Jon Monsarrat review: too arty & violent

Rating: 4/10 (27 May 2002)

I admit it; I'm an action movie guy. So a film about the mafia should be right up my alley. But I'm often turned off by dramas. It's not that I don't respect those who like fine art. I do. But personally, I lack the sophistication or training to appreciate the makeup or sets or choreography if the plot is awful and the characters unlikeable.
That's what gets in my way when I watch Goodfellas, which I've seen twice now but couldn't get through it the 2nd time. The protagonists are nasty and I couldn't identify with them. This is the same thing that turned me off watching "Pulp Fiction".
Superb acting, story, some real drama -- but how ugly and why would I want to watch this?
Who should see this film:
-- art types / drama lovers: a must-see
-- action movie types who don't mind when the protagonist is violent and awful
Sorry, but at least I've stated some real reasons for giving Goodfellas only a 4 out of 10.