GOODFELLAS
US, 1990, 146 minutes, Colour.
Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Silvero, Mike Starr, Henny Youngman, Jerry Vale, Debi Maza, Samuel L.Jackson, Frank Vincent, Robbie Vinton, Catherine Scorsese, Charles Scorsese.
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
The title is Mafia slang the gangsters (also Wiseguys). This true story of small-time but power-hungry and greedy hoodlums takes place from the 50s to the 80s, drawing us persuasively into the life-styles and the moral (immoral) codes they live by.
Martin Scorsese presents his Mafia story less in epic than “myth-making” perspective, showing us that these people do these things and live like this. It is a disturbing experience. They behave brutally, callously, often insanely. But we see the complexities of their day to day lives which makes them real – not just names in ugly headlines.
Ray Liotta carries the film is Henry Hill his career (gladly chosen and fostered) takes him from local crime and protection to huge drug deals. Robert De Niro steps back from centre-stage as a smilingly ruthless Goodfella. Joe Pesci, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, shows us the absolute psychopath. Lorraine Bracco is very good as Henry Hill’s Jewish wife. Paul Sorvino is also persuasive as the local capo. Singer Jerry Vale appears as himself as does comedian Henny Youngman.
The film is based on a book by Nicholas Pillegi who co-wrote the script with director Martin Scorsese. Martin Scorsese has had a long and vast career with all kinds of powerful films including Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Casino, Gangs of New York and, finally winning an Oscar for Best Director for the 2006 The Departed. (Scorsese’s mother, Catherine Scorsese, his father, Charles Scorsese, appeared in a number of his films and both here, especially his mother and an excellent cameo as Joe Pesci’s mother.)
1. A gangster film? 1990s perspective, 1950s and 1960s and 1970s?
2. The work of the Scorsese, his career, his gangster films and perspectives? Realism rather than creating myths?
3. The New York settings, the neighbourhood, the streets, homes, the owners, the popular songs of the period – Rags to Riches, Ane he kissed me…? The later songs of the period? The musical score?
4. The prologue, the three men driving, the noise from the boot, stopping, opening it, stabbing the victim, shooting him? The later burial sequence? Having to dig him up?
5. Henry Hill and his voice-over, Ray Liotta’s performance in the role? The tone of voice, as a boy, his place in the family, his parents and their attitude, his background? His younger brother and his disability? Henry wanting to be a gangster, young teenager and connections, the diner, with Paulie, driving and parking limousines? Wanting to be someone? The truancy, his father and the belt, hitting? Thinking he had everything – when schoolfellows would carry his mother’s groceries out of respect?
6. His mother, devotion to her son? The father, Irish, angry, the seven children, the beatings? Disapproving of Henry’s work?
7. Paulie, the boss of the area, a small capo? Letting and encouraging Henry to be part of the world, protecting him? The protection in the area, those in need, but always his cut? Taciturn and unobtrusive?
8. Jimmy Conway, Robert de Niro and the character, the introduction, flashing cash around, gambling, the tips? His career, the hits, brutal but that everything’s business, his love for stealing, Jimmy the Gent? The truck drivers and smuggling, paying the police, his partners, his friendship with Tommy?
9. Henry, his friendship with these types and, finding himself in court, the corrupt judge, everybody congratulating Henry for not ratting and keeping his mouth shut?
10. Henry as an adult, the stories of the airport, the robberies? The other wiseguys and connections? The style of the introducing each of them by name, with the characteristics? Wanting something and just taking it, not even thinking about?
11. Tommy, his patter and language? The improvised scene with Pesci and Liotta about whether he was funny – and trying to take in Henry? The manager asking for his payment and his getting angry? His later anger with a young man and the drinks, shooting him in the foot, shooting him dead? No remorse or afterthought?
12. Paulie and the restaurant, the owner pleading his cause, wanting to be a partner, Henry present, yet the protection money, paying it off, too much for the owner, the setting up of the arson?
13. Henry‘s life, Tommy wanting his back up with the double date, Henry impatient, not liking Karen, walking out? The future date, standing Karen up, her accosting him in the street, shouting?
14. Karen and Henry going out, his romantic attitude, Bruce the boyfriend, playing tennis, Henry and his anger, bashing Bruce brutally, getting Karen to hide the gun, her being turned on by this? The Jewish background, the comments of her mother, Henry’s charm, the wedding, elaborate, the music and dancing, all the guests and lining up to give the money?
15. The man with the wig advertisements, Jimmy and his strong reaction? The man keeping pace, always friendly, involved in the robbery, finally killed by Jimmy?
16. The marriage, Henry, the children, staying, out all night, his mother in law complaining? The sequence with the wives, frantic, loud, the issues of make up? Karen saying that they were always together, birthday celebrations, going to Las Vegas, always with the group and no one outside the group? And her pride in this?
17. The date 12 June 1970, Queens? The man getting out of prison, the taunting of Tommy, the brutal bashing and shooting, his death? The return to the house? Tommy going to see his mother, her pride in him, the meal, Jimmy saying it was tasty? Tommy taking the big knife, cutting up the body?
18. Social life, the Copacabana, the guests, Jerry Vale and his singing? Friday the night with the girlfriends, of the men and mistresses? Saturday for the wives and children? The setting up of apartments with mistresses? Henry and lavish apartment for Janis? Janice and her friend Sandie?
19. The marriage, Henry and his infidelity is, Karen’s reactions? The pressure on Henry by Paulie and Jimmy too ensure that his marriage was respectable?
20. The incident in Tampa, the Zoo, the murders? The coincidence of the FBI typist and her brother? The arrest, and call to the hearings, the sentences? The prison style?. Jimmy in another prison, Paulie with Henry, hotel-style, the food and groceries, the cooking, the guards? Henry, gradually being involved in drugs, the visits, and Karen becoming part of this business, Janis and the visit and Karen resenting this? Her later going to the apartment and pressing all
the buttons and Janis upset? Concealing this from Paulie?
21. The years passing, Henry getting out, the return to Karen? Paulie and his warmth? Sandie and and drugs, taking them, cutting them for Henry? Jimmy and Tommy participating, the money?
22. The plan for the robbery at the airport, the biggest ever, the range of people involved, the information, participants, each with their role, though plan – and its happening off screen, the success? The stupidity some of the criminals, buying lavish cars, fur coats for the women, Jimmy and his harsh anger? Stax and his involvement, technical? The beginning of the killings, Jimmy wanting all control, gradually eliminating all the other members of the plan? Brutality? Morrie continually asking Henry the help, wanting to talk with Jimmy, Jimmy’s plan, Morrie and his wife, Jimmy killing them both ? Jimmy becoming happier with because of the killings and the money?
23. Tommy, the invitation to be “made”, Jimmy’s joy and pride, the phone calls, the brutal slaying of Tommy and the motivation?
24. 11 May 1980, Henry and his activity, the car, with the drugs, the helicopter continually flying over, his movements, at home, cooking, checking on the helicopter’s presence, with Karen, going to Sandie, the cutting of the drugs, his continued cooking for his brother? The babysitter, her participation, stupid attitude, making the phone call from home despite being told not to, Henry driving out with her, the arrest?
25. The aftermath, Jimmy and Paulie poorly arrested? Henry in prison, his mother-in-law providing the bail, mortgaging her house?
26. Henry helped, his fear of being killed, thinking that to go to Florida would be his death?
27. The witness protection program, the discussions, Jimmy and Paulie arrested, in court, Henry’s testimony? The decision to go into witness protection?
The severing all ties with the family? And Henry saying the hardest part was thinking this part of his life which he loved was over? That in witness protection he was an average nobodyy?
28. Final information, prison sentences, deaths, Henry and Karen separating?
29. The writer and the director immersing the audience in this goodfellas’ world?
