Crime pays in more ways than one.

Rating: Null/10 (10 January 2011)

Goodfellas is an exhilarating, nonstop joyride depicting the rise and fall into decadence of a small group of mobsters with enough determination and confidence to succeed anywhere. Fortunately for them, once they get to the top of the mafia in the 1960s and 1970s, the idea of staying at the top became regular: why think about falling when no one can touch you? Such is the mind-frame one must take into screening Goodfellas.
In his long, storied and brilliant career, this might be Scorsese's most technically sound and polished work. By this time, Scorsese had perfectly built his own, unique style of shooting and in this case, the material supported the visuals completely. Known for such gangster, hard-nosed films that he made in the 1970s and early 1980s, Scorsese put his talents to great use once again to create and updated portrait of the American dream as witnessed and developed by the very people who began its genesis.
With his fluid and straightforward style, Scorsese gives so much information about the ins and outs of running and be part of a mafia clan that by the end, the audience is more than well-informed. The voice-over by Ray Liotta is utilized in the most effective way. This is his story; flashbacks, freeze frames and other camera tricks are all used to emphasize and translate what needs to be said. There is also the constant energy of the film. Nearly every scene has a raucous feeling, as if these characters are living their lives to the fullest every night with no care for tomorrow. We get to know and understand these characters so well that when their ultimate fate is revealed, we are at once surprised, appalled, and satisfied.
In the end, what is important to remember while watching this masterpiece, and what will always stand out, is the phenomenal performances of Robert De Niro, Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and especially Joe Pesci as the incredibly volatile hit-man Tommy De Vito. Also memorable is Scorsese's use of the camera along with his dynamic soundtrack of the era and the sharp, effective editing with his legendary collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker. In the years to come, this may be the film Scorsese will always be remembered for. It is an American tale of what this country and a life of crime have to offer as well as all the consequences that follow.