Goodfellas
Updated: Dec 23, 2021
What Makes Goodfellas So Great?
Aside from the obvious things like great acting and writing, Goodfellas offers extreme violence and raw emotions throughout the film. The 30 year ride of Henry Hill's life takes the audience through mob life in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. The narration and connection to the characters make the audience feel like they are actually there throughout the movie. Clever ties between scenes come back to enhance the drama's value. Seeing what life was like for these mobsters makes the audience question the how this type of world is even possible.
Why does it appeal to teenagers?
While long in runtime, Goodfellas can keep just about anybody engaged. Different from other mob crime movies like the Godfather, Goodfellas adds a more violent and R-rated plot. Although the film is long, it is consistently filled with major events that shape up the story, making each minute worthy. Since it has less dialogue, it is very enticing for younger audiences who won't be overwhelmed.
Where does this film rank?
Although it was snubbed for the 1991 "Best Picture Award", Goodfellas is widely recognized as one of the greatest crime movies of all time. It won best supporting actor, with Joe Pesci's historic performance. It is ranked 16th on IMDB's top 250, and has a 96% on rotten tomatoes. With a widely respected cast and director the film draws the attention of film lovers.
Memorable Lines
"I'm here to fuckin amuse you?"
"As far back as I remember I always wanted to be a gangster"
"Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut"
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1032176-goodfellas
