry's) is so natural.
Tommy, (Joe Pesci) is a kind of foil character. No matter what awful deeds the rest of the 'GoodFellas' are doing, Tommy makes them look good. He also has some psychological disorders. From my psychoanalytic perspective, Tommy seems to suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder. By loose definition, people with this disorder persistently violate the rights of others and are always in conflict with the law. They often show superficial charm. Striking features are their lack of guilt or anxiety about their misdeeds and their failure to learn from punishment or to form meaningful bonds with other people. He's black and white. Contradicting, ironic, satirical.
Other important co-stars include Paul Sorvino and Robert DeNiro (whose character might have been underdeveloped).
Cinematography/ Brief Plot Analysis...
The opening scene is classic. It's so violent, and the apathy is disturbing...it's great. The entire movie is narrated by Henry and is cinematically perfect.
With the GoodFellas, Henry was on his climb to the top; a path that all tragic heros have seen. Of course his parents were justified in their discouragement, but unfortunately in life (especially Henry's), the need to belong often surpasses the conscience.
Martin Scorsese does an exquisite job of making this film real. When Henry is still young, his innocence is displayed so subtly, but with profound clarity. The same can be said for all the scenes in the movie. The characters often seem to live in a different world, with their frequent killings and the absence of emotion that they display. Then all of a sudden, you'll find yourself identifying with the character, and they will seem so classically human.
What's in it and who should watch it?...
I don't want to reveal much of the plot, so I'll leave you with this. This is a Gangster movie. There is a lot of blood, bullets, murder, drugs, sex, cursing, and all things that you don't want your kids seeing. The rating on this movie is 'R', and rightfully so. A lot of things in this film can be misleading, and occasionally a person will comment on how it "glorifies lowlifes." I don't agree that it glorifies anything. You have to realize the messages and profound situations and irony in the film to understand the meaning...which is why I would never bring it home for the kids.
Soundtrack...
Even the soundtrack is to die for. Not only was I impressed with the specific selection of the songs, but more so with the placement of the music in the film itself. Not one song is randomly placed. Each time a song comes on, I urge you to pay attention. The lyrics, as well as the tone of the song, speak for and accentuate points and feelings in the movie. It's just remarkable what Scorsese has done with this film.
If I like this, what else would I like?
If you're really into 'GoodFellas', I would recommend renting 'Casino,' also a Martin Scorsese film. Casino goes by the same idea as Goodfellas in the sense that it's based on a true story, and narrated by the main character (Robert DeNiro). Casino is a bit longer, weighing in at about 3 hours, but just as astounding. I would also recommend 'The Godfather,' 'The Godfather II,' and the HBO series 'The Sopranos.'
Enjoy!
Review ID: 10000000006835453
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