A film which should be put on a pedestal above the rest

Rating: 10/10 (16 April 2007)

Everyone in their right mind knows that Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors of all time and that his depiction of 'gangster' movies is second to none. This comes from his upbringing which he so brilliantly translates onto the screen. No one can translate the passion and emotion like Scorsese can from his past experiences onto the screen. Although Scorsese leaves his footprints in every movie he makes, his most pertinent footprints are left in the films Mean Streets(1973) and Goodfellas(1990). Scorsese grew up in ItalianAmerican New York. That being said, he is a master at conveying the lies, deception, and greed which occurs in regular 'gangster' life. Goodfellas mainly focuses in on the life of Henry Hill portrayed by Ray Liotta. It follows him from a young boy, through his dealings with the mob, his drug addiction and jail time, and to his eventual court case and permanent stay in the witness protection program. Goodfellas is full of sheer drama, a taste of guns knives, and a whole lot of raw gangster lifestyle beautifully portrayed by Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro. These three, combined with Scorsese seemingly give the movie its color. In terms of gangster films, nothing can compare with the realistic atmosphere which Scorsese continues to create time and time again.